Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-08-17
Columbia and Fayette'
vile Narrow Gauge
Railroad.
From the Columbia Herald.

NA'A@AN VI ~A"Ni - ~HuA
shall and Lincoln counties, Capt
S. w. Steele, civil engineer, of
this place, has prepared map of
the proposed route, and submits q
proposition of responsible parties
in Nashville to build the road, it
eight thousand dollars per mile is
subscribed. Capt. Steele being
familiar with all the country ly
ing between the points designated
has suggested the following route
as thoroughly practicable: Start
ing from the Columbia Depot Of
the Nashville & Decatur Railroad
and keeping in a southerly direc
ton with said railroad about II
miles, to a point near the Gordon
property; thence up the Duck
River valley, crossing Fountain
Greek near Kerr's mill, to point
near Berry Bryant's, on Silver
Creek, in the vicinity of Parks
store, about 9 miles from Colum
bid; thence up the valley of Sill:
yer Creek in a southerly direction
to Andrew Bryant's, two miles
thence in southeasterly direction,
near George Brandon's to Lewis.
burg, 7 miles; making the dis.
tance from Columbia to Lewisburg
by railroad, Is miles, while the
air line is but l6 miles. The de-
parture east is made to reach as
near a point to Berlin as possible,
SO as to drain the very rich coun.
try in the direction of Caney
springs.
Thus far we pass over some Of
the richest portions of Maury and
Marshall counties, with a small
bridge over Fountain Creek, and
over Silver Greek, the
balance culverts. The cutting
and filling will be very light, and
mi e, can be constructed with but
little else but clearing, grubbing
and ditching. There are also oc.
casional points of cedar, sufficient
to furnish all the cross-ties for the
road, for from fifteen to twenty
cents apiece. The farms are we'll
and in a high state of cul-
tivalion.
Lewisburg, the county site of
Marshall county, has a population
Of about one thousand inhabitants,
and is situated in the heart of one
Of the most productive regions in
the S ate. The energy and enter
prise OF It's people may be estimat-
ed, when we discover that they
have already Turnpikes to Frank
lin, Williamson county; to Nash
vile F; Shelbyville, Bedford ccun-
ty; aud to within nine miles of
Pulaski, in the county of Giles,
estimated to bring a heavy trade
over at least fifty miles of their
length to Lewisburg, traversing
the best portions of the counties
of Marshall and Gilas.
Crossing Rock Creek, in the
limits, by a small bridge,
we proceed in a southerly direc-
ton, passing up a rich valley with
an occasional cedar point; at 5
miles, we reach the Union Acade
my, situated near The head of an
exceedingly rich and level valley,
stretching fifteen miles away in a
northeaSterly direction to Shelby
vile. After leaving the Acade-
my II miles, we cross the Low
Gap in Elk Ridge, and suddenly
debouche upon the head waters
of Cane Creek. Keeping down
this beautiful valley we pass New
Hope, and at Z miles arrive at
Petersburg, on Cane Creek, and In
the heart of one of the richest
and most productive regions IN
Tennessee. 133 miles from Lewis
burg; by air line la, Its inhabi-
tants are far above the average In
wealth and intelligence, and here
tofore have shown a liberality and
determination to subscribe more
than will build the road through
this territory. Petersburg has
about FIVE hundred inhabitants,
and has turnpike leading out to
Shelbyville, fifteen miles away, in
a northeasterly direction. Were
it not for the heavy grades cross
ing the ridge this point would in
crease rapidly in population and
trade.
Leaving Petersburg, we keep
along Cane Creek to the vicinity
of Mr.. Sam'l Talley's store, cross
ing Cane Creek perhaps twice, we
pass Esq. Steele Buchanan's and
the Brick Church, keeping along
the eastern side of the creek, ar
rive at Fayetteville at liz miles,
bov;po trorersed one of the rich.