The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-12-05
10 1AwRENeEsuRe.
A Statement of Facts by Maj. Sykes
Why the Road Failed, &c.

Why the Road Failed, &c.
Maj w. j. Sykes of Columbia
came over on Monday to address
the people IN regard to the building
of railroad from this place in the
direction of Lawrenceburg and the
Tennessee River, but after arriving
here he concluded not to speak. In
an interview with him he said to
the editor of the CITIZEN that he
was satisfied that there was very
little interest at this time in the
building of this road, but that did
not affect its Importance and value.
Although he had no pecuniary in
terest in the matter, yet he had long
felt anxious that a road should be
built from Pulaski through Law
renee anG Wayne counties to Mem
phis, and he had eXerted himself
some years ago to bring about this
result. 1t had been failure thus
far, but he hoped it would not al
ways be. Seven miles of the road
from Lawrenceburg to the Giles
county line had been graded and
the cross-ties delivered. Two or
three miles bad been graded in
Giles, leaving only 10 or IL miles
to be graded between Pulaski and
Lawrenceburg. The people of Pu-
laski had done all they could in
voting for the subscription of $40,-
900, but the matter had been taken
out of their hands and carried be
for the courts, not by vote of the
people of Pulaski, but by certain
citizens, and the courts had held
the subscription to be void. Wheth-
Ell that was a right or wrong decis-
ION, it was binding. In answer to
further questions he said, II had
nothing to do with preparing the
charter or with any of the legal pro-
ceedings. They were under the
management of an able and eminent
lawyer of West Tennessee, the at
torney of the Company, who then
believed and now believes he was
right and that the vote was
legal. 1t was unfortunate, and l
so said at the time, that any work
was done in Lawrence. The work
should have been commenced at
Pulaski or not at all, and the Law
renee subscription have remained
unexpended until the road reached
the Lawrence county line, but there
was then no apprehension about the
Pulaski subscription, as is shown
frG m the fact that the contractors,
Rodemer d Chinn, did five or ten
thousand dollars worth of grading
in Giles, for which they were to re
ceive Pulaski bonds, and they have
up to this time received nothing. L
attach blame to no one, but it is
evident there have been some mis-
takes made. The question now is,
what shall be done? Shall all the
work thus far be lost for the want
of energy? The agricultural produc
tions of Lawrence county amount
to over 100000 per annum, to say
nothing of their live stock, animals
for slaughter and manufactures. A
railroad to Lawrenceburg would
command the trade of that whole
county, which will greatly increase
when the road is built. Thirty
Thousand dollars will secure the
road to Lawrenceburg from Pulaski,
and When built that far the people
of Wayne and Lawrence will extend
it to the Tennessee River The
Duck River Valley railroad is being
gradually extended, until eventually
it will reach Huntsville, Ala, and
then it may go West, 1t is more
convenient for Lawrenceburg to
reach the Louisville road IN Giles
county than anywhere else, but if
they can meet with no assistance
here they will seek an outlet some
where else, for outlet they must and
will have. The Duck River valley
railroad has been built at less cost
and run at less expense than any
railroad in the State, IT'S entire ex-
penses per day, including work on
the road bel, are not exceeding six
teen dollars. 1t does al the bpsi-
ness offered, and has capacity TO do
ten times as much. 1t has but one
engine; has been running eighteen
months; has never missed trip,
and never met with any serious &C
cident. Its passenger coaches viii
carry tifty-slx passengers, and only
weigh one half as much as a
passenger coach on the Louisville
road. The people of Hickman coun-
ty this year have graded twenty
miles of railroad by private sub
scriptlon, and will have eight
miles more graded in two months.
shall not attempt to set forth the
advantages of this road. 1t is for
the people of Pulaski and Giles
county to say whether they will
have it, or permit 1t to go in another
direction. l have no doubt the
Memphis g. Knoxville Railroad
Company would turn over To any
company building the road from
Pulaski TO the Tennessee River all
the work done and stock subscribed
i'll Giles, Lawrence and Wayne coun
ties. have done all ! could TO sc
cure the road to this place, and do
not expect to have anything more
to say on the subject.
81 take pleasure in saying that the
President OF the Memphis d Knox
vile Railroad Company has done
all he could in behalf of the enter
prise. and is willing to do more.
still have hope. Nil Desperandum'
is my motto"