The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-10-06
The Morristown Gazette.
HAWKINS COUNTY DEPARTMENT.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 6, 1875.
ROgersviIle and Jefferson Rail-
road.


road.
We have known men who coolly
and deliberately took their own lives
We have heard Of lunatics or idiots who
lit cigars with hundred dollar bills, and
we have heard of others who with their
own hands set fire to their dwellings and
consumed them with all the worldly
possessions of their owners, but we have
never admired the judgment of such fell
lows. Akin to the acts of these mad
men is the idea of those who desire the
destruction of the Rogersville and jeff
erson Railroad. Even in its present con-
dition that road is of great value to the
people of Hawkins county. 1t is the
only line of communication with the
great world of commerce and trade out
side of and beyond US. In the immedi-
ate future it is to be of immensely more
importance than it is at present. Our
people have not yet entirely recovered
from the poverty brought upon them by
the war. Their energies to a great ex-
tent were paralyzed, while they were
thrown into confusion and uncertainty.
They are beginning now to surmOunt
their difficulties; the darkness is disap-
pearing; their spirits and energies are re-
turning, and they are going to work with
a purpose-and that purpose is to make
old Hawkins what she once was, and
what she must be again, the first county
Ga East Tennessee.
The town of Rogersville is not any
more interested in the running of that
road, than the people of any other neigh
borhoOd in the county. The truth is, its
destruction would be a calamity to us
all.
The county owes some forty or fifty
thousand dollars for the construction of
that road This debt must be paid. If
the road is permitted to go to dcstruc-
ton the people will have the money to
pay all the same, while they will reap no
benefit from it. The only possible way
for US to save ourselves now is to en-
force the running of that road with
steam in accordance with the Nashville
decree. This we can do and this we
ought to do.
We have been told by practical sensi-
BILE railroad men that the bridge can be
repaired for a thousand dollars, so that
it will be perfectly save and will last for
ten years We believe this to be true.
Then why should we not require the
purchaser of the road to comply with his
contract, repair the bridge and run the
road with steam six days in the week?
Suppose the county was to purchase
the road and the business men would
promise her to take up the track. What
thenH Why the county could get the
road for perhaps twenty-five thousand
dollars. Add that to the present Rail-
road debt, and we will owe scventy-five
thousand dollars What will we have
To pay it with? A lot of old rusty front
To take up that old iron and haul it from
here to Pittsburg or some where else
" i'll cost about twice as much as it is
worth; and then what? Why Hawkins
county will simply play the dickens, and
come out at the little end of the horn!
That is all
But to our mind, there is something
ahead of us better than this. Our coun-
try has received terrible blow-she has
been deeply wounded-but thank God,
she is not dead. Instead of this, she is
getting well rapidly, and in a few years
will be as prosperous and as powerful,
and great deal richer than she ever
was. We see nothing ahead of us
to be frightened at, but great deal to
encourage and animate. Our people are
poor, it is true. But the God of nature
has given us a magnificent countrywide
lands, healthful climate, pure water,
and every natural advantage united to
make a country rich, powerful and pleas
ant. The past with its suffering, its
s0rrows, its wickedness is gone forever
Let it go from our memories if possible.
The future is to come. 1t is full of
hope. Peace and great prosperity are in
store for US and our children. Let us
trust in God, work hard. be economical
and all will soon be well.
As to our railroad it is a fixed fact.
1t is already built The repairs neces-
sary to run it with steam will not cost
much. We should hold on to it for a
while longer and perhaps In a few years
an arrangement can be made with CAPT
talists, by which the county will get
back it money, and at the same time the
road be put in better condition than it
ever has been. In any event don't let
us cut our throats or hang ourselves just
yet. Next year will be time enough to
talk of that.
Why, just the other day Powel's Salt
Works, over in Poor Valley, were leased
TO a company of capitalists. Work will
commence there soon. Who knows but
what in a short time the Salt Works
there win equal Kings Works" in Vir-
ginia? Without the railroad, how can
we hope for salt to ever be manufactured
there?
We hear that a company is now being