The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1873-10-01
A NARR0W GUAGE THROUGH
TRUNK ROAD.


the northwest, in the solution Of that
great national problem. cheap over-
land transportation for .Americaa aq.
ricuItuz'ol produce" The agricultn-
raj interests of the nation has been
depressed and depleted beyond en-.
durance. by the extravaganza of the
financial and mercantile interests of
the large cities on the north Atlant-
ic coasts of the United States, to
such an extent, that notwithstanding
the large crons marketed. the coun.
try at large. year by year, is no bet
ter of. The cities of New York,
Philadelphia, Boston aud Baltimore,
have been enriched at the expense
of the producing class. and q system
of lavish extravaganza has been fost.
cred. which has a baneful effect over
the entire country. Extravagaut
fashions and tastes are encouraged,
and general extortion has become
the order OF the day. The agricuI-
t1ralists of America are viewed from
the great centres of travel. as the le.
climate ''hewers of wood and draw
crs of WATER to be bled without
scruple. There is but one remedy
for this condition of things, and that
is, in the citizens of the great agri-
cultural states of Minnesota, Wis.
consin, Illinois. Indiana. Ohio, Ken.
lucky, Tennessee, North Carolina.
and South Carolina, opening out q
new and economical national rail-
road high way TO market. via Foot
Point, Port Royal Sound, South Car
Olina. Without it, there is no throw
ing off the vassalage, that now binds
us to the eastern cities. The intro
duction of new system of construct
ing railroads, of a narrow guage.
costing on an average from one-third
to one-half of that spent on the east
ern lines, is very opportune, and if
thoroughly endorsed by the people
of the states named. will reduce the
cost of transportation to and from
foreign markets at least one-thiri-
this saving alone, in o.:e year, after
the completion of the through route
by as near air line as possible, con.
Meeting Lake Superior with Port
Royal Sound. will pay at least one
third the entire cost of the work.
which, with ample equipment. need
not exceed $4,000 per mile, or
twenty millions OF dollars. The
farmers of the section designated,
have never received any protection
from tho Government they have
delved in rain and sun to produce
the means of paying the national
debt, and it is about time that some
assistance should be afforded them
in economically marketing their
crops. This relief can be afforded
by the government giving a charter
for the road, and guaranteeing first
mortgage bonds drawing six per
cent. per annum, payable in ten
years, the interest to be paid out of
the first net earnings of the compa-
ny, and portion of the net earn
ings be annually appropriated to a
sinking fund. with which to liqudate
the guarantee bonds of the company.
Each county traversed by the road,
should have the authority to elect
director. by popular vote, and these
should elect a President, Vice Presi-
dent and other officers to serve two
years, and board of six or eight
managing directors. l throw out
these hints to invite attention to the
plan, and to say that the Govern.
ment will be forced to afford relief
to the farmers, and that it will be
but common sense for tbs delegates
at the Warm Springs meeting of the
3Oth September, to take suoh action
as will secure the advantages OF the
work suggested. From Foot Point,
Port Royal Sonnd, South Carolina,
to the French Broad valley, in Ten.
nessee is about 23O miles. through
dry beautiful country. The route
down tho French Broad to Paint
Rock is especially desirable The
route through Tennessee to Cnmber-
land Gap is perfectly feasible. and
so on via the Kentucky river through
Kentucky to Carr ltnn, on the Ohio !;
through Indiana via Indianapolis to
Chicago is the route desirable !;
through Illinois via Chicago and on
to Lake Superior to Duluth, Minne-
sofa. passing through Wisconsin,
everything is favorable. The dist
| ance from the ocean to the Ohio riy.
err is less than $50 miles; to India.
napolis, $50; Chicago, sos; Lake
Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, 1926
miles. This national trunk line af.
fords an outlet for the numerous
narrow guage roads that are being
| constructed in the West-''1nd
can assure the public. that there is no
difficulty cbout raising the money to
build it." For any one at all famil.
| inr with railroad matters, will readily
see that the immense products of
the grain states alone, will insure q
handsome business to the road. In
addition to this, British commerce is
1