Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-01
NASHVILLE AS A RAILROAD
CENTRE.
Proposed Southern Connections.

Under the heading, "IS Nashville to be
a Great Commercial Centre or Simply a
Way Station on the Great North and South
Line?' the Journal Of Commerce, of this
city, published yesterday a lengthy editOri-
al which bears evidence Of careful study,
and from which We extract the following
At present Nashville is only a station on
the great North and South route. The dis
elimination made by the Louisville and
Great Southern against Nashville, both as
to rates Of freieht and time Of delivery of
goods, virtually cuts off her trade from a
large section Of the country, which would
otherwise come 10 our city as their natural
outlet for their produce and market for
their supplies.
\ merchant from North Alabama came
North to purchase goods for Christmas; he
stopped at Nashville and purchased part of
his bill, and then went on to Louisville
and completed his purchase. The goods he
bought at the latter place came to hand in
good season, and were sold out before the
Nashville purchase arrived. When they
did the season for the sale of that class of
goods was past, and consequently he lost by
them.
Nashville wants and must have, if she is
TO become a great commercial centre, a
short through line to East Alabama and
Western Georgia, making connection with
the great railway system of the South.
Now she has an opportunity to secure such
a connection, and one that would give her
command of all the country above men,
toned, and also open direct communion
tiOn with the Southern Atlantic at Pensa-
cola, Florida, at least 80 miles shorter
than the present route of the Louisville
and Great Southern. We say now is the
time to strike for there are two important
links in this connection which can be Sc
cured at mere nominal prices.
a road from Stevenson to GunteTsville,
Alabama, "a distance Of about 40 miles)
would strike the Tennessee and COOSa rail
road, which is SO miles long, nme-teuths
of the grading being done and the road
completed and i'm running order from Gads-
den to Alfalfa on the Chattanooga and
Alabama road. At tiadsden it would
strike the East Alabama and Cincinnati
road, which runs from Gadsden to Opelika,
on the Montgomery and West Point road,
crossing the Selma, Rome and DetOn road
at Oxford. This road is about 100 miles
long, 20 miles of which is finished and in
operation from Opelika towards Oxford.
About u miles of the balance is graded,
thus leaving Gj miles 10 be built.
Both of the above roads can be bought at
a nominal price, so the matter reduces it.
self to this, that there would be only 105
miles of road to build to open up all this
magnificent country, and give Nashville
the control Of its trade, for this would be
the shortest route by $50 milesto the South
err Atlantic. At Opelika you are brought
in connection with the railway system of
Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The road
would run through extensive coal and iron
fields, and through the most magnificent
pine forests in the world, and the connec-
tions would be direct for Pensacola, Macon,
Savannah, and Port Royal and Charleston,
South Carolina.
With a connection such asthis, the Nash
vile and Chattanooga railroad would be
one Of tie best paying aud strongest cor
pora ions in the Union, and in giving vital
ity to the trade Of our city could defy COM
petition, for she could carry freight cheap
er than any other line, tapping the Missis-
sippi at Hickman, the Cumberland ~ Nash
vile, and the Tennessee at three points,
viz: JOhnsOnyille, Bridgeport and Chatta-
nOOga. Having the longest water and short |
est rail between between the great produc. |
ing sections and the Southern Atlantic, the |
Nashville and Chattanooga would become
the great highway Of the South, and Nash |
vile owning controlling interest In it |
would soon rise from her present position |
to that Of first-class commercial city, the |
rival of st. Louis or Chicago.
The possible development that such
scheme would produce is almost incOn-
ceivable in its grandeur. But the question
arises, can we do it? We feel satisfied if a
few earnest men would take hold and Co
operate with the Nashville and ChattanoC-
ga Railroad, the thing could be done. 1t
would pay Nashville we'll to take stock in
such an enterprise; and all we want is 10
show cur faith by our works, give an ear
nest Of our own confidence by investing all
hat we can, and We venture the prediction
hat work of such grandeur would not
lcng have to go begging for capital.