Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-10-09


prove every advantage God ha:
given them, while we utterly ig
more those given us.
But the point to which I desire
particularly to call attention, is 8
matter which has proven to be O
incalculable value to Columbus
and precisely the same case pre-
sents itself to GAINESVILLE. A few
years ago Columbus was terribly
troubled for coal. Some enterpris.
ing citizens conceived the idea oil
building railroad to the coal mines
in the southeastern part of the
state, some go or 20 miles distant.
The result is the Columbus and
Hooking valley railroad. This road
runs from Columbus right down in
to the coal mines, where the cars
can be loaded and in a couple OF
hours landed in Columbus. The eff
feet on Columbus is an increase in
population of 20 per cent, in bust
ness more than 25 per cent, and a
decrease in the cost of coal alone,
of so per cent. Coal is sold there
now at s cents per bushel; we pay
from Is to 20, and so did they be-
fore this road was built. What are
the other effects Lancaster, on
this line of road, has doubled its
population so has Logan /; and
Jacksonville has grown up from the
woods. The entire route from Col
umbus to Nelsonville is now filled
with a busy, active, stirring people;
manufactures of all kinds are con-
stantly springing up, until the
whole valley is now perfect bee
hive of workers.
Along this entire route there is no
natural advantage that does not
surround GAINESVILLE. In addition,
we have river at our door which
can be turned to immense advant-
age, that Columbus has not. Now
apply this experiment to Clarks-
vile. From here to the coal mines
in Kentucky is about the same dis
lance as from Columbus to her coal
mines. The coal is equally good.
A road would pass through some
of the finest country the sun shines
on. Our coal could be laid down at
our doors at s cents or less per BUSH
ell, instead of from Is to 20. With
cheap fuel, would come manufactO-
ries. This brings busy working
class among us. All along this line
busy little towns will spring up
which would be supplied from here,
and we would have repetition of
the same experience here that the
people of Columbus, Ohio, had.
The Columbus & Hooking valley
road is one of the best paying roads
i'm the state. ] ascertained that the
stock could not be bought in the
market. 1t is now over-run with
business, and the directors are con-
templating a double track. Its
principal freight business is carry
ing coal. Now can any man show
me why this cannot be done here ?
1t is useless to cite me to the expe-
rience in building railroads hereto
fore in the south. The wreck of
these roads by the war is a complete
answer to that. Look what the
stock in our roads is worth to-day
after few years of peace.
"But," it is objected, "this road
runs too near the Evansville road"
In Ohio you will see railroads run
ming for miles side by side. Expe-
rienee in other states teaches that
every additional railroad makes adj
ditiOnal business. Although Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois are covered all
over with perfect network of rail-
roads, / found in Ohio every train
was crowded to its utmost, and ev-
cry road had from six to eight pas
senger trains over it per day, and
from eight to ten coaches in every
train. And strange to say, they
are building new roads there yet,
Then, If experience is worth any
thing, it is all In favor of railroads.
Cannot our people be induced to
fully realize the importance of this
road to GAINESVILLE, and what it will
do for her? Build it, and in FIVE
years your city will have pOpula-
ton of 10000, and business will be
as active and prosperous as in our
northern cities. Neglect it, and
some more enterprising people will
seize the advantage and sap your
most vital interest. The project
has been talked of long enough can
It not be put into operation ?
We found u great inquiry in Ohio
about Tennessee lands, and her eli
mate, prosperity and general oondi-
ton, and quite a number will visit
our state this winter with view of
locating. Let them not be driven
away by want of enterprise on
orr mart. NJ.
GAINESVILLE, Oct. 1, 1880.