The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-09-19


was built In fact it was simpl,
impossible to put weight enougl
upon it to break it down. Many o
the timbers are rotting-haye rottei
| places in them-but none of th,
pieces are entirely rotten, and SO ia
as we are individually concerned
we would not hesitate for minute
to cross there on the heaviest engine
belonging to the East Tennessee
Virginia and Georgia Railroad. We
believe the bridge is safe now But
, we are glad to know that Maj. Aiken
is going to have all the decayed
timber taken out and replaced with
new sound timbers. Ofcourse it will
take some time to do this, and we
cannot expect the cars to cross be-
fore next spring or summer.
We are certainly very much gratif-
ed with the prospect of this road be-
ing repaired and putin good running
order. The fear of finally losing
this road has cast a gloom over the
prospects of this town and neigh
borhood for years. People have
been afraid to buy property here or
10 build upon and improve that which
they already own; but now even
with the hope of better state of
affairs things begin TO wear a more
cheerful aspect. With the assn
rance Of the cars Running regular
and permanently on that road-and
running to the Depot at RogersvilIe
every enterprise about the town
will look up and move forward. Our
schools will begin to flourish as they
never did before, our merchants will
do better business. and our me-
chanics will be busy all the year
round. We have 10 desire to see
Rogersville large town, but we do
earnestly wish to see it a live. active,
business place, full OF prosperous
merchants, and busy, thrifty mechan-
ics--with two of the best and mott
fourishing schools here that the
Southwest can boast of. And with
our railroad in good running order
a permapency-that is exactly the
kind of town Rogersvile will be.
Z he town will not be the only, nor
the principal beneficiary either. The
farmers in the county. those on the
North side of Ciinch Mountain, in
Hancock, Scott and Lee. will feel the
benefit of the road, because they can
then ship their produce TO market
as quickly and as Cheaply as if they
lived near the main line.
Maj. Henry Aiken. the purchaser
of this road, is known TO most Of the
business men of this region. lie is
a gentleman of excellent character.
lie is business man of undoub;ed
aud proved ability. He is remarka
bly, popular where he is known, and
enjoys the respect and confidence Of
all classes of the community. He
is not in the habit Of failing in any
thing he undertakes. He has not
undertaken this enterprise without
counting the cost and looking all
the difficulties square!y in the face.
lie means business and means to
put the RogersvilIe. and Jefferson
Railroad through 70 success. Mai.
Aiken is now the owner OF the road.
He has bought it and paid for it.
1t is unincumbered in his hands by
any lien or other embarrassments.
He assures US that the sale and pur-
chase of the road has been a bona
tide, honest transaction. and that he
intends to operate it first, OF course
for his own profit. and secondly for
the benefit of the people of the
county.
There has never been a month
since this road was built that the
business done by it did not moro
han pay necessary expenses. While
t was operated by the company, a
warm of officers at high salaries de-
'oured everything it ma lie. aud the
anne state of things existed while it
vas IN the hands Of a "Recei yer"
or the benefit OF the State. Maj.
elliott has made money out OF the
Dad since he has been operating it, {
nd our friend Joshua Smith, we are {
lad to know, has made good thing t
ut Of the famous Dump Line" dur !
1g the last three years. In the d
ands of good bu siness man-one .
Tho will for short time use the g
urplus earnings of the road in re- '
airing the track and putting things a
enerally in good order. and one 4
no will not extortion on the pub, a
C for freight and passenger fare
lie business of lhe road will doubt ;
,ss be more prosperous than il has /
yer heretofore been. At least we Z,
ope such will be the case, and we ]
lso hope that the new proprietor =
lay be pleased with his purchase c
nd that he may fad IL really more K
rofitable to himself than he has :
rnr hnnod Cor II 10 La LIZ noo.n. I