The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-05-28
GRANn On pEr1r InRon
Land subscription to Railroads

Gen. j. ID. Imboden, of Virginia, has
been to Europe and spent two years,
and whilst there has taken a step which
may have most important bearing up
on railroad building in the Southern
States. He has published in the Louis
Vile COurier-JOUFRdL the result of his
labors, and his letter is a most forcible
and eloquent description of what may
be the future of Virginia and Kentucky,
and we may add of Tennessee also.
His object is to connect the Ohio river
at Louisville with tide-waters in Vir-
ginia mt Norfolk by means of a cheap
narrow-guag railway, penetrating the
rich mineral counties of Virginia and
Kentucky. He says: al spent six
months in London last year, and have
there interested parties abundantly
able and willing to carry it through on
such a basis of local aid as the charter
provides for.'' His description of the
line reminds us very much of the line of
the railroad from this city to Knoxville.
at runs" says Gen. Imboden, "through
nine counties that are without railway
facilities. The region of country TO be
traversed abounds in enormous undevel-
oped wealth. He further says: eve
bring these people here, and without
burdening ourselves to DO it. Even a
small portion of the now uncultivated
and mineral lands alone, lying within
five miles Of Q railway line between Rich
mond and LouisYilla, now unprOduc-
tive to the owners, If put into the COM
mon stock of the railway company
would form a basis of credit on which
every dollar of the money needed to
construct the road and unite our cities
can be raised on first MORTGAGE
in England before this year of grace
1874 passes away. The best contribu-
ton the people can make in aid of the
work would be a sale of a part of their
surplus lands for railway stock"
Speaking of the character of the men
who would come here Gen. lmboden
says "He willinot let the lands lie idle.
Ii there be minerals below the surface
he brings all the mighty agencies of ST.
ence and modern invention TO his aid
and invades the very dominions of Plu-
to himself, and wrestles from his grasp
the treasures he has watched ever since
the foundations of the world were laid.
II the soil be fat and generous, he pro-
claims the fact to his countrymen, and
they join him IN countless numbers TO
share the prize he has found" This
road is intended to 90 by Cumberland
Gap, and VIII be, says Gen. Imboden,
"the shortest route geography admits of
from Louisville to the sea-" Many of
AAAN ANltAeAANs nAdNlG ~ 0Ntl. AAiDOQGR
ply with equally rs much force to the
Memphis and Knoxville road as they
do to the Louisville and Richmond rail-
road in fact, tho Memphis and Knox
vile road might be extended to connect
with this road near the Virginia State
Line, thus giving an unbrOken line of
nRrrow-guage railway from the AIissis-
sippi at Memphis TO tide-water at Nor
folk. The railroad convention in this
city on the 22d of April adopted reSo-
luton .p favor of extending their road
TO Norfolk So soon rs their revenues
will justify them in SO doing, The |
scheme OF Gen. Imboden can and viii /
be united with the proposition now be- |
ing urged by the friends of the Mem /
phis and Knoxville road. The waste 1
lands between this city and Knoxville, |
within five miles of the road, now un- /
productive to the owners, if put into /
the common stock of the railway COM {
pany, would form a basis OF credit upon I
which every dollar of money needed to /
build this road would be obtained be- |
fore this year of grace 1874 passes away. |
Let the two roads be common from
Norfolk TO the Tennessee and Virginia
Inc, and then the Tennessee road be
extended through Knoxville 10 Mem
PMS. We need cheap railway from
the Mississippi river TO Norfolk, thus
avoiding the necessity of transferring
freights or breaking baik at Knoxville
or any other point. We may refer to
this subject again, as it is one of great
practical importance.-Appeal.