Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-09-23
a LETTER PROM col. SYKES.

| j. L. CGtcthOrn, Esq:
Both of your letters have been re-
ceived and read with much interest.
1t is matter Of deep regret that the
subscription failed in your county
on the 26th of last month. There is
no county in the State that would
be more benefited by 3 railroad
through its borders than Henderson.
She has not only fine agricultural
lands, but in addition she has exten-
sive beds CT mari, considerable de
posts of "brown coal" on Ignite,
which Is nearly as valuable for fuel
as stone coal, and also an immense
quantity OF most excellent white oak
timber, which is now useless, for
want of a market, but which, in a
few years, if you had a railroad,
would more than pay for its con-
struction.
Your county isnow paying sc, 600
per annum for the transportation of
its products to market-more than
it would have to pay if you had a
railroad. This does not include the
extra amount she pays for freight on
articles carried into the county, |
which can not be less than $12, 900 |
each year. This drain upon her re- |
sources will continue until she gets
this road, and there is now great |
danger that she viii never get it.
The opposition came mostly from |
those districts adjacent to other |
railroads, but it seems TO me they !
made great mistake in opposing |
this road, since the building of this
competing line would cause the
other railroads to reduce. their |
charges so as to benefit the people |
in the districts near them to a much
greater amount than the sums they |
would have to pay.
1t is unnecessary 10 argue the /
question whether the road cannot
be built without county subscrip-
ton. All the counties that want
railroads viii have 10 make county /
subscriptions. They cannot be built
in any other manner, and opposition.
to a county subscription is virtually
opposition to the road itself
Whether your county will be con-
tent to do without a railroad and
remain tributary to other counties,
increasing their business and adding
to their wealth, is for your own peo-
pie to deermine. 1t is evident that
unless a change takes place in public
sentiment it is unnecessary to make
another attempt, and those who de-
sire railroad connections must seek
them through other counties.
If the true condition of affairs
could be well understood and fully
by your people, 1 cannot
believe they would oppose measure
which would edd SO much to their
comfort, convenience, wealth and
prosperity.
Not only is your own county suf-
fering for the want of this road, but
ON account of the opposition in Hen
derson, the iron works, the lime
stone and marble quarries and the
hydraulic cement which abound in
Decatur county, and which are SO
necessary to the other counties in
West Tennessee, cannot find an easy
outlet to market. Perry and Deca-
tur on the east, and Madison on the
west, stand ready to build the road
through their borders, and the only
cause why a road viii not be built
on this line, is the opposition in
county.
OF course, if your people do not
wish the road it will not be forced
upon them; and although this will
be great loss to the whole country,
your own county viii suffer more
than any other part of the Stale for
want of this great highway of trade,
commerce and travel.
The money subscribed by coun-
ty should be expended in the county,
and the bonds should not be issued
until the road is graded to the coun-
tv line. Private subscriptions
might be safely relied upon to iron
and equip the road after it was
graded. Nashville, have no doubt,
will meet you at the Tennessee river,
and this road win then run through
the finest iron counties in Middle and
West Tennessee-Hickman, Perry
and Decatur.
Very truly yours,
WIN. j. SYDEs,