The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1880-01-20
Let Us Do Il.

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concerned about question so potent
n all its bearings upon the welfare of
he city and county. We refer not so
much to the project of building the
Russcllville and Elkton road as TO
proposed construction of one 10 the
Cumberland river via Cadiz. This
road is necessity, and must be built,
sooner or later. Then why not go 10
work in earnest and build it? Let
the people build and own this road
themselves, and they will be indie
pendent, they can snap their fingers
at monopolists and transport their
freight by the way provided by
-Omnipitence-the river. If it does
take longer it will not mako any ma
terial difference, especially when the
great saving in transportation is con-
sidcred. Trigg county is anxious to
unite in building this road, for she
knows its advantages to Cadiz, her
county seat. Instead of being shut
off from the rest of the world, she
will be brought out from her seclus-
ion, and take her place among the
live towns of the State. just think
fora moment what this road can be
built for. Ii is thirty miles to the
river, ten miles to the county line.
we are informed by experienced rail
road men that the road can be built
and equipped for $1,000 per mile.
This would make the proportion of
Christian $4,000 and Trigg $4,000,
and the whole line $4,000. We be-
lieve there are men ready and anxious
to invest their surplus capital in this
road, but we are not of the opinion
that the road should be built by midi.
viduals. individuals could form
themselves into q company, and ex-
tort from the people just as the other
companies are doing. But il the
road is owned and managed by the
county it can be run in the interests
OF the county and the people, and not
made asource ofrevenuef for few
capitalists. 1t may be said that the
county should not be taxed to build
a road that would only pass through
a portion of 1t THAT only those d.
rectly interested should bear the bur-
den. But let rs reason, anything that
benefits one member of the body is
beneficial to the whole body, for the
body is but the several parts united.
So with this road, although but one
section will be directly benefited, the
increase of the value of real estate
along the route, and the increased in
fux Of trade from the lower end Of
the road win interest the prosperity
of the whole county. Land now
worth $40 will then perhaps be worth
$40, and consequently the taxes there
on will be doubled and of course the
money will go into the county treas
ury. Immense quantities of tobacco
that now 60 10 other markets, by way
of the river, WIN then come here
There is no doubt that numbers and
numbers of hogsheads of tobacco go
TO other places simply because it is
entirely impossible to navigate" the
mud roads witha loaded wagon for
months every year. And then
another reason, GAINESVILLE, weighed
down with debt as she is, is not
going to remain idle. Active steps
are being taken to build q road from
Clarksvilleto Princeton, through the
finest portion of Christian and Trigg
counties. What effect will this have
OH the City of Hopkinsville? Why
simply take still greater amount of
the produce-of not only Trigg but
Christian also--to GAINESVILLE and the
first thing she kno VS. her tobacco
market will be redaced to about half
its present status, and Clarksville
will place her thumb upon her nose
and wiggle her fingers in derision,
and exultation at her discounted
rival. And now a word as TO what
will be saved. The present road will
be deprived of at least halfits freight,
and even if this is not The case will be
compelled to return to former rates,
thereby saving to the people enough
in one year 10 build the road. Sup
pose every business man would agree |
to give an amount equal to half his |
freight expenses, why the road could |
be built q broad gauge and elegantly
equipped with the savings of one |
year. Now whatwe need is. a few
live men 10 take up the matter and
push italong. The increase upon
the taxes of the property in the
county would hardly be perceptible,
aud before the people knew. it they
would have paid for the road. Let it
be done, let Trigg and Christian be
linked together by iron bands. Let
The Locomotives shrill whistle be
heard amid the rocks and hills of
rrigg county, and opening up way
for her TO get her produce TO this
and for us TO compel cheap
er rates Of transportation. Who will
AXE the lead? Who will utter the
key-w ord-"Sesame" Let US see.
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