Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-02-07

vile to Princeton the line lies through the
best part Of Kentucy, and, simply a . local
road, would pay well, and give this city the
trade of magnificent country.
The line from eight miles beyond Clarks-
vile TO Princeton, or If extended, to about
ten miles beyond Princeton, is almost as
level as a floor, crossing few streams, and
those cheaply bridged, and one ridge which
is low and narrow, presenting ne difficulties.
From Clarksyille 10 Princeton is a. miles by
the surveyed line. Going beyond Princeton
the road would cross Crittenden county Ky,
by Marion to the Ohio at Elizabethtown,
Ill, there reaching the Ohio and permanent
navigation. The line in Crittenden county
runs through very fine but undeveloped
country, rolling, with fine soil and great
mineral wealth. Crittenden is crossed by
one hard sandstone ridge which would give
few miles of more expensive work, but
presenting no great difficulties, while the
rest Of the line could be constructed at the
average rate of expenditure in rolling coun-
tries. This county abounds in coal, lead
and iron which have not been greatly
/ ton. Except the eastern part 1t is level or
gently rolling. The distance TO the Ohio at
1 El3zabethtOwn from Princeton is about 30
miles. Thus line from Nashville TO the
Ohio at Eltzabethtown would be only little
| over 100 miles.
This line would have the advantage of
/ being on the air line to st. Louis, which
would greatly add TO Its ultimate import
ance. The air line from Nashville TO st.
Louis would run from Elizabethtown, ILL.,,
| TO Duquoin, in the center of that State, from
which point there is already road built to
H.
although the Louisville i Nashville road
owns the road from Shawneetown, on the
| Ohio, TO Duquoin. With an eye to the
| future, everyone who has at all studied the
situation must be convinced that this air
/ line to st. Louis is a matter of great import
ance, and IL is not improbable that the
Illinois Central win perceive the importance
of such line, giving them east and west
connections withFheir north and south line.
Thus it will be seen that the line we pro-
pose is every mile of it both of present ad-
vantage as to local trade and cheaper outlet
and in the direction of the inevitable future
railroad development. With the first sec
ton we reach GAINESVILLE and a valuable
|, market which IL Is surprising Nashville has
not reached before, earlier and better river
transportation than we can nave from Nash
Vile for some time, and a fair local trade
| With the second we cut the center ol
the richest agricultural region OF Ken
lucky, not even excepting the bluegrass:
region, and at Princeton reach a new route
to Louisville and the Ohio. With the THIRD
we reach through country equally ~
grazing country, with boundlesS minera
resources, permanent navigation by an in
! dependent line under our own control. Sucf
line would make that we have, no mattel
who controlled it, a blessing instead of al
incubus, make Nashville center TO b.
aimed at and sought by all East and Yves
| lines, give to our trade q far richer country
than any we now reach.
With the exception of the line between
here and GAINESVILLE. which, on the rive
route, would be fairly good, there are not Il
miles of poor country on the line. Having
been over the entire line from GAINESVILLE t
Princeton and through much of the country
along both sides and all over CrittendeI
county, we think investigation will bear u
out in the assertion that there is not a hun
dred miles of road in the United States run
ming through better country or one NOR
desirable for q commercial city like Nash
willie.
We offer this merely as a suggestion Il
those who are studying the situation that i
may be considered, objections pointed out
the whole subject thoroughly sifted and tn
, relative advantages of various suggestion
, fully weighed, that Nashville, after matur
consideration, may bend all her energies t
some one way out of the present difficulty
| We have no one-idea devotion to any plan
, but only a desire, by presenting all, 10 hav
: a full consideration of all and determine
ton of what is feasible, adequate and within
| Onr means.