The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-08-29
NIaury County and the Mem
pIlis and Knoxville Railroad.

pIRis and Knoxville Railroad.
Not much has heretofore been said
about this road coming to Columbia, but
nevertheless a road in which many of
our citizens feel deep interest. We are
informed that they are at work on this
road in West Tenn, most successfully
and the impression is, that 1t be finish
ed to the Tennessee river, either to Sal
tillo or Clifton, during next year. 1t is
also in contemplation to commence work
at Clifton next Spring, and to bring 1t to
Wayne Furnace during next year. What
direction it will then take will depend
upon the citizens of this county. Our
people can get it If they desire it in the
proper manner. This road is of vast i'm
portance to Maury county and to Coz
Iumpia. 1t will give US direct line to
Memphis and the market route to New
Orleans. What we have for sale the
people of West Tennessee, North Mis-
sissippi and Arkansas need and must
have. The reduction in freights between
this place and Memphis, would pay for
the building of this road in this county
In less than ten years. Gen. NEELY, the
President of this company, who we
learn, is the best railroad builder in Ten
nessee, is a native of Maury county, and
Il near relative of President POLK. He
mas the same energy and practical good
sense that characterized his distinguish
ed relative.
They had an enthusiastic railroad
meeting at Bolivar not long since, which
was addressed by Maj. w. ]. SYKES.
From report Of his speech in the Boil
var Bulletin, we give some extracts,
which will show what they are doing.
Many of his remarks are applicable to
other counties as we'll as Henderson:
''What is your condition and what are
your prospects under the system that
mas heretofore been pursued? You raise,
1 am informed, between fifteen and
twenty thousand bales of cotton per an
mum in Hardeman county This brings
into the county $l,500,000 per annum.
What becomes OF this large sum? Does
il leave any permanent wealth in the
county, Does the county realize any
net increase? Look at your decaying
farm houses; your dilapidated fences;
your wasting farms; your land wearing
and lonely and desOlate appearance.
These are imp ortant truths, but they
mad better be realized and admitted 10
order to remedy them. All the proceeds
of your cotton go to other lands to buy
your food, your clothing, your agricul-
Jural implements, your tableware, your
household furniture, your mules and
horses, your means of transportation;
in fact, every thing that you use in your
u FNn1
sons. So long as this state of things cons
tinues your country will never improve.
You make yourselves the willing vas
sails, the Voluntary "hewers of wood and
drawers of water" for people who live
IN other sections. You buy your meat,
your corn, your wheat and your mules
in Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio,
when within twenty miles of you in
Tennessee there are cheaper mules, pork,
corn, wheat and beef cattle than can be
found at ST.. Louis, Louisville, Chicago,
or Cincinnati. You get your iron from
the Northern States when YOU have
more, cheaper and better iron in Ten
uessee than in any more Northern State,
and this iron is within seventy miles OF
Bolivar. With this Memphis and Knox
Vile Railroad competed to the ore banks
III Decatur, Wayne, Lewis and Law
renee, a stream OF wealth will be poured
into Bolivar that will build up factories.
fOundries furnaces and rolling mills in
and around Bolivar that will make this
one of the most flOurishing and growing
towns in West Tennessee. No town or
city ever becomes truly prosperous that
does not engage largely in manufacF ur-
ing, and no place can engage prOhtably
IN this business that does not have the
means of getting cheap fuel, cheap iron
and cheap provisions, and all of these
the Memphis and Knoxville road, when
extended even to the Tennessee river,
will bring to Bolivar. What do all a
mans professions of attachment to the
south and to Tennessee amount to when
he wi l do nothing to bring into use the
DOundlesS hidden wealth of the Suate
which only needs railroads to bring il
into active use and to make il the source
of Tsnnessee's greatest power?
You have the legal but not the moral
right to refuse to aid works Ofpublic i'm
prOvement that are to benefit every
body. How can any man be willing TO
see his neighbors contribute OF their
means to make him rich and he do moth
ing to bring about this result? Do they
not know that the liberal soul shall be
IN de fat and he that watereth shall be
watered again. and are they aware
that we are commanded TO do unto
others as we would have them do unto
us?'
1t has been said that men put their
money into railroads but never get any
out. This was not so. No man ever put
his money into railroad enterprise that
=, not get more in the enhanced value
Of his n -nperty bhan the amount OF his
subscription.