Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-14
TRANSPORTATION.
Facilities Enjoyed by Nashville
for Shipping Manufactured Z
Articles or Raw Material.
The Rock City as a Distributing
Depot.
Competition and its Results.

The railway centres Of the country, if we
may believe reports that emanate from
every quarter, are numberless. The
building Of an additional line Of railway,
or the completion Of branch to a main
line is the signal for the birth Of a full
hedged rail way centre. Maps are publish
ed on which appear real or suggestions
routes Of travel, with scarcely distinguish
ing mark between the two, and frequently
with none (the same with intent to de-
ceive), rnd, as a natural result, the peo-
pie have become a little chary of reposing
much faith in the gilt-edged representations
that appear relative to these predestined?
''railway centres" but in the case of a city
already in possession of a number Of lines,
whose fame. as distributing point is al
ready attained, the matter is vastly differ
ent, ana in commenting upon transporta-
ton we only speak Of facts patent to all.
The favorable influences exeIted by the
various lines Of railway to and from the
city are manifested in numerous ways, not
the least being the diminution in cost of
transportation of raw material and of man
ufactured articles, and these influences
may be made to occasion still greater good
in promoting the development of all man
ner of manufacturing interests. Neither
manufacturing nor jobbing upon any con-
siderable scale can thrive-indeed, cannot
exist in any locality unless there be ready
means Of transportation at rates that will
all things considered-place them upon
the same general equality with rivals else
where.
That railways have largely contributed
in making Nashville what it is, is demon
strated in the everyday transactions Of the
city, and its future will, in great part, de-
pend upon efforts made to attract other
lines. Not only have all real estate values
in the city and adjacent country been won
derfully enhanced by completion of the
railways now existing, but other effects have
followed. Extending to every section of
the country, they have united in bands Of
iron and steel the material interests Of the
whole country, and have attracted TO Mask
vile as a commercial metropolis a trade
that otherwise never would have been
reached; a trade that is not bounded by
State lines, and that has increased each |
year in a ratio far beyond the expectations |
of the most sanguine. The parallel bars of |
iron, extending like the arms of another
Briarus enfold a wide scope of country |
Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, parts Of |
Mississippi, Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas,
Texas, and even States north Of the |
Ohio, have poured into tie lap Of Nashville |
a wealth of trade that is but the indication /
of harvest yet to come. These railway /
lines and those that the necessities Of the
whole country will soon imperatiyely de-
mand shall be built, will enable Nashville
manufacturers to expand their operations |
70 an illimitable extent. The comparative |
ly small shops Of to-day will grow into the /
large factories Of the near future, and each, |
through the success that accompanies its
growth will serve as a lOad-stOne, attract
ing other and similar enterprises, until /
from every portion Of the city shall ascend |
the smoke and steam from busy work
shops Of high and low degree, whose hum
of labor will make the very air resonant
with music.