The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-30
The Columbia and Santa Fe Turn
pike-ShnII IL he Built7


The County Court of your county vir-
tually say no.
do not write for the purpose of cast.
ing reflection upon the honorable gentle
men who compose that body, or bringing
them into disrepute. They are all gem
tlemen, and most of them my wsrmest
personal friends. They seem to be guard
ing with much zeal and earnestness the
property and effects of the county, and
for this, they deserve much commenda-
ton. | would not say aught against
them, but the subject of turnpikes in our
county is one of public importance, and
it is the right and privilege of every citi-
zen to express himself although his ideas
may conflict with the ideas of other gem
tlemen of equal or greater capability.
1t is human to err and consequently they
may have much earnestness, and still
have their zeal instructed.
Experience is said to be the best teach.
err, and | therefore refer those gentle
men, who talk so loudly of the milk in
the cocoanut,' to the original incorpora-
tors of the above road, and if they cannot
be convinced by their experience, let them
take the cocoauut (Turnpikel in hand
themselves, and they shall have all the
milk they can get out of it, not only, with
out opposition from me but with my warm
est support and hearty approval.
The county can well afford to build oil
necessary bridges across Duck river, and
keep them up; if thereby they can induce
private companies to contract and build
turnpikes along our most public thorough
fares. They have to keep up the bridges
any way, and it is certainly no loss TO the
county to be deprived furnishing to over
scers tools and materials, at a cost OF
hundreds of dollars, annually.
What did "The Columbia, Santa Fc
and Vostal lanyard Turnpike Company"
pay to that incorporation after they had
expended eight or ten thousand dollars
in building the road2
They built the road at that time under
a charter of like privileges and subject to
the same penalties prescribed in our
charter. Who says there was any milk
in that cOcOGRut?
Did James G, VOORHEES,, Henry Zellner,
Ihmas Witherspoon, Nelson McGuire or
s. Il. Timmors, ever realize anything
out of the investment What say you,
gentlemen
Facts are stubborn things, and straws
show which way the wind blows.
After the road had been completed at
the enormous cost alluded to- three Of the
largest stock holders to wit; Thos With
erspoon, Henry Zellner and S. II. Tim.
mons gave their shares away rescrving
only free passage for themselves and
families, with the promise that the road
should be kept up. This was alfthe milk |
they could find in that cOcoanut, after an |
experience of several years.
No nrIVatp stock pOmnanV pnn Afford In l
build a turnpike and bind themselves to |
keep up bridge across Duck river, much |
less pay for an old bridge ms worthless as
the one at Duck River Station. To in |
slst that it shall be done, is simply TO put |
a quietus forever, to the building OF turn.
pixies from the North side of the river. |
Let those who talk Of milk in tho cocoa
nut" prove their faith by their works. or
else, forever hereafter hold their peace,
The way is open, walk in lemons and be
squeezed
do not believe that the body Of the !
Court would have opposed our proposed |
lurnplke-but the impression was created /
that there was much milk in the cocoa
nut. Again repeat, prove your fruit |
by your works. If you think there is
milk IN the cOcoanut give us your right /
hand OF fellowship, and your right pocket
q .A4oneyShip, and we will divide the
spous, otherwise pay us for the work done
and take the whole thing yourselves.
Instead OF OPPOSITION, l expected to find
in the County Court
never dreamed, until receiving notice
from the Chairman to appear aud negO-
tate for the purchase Of the aforeSmen
TONED bridge, that ! would have INV
whatever. ! thought the county |
had been canyassed so fully upon the sub.
lect OF InFnpikes, that not a voice could !
be heard against them-espccially when
built, by private enterprise. Being anx.
Ious and hoping that the road might be
built, | made many and various propo-
sitions to build it, or let the Court
build tall of which were declined and
rejected They neither wanted the milk |
in the cOcoanut' nor would they let the |
have it-although the company |
has already expended near ono thousand
dollars in grading the bed of the road.
We are sorry the road can not be built,
on terms acceptable to the Court; they |
not only refuse the right to the use of the
bridge, but decline to give right to the bed
Of the road,
We yield reluctantly, to the persuasion |
OF 80 court, and consent TO try the dirt |
road awhile longer. and let them husband
the finances, by not only keeping up the |
bridge, but by furnishing the tools and
necessary material to their overseers, that |
they may screen themselves from liability |
in the Criminal Court, to say nothing OF
the loss to the material wealth of the |
county, and the inconvenience to its citi-
zens from bad roads. / am done.
WILLIAM II, IINNoXs.