Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-02-17
Our New Railroad.

EDITOR CHRONICLE The SUBJ
ject of building railroad occupies
the attention of our people at pres
ent to a greater extent than any
other. Many reasons for the
necessity can be advanced, all being
good and true. Our city is clearly
on the decline as regards the valua-
ton of property, but much greater
injury results from the almost total
lack of energy and enterprise of her
citizens who are able TO take this
matter in hand and move forward
to a successful accomplishment of
the ends required to make us pros
porous in building up large popu-
lation. The idea that many move
away who have small means does
not injure, is erroneous. They are
the very ones VINO spend all they
can make here amongst the business
classes. Then it becomes more ap-
parent that we are compelled to gain
strength by finding employment for
larger numbers of this class and in
doing so we must start manufacto-
ries, such as cotton mills, iron foun-
drys, furnaces, nail mills, &c.
To do this cheap coal is the pivot
or fulcrum, first to prepare and to
get this and hold the control of the
same, you are compelled to build a
railroad direct to the coal mines
and this must be independent OF any
other road or the use of the bridges
or any part of their track, as in such
they would soon own controlling
interest in it, and discriminate
against GAINESVILLE. The road should
be built direct to the coal regions
and on that line let it be in what
direction you will determine upon.
The tobacco trade also will increase
as this is fertile country, in all
directions-give them the direct
transportation and they will pro-
duce and ship to this city. Bridging
Red River is not such an impossi-
BILE barrier and can be accomplished
at much less cost than any OF the
old bridges. Then, fellow-citizens,
take hold with will, let the ter
minus be GAINESVILLE and the peO-
pie here and along the line own and
build the road, do not run off to
hunt capitalists who will eat you
up, but invest in things around you,
let United States three-per-cents
alone, and especially Tennessee
bonds, don't talk about taxing the
people or any of those old-time
disastrous policies, but form COM
pany, the members of which can
and will build this road, seeing at
the same time that they are men
who are directly interested in the
development of this place and the
country along the line. When this
is done no fears need be entertained
about manufacturing interest here,
as they will spring up like magic
before the opportunities offered by
the cheap means of carrying them
on. Also when we consider the
undeniable fact that GAINESVILLE is
the healthiest place in a thousand
miles of us, and 1 challenge any
one in tho world to successfully
show different. Contagious dis
eases have been prevalent in all sur
rounding States and parts of Ten
nessee, but we have been unable to
produce single case and actually |
have to go to other places to even
have the pleasure of seeing man
fully drunk.
This 1 take as frank, common
sense view, let us hold both ends of
the rope that the advantages may
accrue to those most interested, viz:
and the people along the
line. JUNIUs.