Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-10
as a Commercial Center.

Nashville as a Commercial Center.
The Knoxville Wing and Register, of
the Sth inst, has an article under the
above head, which does fall justice to the
commercial importance of the capital of
the State, and which we copy entire, as
follows:
As the capital of the State, Nashville
possesses some grounds for consideration,
but these are very slight when compared
with the consideration to which it is en-
titled as the commercial center of the en-
tire State. Unlike Memphis, Nashville is
not called upon to emulate the fame of any
great namesake. If not the first, she is
chief of her name. Unlike Memphis again
Nashville does not derive her commercial
importance from the river that flows
through her limits. The railroad connec-
tons of Nashville have done most to build
her up, and upon these depend her future
growth.
Ths oldest railroad connection of Nash
vile, that with Chattanooga, is also the
most valuable at present. Not because it
goes to Chattanooga, but because it goes
by that place on down into Georgia, even
to the Atlantic. Next in importance, per-
haps, Is the Louisville and Nashville.
cation with Louisville A communication
which, along with immense advantages,
brings very serious disadvantages in the
way Of competition. This competition will
be keenly felt until Nashville begins in
earnest TO make things to sell instead of
only buying to sell again.
To the Northwestern Road Nashville is
not as yet very largely indebted, only be-
cause the road can hardly be said to have
been in running condition since the war.
This must be NashvilIe's great Northwest
err outlst-at least until some competing
parallel line reaches st. Louis more d.
recty. Turning south, the Nashville and
Decatur road offers immediate connection
with North Alabama, and promises. ere
long, to open the way direct to the Gulf
When opened, this will be Nashville's
great road South. But the road of most
promise to Nashville is that which now
runs to Lebanon, and is to be continued
70 Knoxville, hence to Norfolk.
Turning to the map, it will be seen that,
with a road to Cincinnati direct. and a
more direct road to Memphis, Nashville
will be the center Of eight roads that radi-
ate at angles of about 45 degrees. With
these roads her communications would be
complete. In ten years she will surely
have these roads. And when she gets
them she will be one of the great inland
centers of Southern commerce. But the
indications are that Nashville is destined
also to become a great manufacturing city.
For many kinds of manufacturing she,
possesses peculiar facilities Her principal
deficiency is a scarcity of fuel. This de-
fciency, however, will be Supplied by the
completion Of the Tennessee Pacific and
the Montgomery roads. No Southern city
has SO much available capital, and, now
that this capital Is turning towards manu-
features, We look for a very rapid advance
in that direction. OF one thing the past
history of Nashville gives assurance, and
that is, that whether she grows slow or
fast, her growth is substantial and soIid.
For integrity and fair dealing, the com
mercial men Of Nashville, in times past,
have worn proud name, and what VIC
know Of the coming men of the city leads
US TO expect a continuance Of shis good
name in the future.
Nashville has q country around it unsur-
passed in America. To this she owes the
greater part of her present wealth, and
from tins country she will derive much Of
her future strength.