The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-07-28
Columbia and FayeftevHie NARROW
--aE ~ Gauge Railroad r-

Gauge Ra1IrOad-
At the request OF many of the lea,iing
citizens of Maury, Marshall and Lincoln
counties, Capt. s. W. Steele, civil engi-
neer, of this place, has prepared map OF
the proposed route, and submits prop
osition irresponsible parties in Nashville
to build the road, ifeight thousand dol-
bars per mile is subscribed. Capt. Steele
being familiar with all all the country
living between the points designated,
has suggested the following route as
thoroughly practicable: Starting from
the Columbia Depot of the Nashville &
Decatur Railroad, and keeping in n
southerly direction with said railroad
about 4 miles, TO point near the Cor
don property; thence up the Duck River
valley, crossing Fountain Creek near
Kerr's mill, to point near Berry Bry-
ants, on Silver Creek, in the vicinity of
Park store, about miles from Column
bia; thence up the valley of Silver Creek
in southerly direction to Andrew Bry-
ants, two miles; thence in southeast
erly direction, near George Brandon's,
to Lewisburg,7 miles; making the dis
lance from Columbia to Lewisburg by
railroad, is miles. while the air line is
but l6 miles. The departure east is
made to reach as near point to Berlin
as possible, so as to drain the very rich
country in the direction of Caney
springs.
Thus far we pass over some of the
richest portions of Maury and Marshall
counties, with q small bridge over
Fountain Creek, and another over Sill
yer Creek, the balance culverts. The
cutting and filling will be very light,
and miles can be constructed with but
little else but clearing, grubbing and
ditching. There are also occasional
points OF cedar, sufficient to furnish all
the cross-ties for the road, for from fif>
teen to twenty cents apiece. The farms
are we'll opened, and In high state OF
cultivation.
Lewisbure, the county site of Marshall
county, has population of about one
thousand inhabitants, and is situated in
the heart of one of the most produc-
tive regions in the State, The energy
and enterprise of its people may be es-
timated, when we discover that they
have already Turnpikes to Franklin,
Williamson county; to Nashville; Shell
byville, Bedford county; and to within
nine miles of Pulaski, In the county of
Giles, estimated to bring q heavy trade
over at least fifty miles of their length to
Lewisburg, traversing the best portions
ofthe counties of Marshall and Giles.
Crossing Rock Creek, in the corporate
limits, by small bridge, we proceed in
q southerly direction, passing up a rich
valley with an occasional cedar point; at
5 miles, we reach the Union Academy,
situat d near the head OF an exceedingly
rich and level valley, stretching fifteen
miles away in .lortheasterly direction
to ShelbyYiIle. After leaving the Acad-
envy IA 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 I miles arrive at
Petersburg, on Cane Creek, and in the
cart of one ofthe richest and most pro-
ductive regions in Tennessee, 1917 miles
from Lewisburg; by air line ll%. Its
inhabitants are far above the average in
wealth and intelligence, and heretofore
have shown liberality and determins-
ton TO subscribe more than will build
the road through this territory. Peters
burg has about five hundred inhabi-
tants, and has turnpike leading out to
Shelbyville, fifteen miles away, in
northeasterly direction, Were it not for
the heavy grades crossing the ridge this
point would increase rapidly in popula-
ton and trade.
Leaving Petersburg, We keep along
Cane Greek to the vicinity of Mr.. Sam'l
Talley's store, thence by stephen
Hart ;, John EdmisOn's, crossing Cane
Creek perhaps twice, we pass Esq.
Steele Buchanan's and the Brick
Church, keeping along the eastern side
o. the creek, arrive at Fayetteville at llH
miles, hav ing traversed one of the rich
est and best cultivated valleys in the
State, at easy grades, with light cuts
and fills, making a total distance Of 49,
miles; by air line, 80 miles.
Much might be said about the pro-
ductiye resources of people along the
whole route: but it is deemed uanecessa-
~, as nearly all tic people interested
are aware Of the extreme richness and
fertility af the soil. The heavy growth
of the timber, the energy and industry
of the inhabitants Let il suffice TO say
that every mile ofthe route, with the ex-
ception of perhaps four or five miles of
cedar rlades, and Elk Ridge, is OF the
best soil in Tennessee The farms are
well o ,ened, more than half being in
cUltiy ton, or in bluegrass, with oc-
c-siol / cedar points in Maury and Mar
shall, from which can be obtained all
he cross~ties needed for the road. Prob
ably there is no county in the State that
can fur ish better quality of cedar tim
Der than Marshall county. The GsolGg-
zeal features along the route develop
only the rocks OF the Lower Nashville
and Upper Trenton groupcs, which any
one familiar with the science knows Is
the foundation " all OF or best soils in
Middle Tennessee.
An air line from Columbia Depot 10
Fayetteville Court House would leave
Lewisburg AT rs miles, 2lz miles to the
left: al the 18th mile, leave Cornersville
3 miles to the right; passing McGaheys
and G, w. G. Neil's stores, leaving at the
18th mile Petersburg 80 miles to the
left. arriving at Court House, Fayette-
vile, Lincoln county, at 80 miles.
Air line ron Columbia to Iewisburg ....I6 N
a. - I.sSis5Jr1 to Petersburg. az M
Petersburg to Fayetteville III d
Making a gain OF = mile upon the air
line between Columbia and Fayettc-
vilio. The greatest point OF departure is
where the route approaches near Park
store, being , 7 miles from the air line.
Length Of road bed..-.-.-............. AZ miles
Fl" e-tracks.......-.............-. IA -
Total le1gt h
The estimated cost of road, and two
train station i4Gssss, H., At 5000 per
mile, is S}E0,O0O.0G, while the Tennessee
& Alabama Il. Rr from Nashville to Co
lumtia n distance OF Il $40 miles cost