The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-08-02
The effect upon the trade of TOlurn.
bia of building the Railroad 10 Lew.
isburg and WilliamspOrt.

We learn from undou bted sources that
If Maury county and Columbia will act
with reasonable liberality, that the peo-
ole OF Lincoln and Marshall counties
are ready to build the railroad from Co
lumbia through their borders.
In view of this determination, we pro-
pose to lay before the citizens of the
town and county some important facts.
AT present a considerable portion of
Maury county, North and South OF Co
lumbia, trades more with Nashville and
other places, than with Columbia. This
is owing to the peculiar position OF these
portions of the county. Around Rally
Hill and Hurts Cross Roads, they have
a turnpike to Nashville aud Franklin.
At Spring Hill they are on the railroad,
and nearer Nashville than Columbia Is.
For these reasons, Columbia loses por-
ton of the trade OF Maury county, and
gets none of tie trade OF Marshall.
Build the railroad even as far as Lewis
burg, and then the whole OF Marshall
county will trade in Columbus, OF pass
through this place, whilst tnone OF IL
now does FROM Lewisburg to Nash
Vile through Columbia, it is only two
miles farther than from Sheleyviile to
Nashville via n. and C. r. X. This will
make it nearer from all parts OF Mar
shall county TO Nashville through Co
lumbia than through Shelbyville. The
building of this road will also turn back
the trade from the country around Rally
Hill. because th9 road Will not be FAR
from them, and they will have turn
nike to it near Berlin. Let us now see
what the trade of Marshall is worth.
The total value of farm productions IN
that county in 1870 was Sl.20i,956. The
value of animals sold for slaughter was
1855, sos. The number oil Dushels Oh
wheat was in that year 1857. Since
that time, one OF the richest portions OF
Giles County has been added to Marshall,
and the portion thus added would be
nearer Nashville by Lewisburg and Co
lumbia than by any other route. The
number of bushels of wheat raised in
that county this year is not less than
20O. 600, and other things in proportion.
All of this would come over the Coluin>
bia road, and our tc wn would get large
norton. we will not say all, OF the trade
of that county. 1t will thus be seen
how important this road is to our mer-
chants and other business men. 1t
would double the trade of Columbia in
one or two wears, even If the road should
only reach Lewisburg. Instead OF do
ing retail business, our merchants
could and would have large wholesale
establishments, and would sell as low
AS merchandise is now sold In Nashville.
We are aware that the business OF the
towns in Marshall county will be very
much increased, but considerable por-
ton of the trade OF that county will come
to Columbia, because here they will find
larger and more extensive assOrt-
unents out of which to make selections
and purchases and because the means OF
reaching here will be within the power
of all. Whilst railroads built up Jack
son and Memphis. they increased great
Iy the business of all towns and villages
on the lines of the various roads. This
was owing to the increased wealth of the
country produced by these improve
ments. So lit will be here.
With the road extended 10 Johnsonville
and St. Louis on the Northwest, and to
JACK son and Memphis on the West, we
could successfully contend with any
other place in Middle Tennessee. VIC
are nearer the coal mines and iron banks
than Nashville is, and t.ere is no reason
why we should not equal i'll commerce
and manufa ctures any place in Middle
Tennessee. Enterpising citizens, wise
liberality and united effort ut this time
are all that we need. An investment of
5000. 900 will secure to Maury county all
the roads size needs. 4 much less sum
viii secure the Duck Kiyel tallGy road,
and this investment Will pay lrer in a
few wears tenfold. This road extended
West as tar as Williamsport even, would
secure to Columbia the trade of Hick-
man county. The value of farm pro-
ducts in Hickman in 1870 was 500, 1879.
We have not alluded to the cedar OF
Marshall, nor to the iron ore OF Hi X
man, which are among their most yalua-
BILE productions, or will he when this
road is built. II we can even get the
road as Tar as lewish burg and Williams
port, it will be EXTENDED through, and
become n great line OF railway. We
have only considered its effects as mere
local road, and we have not overrated
them. Will Columbia and Maury coun-
ty throw away this valuable prize?
Now is the golden moment. If this OPP
portunity is lost, we may never have
another. Who that has the interests OF
| the town aid county at heart will hesi>
tate 10 act ?" We need and must have
prompt and decided action if we wish
| the road.