The Hickman courier., 1872-03-02

Extension Of EIIZabethtOvvss and
PRducah Railroad 40 KEick-


man.
The Kentucky Legislature has grant
ed charter for the extension of the
Elizabethtown and Padueah Railroad
from Tennessee river to this place, and
fixes Hickman as the Mississippi river
terminus of said road This extension,
however, is in execution of the idea OF
Louisville for an air line road to Little
Rock. and tie South. An examination
of the map will prove that the designa-
tion of Hickman by charter as the Mis-
sissippi river terminus is from just and
we'll considered reasons. 1t is the result OF
co operating influences, which as above
Stated, looks to the building of an air line
road from, Louisville to Little Rock via
zlslizabethtown and Paaucuh road "a
Tennessee river, thence through Mar
shall, Graves, Hickman, and Fulton, to
this place thence via Mississippi Leyee
Road to Point Pleasant in Missouri
thence via the Point Pleasant plank road
(pow converted into Railroad corpora
tion) to point intersecting with the
Cairo and Fulton road to Little Rock
This route-we are advised, is many
miles shorter from Louisville to Little
Rock than any other in contemplation.
The means for the building of this
line is obtainabIe; aud already partly
provided for. Fulton county through
our Mississippi Levee Company is pre-
pared to raise money equal TO the build
ing Of the dirt work from Hickman to
Point Pleasant, aud cur Missouri friends
are already organized and at work,
through State aid aud private donations,
to convert their plank road into rail
road. which will furnish The necessary
intersection with the Cairo and Fulton.
This leaves the gap between Tennessee
river and Hickman, to be provided for
This gap runs through the heart OF the
rich counties of Marshall, Graves, and
Hickman. passing directly through the
towns of Benton, and Mayfeld, and cross
ing the Mobile and Ohio at Moscow
The line. therefore, must attract great
local popularity as it viii be of the
greatest local advantage in passing
through the very center of said counties,
and sections now denied railroad advane
tages. The Columbus route has small
advantage in the distance from Tennes-
see river to Columbus, bat must neeessa
rily run merely through the edges Of
these counties to obtain it but in any
event the Hickman line has considerable
advantage In the distance from Louisville
10 Little Rock The Sac. tt~t .Ls II i..l=
man line runs through The very center OF
the counties named, and to the advantage
of important towns. must give the line
great popularity with the people. Hence
it is that Senators Hale and Gilbert,
knowing the interest and preference Of
these counties, procured the charter as
above stated
That this line will excite opposition;
and that the Columbus route. or Cairo
route, may be decided upon in preference;
or that the extension by never be made,
are all probable but at present the
Hickman line appears to be preferred.
We do not desire to excite any undue
hope in our own town, or in the counties
and towns in Western Kentucky along
the proposed line, for after all. the build
ing Of the proposed line depends mainly
upon the material aid we shall give.
We are disgusted With that railroad Ell
tknsiasm which builds greas lines of
railway, on paper, in the imagination, or
through the public prints, without dol
lar basis. Such state Of feeling works
great injury to the community There
is nothing, either in geography, nature,
The necessities of trade which also
-lately compel this road to come to Hiek-
MANN other words our route while
evidently the best and most practicable
is not SO superior to others as to force the
road on US without any assistance on
our part; but it is obtainable. The
town Of Hickman. with the exception of
Paducah, possesses more real wealth and
surplus capital than any Of cur neighbor
towns, and if she viii lead of il pro
portion to her ability, the enterprise is
assured. If not. the road when built
must find another line.
Capt. Tyler, the President of the Miss
issiPpi LeFee Company. and others of,
known energy and capital, are earnestly
at work in behalf of the enterprise; and
their uniform successes almost lead us
to predict success in this.
The proposition, however, is before
the people of Marshall, Graves, Hick
man and Fulton. and of the towns of
Benton, Aaytield, Moscow and Hickman.
and while other substantial propositions
are maturing. we submit the matter for
pubic consideration. We beg the peo-
pie and towns along the proposed line to
consider the advantages to their re,
spectiye localities, and remember that
some little help is expected from each.
s<aoicai Meeting i'm Hickman
County.
The Republicans of Hickman county.
held meeting at Columbus last week, at
which W. &. Hall was elected Chairman
and Mr W F. Donaldson, Secretary.
The meeting passed resolutions epdors-
ing Grants Administration, and recom-
mending his denomination for President.
It also denounced the movement of the
Liberal Republicans for a convention t
Cincinnati, and INDUCED in needless
aiiirmations of faith in the Republican
party the whole Of which means that w. !
n. Hall wants TO be postmaster again.