Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-03

/ A road from Memphis through the
heart Of the State Is a fixed fact, and
unless Jackson votes the proposed
subscription in March, it 10 more
than likely that It will run on the
/ line above sketched. We think that
the road should come through Jack
son, but if our people refuse to con-
tribute to its construction, we have
no objections to the above route
Our columns, as usual, are open to
the discussion of all the proposed
routes.
eTThe Mayor and Aldermen Of
Jackson have submitted a PROPOSE
ton to the voters of this city for q
subscription of $4,000 to the capt
tai stock OF the Jackson and Mem
phis Railroad Company, and $4,000
TO the capital stock of the Jackson
and Tennessee River Railroad Com
pany; to be voted on Saturday,
March End. Thus this important
question is brought practically be-
fore the people of Jackson, whether
! they will have these roads, or permit
| them to be built around Jackson,
thus depriving us Of the trade which
we now enjoy. The amount asked
for is very small, considering the
wealth and population Of our grow
ing city. Brownsville has subscribe
cd near 100000 to railroad enter
prises. ClarksVille has subscribed an
amount nearly equal to One-fifth of
her taxable property. Corinth,
Miss, has subscribed an amount
equal TO One-fourth of her taxable
property TO bttsSa road to Ham
burg, on the Tennessee River. Alb
erdeen, Miss, subscribed $4,000 to
build branch road to the Mobile
and Ohio road, which sum had to
be paid in five years three-fourths
Of which has been paid. In addi-
ton, she has subscribed 100000 to
the Memphis and Selma road, paya-
BILE in ten years. The taxable prop
erty of Aberdeen is only one-half
what it is in Jackson. Holly
Springs, with population and tax
able property little more than half
that Of jackson, has subscribed $751;
600 to one road, the Memphis and
Selma. Trenton, with one-third of
the population of Jackson, has sub
seribed $780, 900 to a road in the d.
rection of the Mississippi River, al
most unanimously.
We might mention several other
instances of the same kind. The
property and business of Aberdeen,
Corinth, Brownsville. and the other
towns, have greatly increased since
they made their subscriptions. The
building Of these two roads will
bring to Jackson the trade of Hen
derson, Decatur, and Perry counties
on the East, and of the upper part
of Hardeman and Fayette on the
West. At least 10000 bales of cot
ton will reach this market annually
after these roads are built, that do
not now come here. The circle Of
our trade will be greatly Increased,
and the population ard business of
the town will be doubled within two
years after they are finished. Jack
son win derive next year, at least
$l00,000 as profits from the increas-
ed trade which she win get by the
building,of these roads. The money
used in building them will, much OF
it, be expended in Jackson, and new
life and activity will be given to
trade 80 soon as they are commenced.
Property-holders will have their
real estate enhanced in value; La
borers and mechanics will find con-
slant and remunerative employment;
merchants will have greatly increas-
ed business and, in a word, every
man in the town will be benefited.
The road to Memphis will, when
finished, more than pay the interest
on the bonds, and if the city chooses,
she can sell her stock at par rates.
The facts and arguments noticed
in the address of the Commissioners
OF that road, which we publish this
morning, demonstrate that fact.
We will get these roads merely by a
loan of our credit, and the probabil-
ity is the city will have very little
if anything to pay; whilst the bene-
fits to be derived can not be calcu-
lated.
Such will be the case if we build
the roads; but if we lose them great
will be the damage. There is dan
ger in that event that roads may be
be built which will deprive us of a
portion of the trade we now have.
If we get these roads, in addition to
the ones we now have, and to the
Jackson, Huntingdon and Nashville
road, which we will get this year,
Jackson will occupy an impregnable
position, and will rise to be one of
the first cities in Tennessee.