The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-07-24
Remarks of Chief Engineer
Mann.

'Ho ioito"lhS 10 Noipa''h iOPoi'
of the remarks of Capt. Jno. G. Mann,
Chief Engineer of the Canton, Aber-
deem & Nashville Rail Road, on the
occasion of the driving of the golden
spike last Friday, in response to the
presentation speech of Hon. l.. E.
Houston:
LADIES AND GENrLEMEN:-Speech
making is not my profession, but |
should feel that were doing myself
an injustice, were | not to say some
thing on this occasion no matter how
feeble effort. For the kindly ex-
pressions of our friend and fellow
citizen toward the officers Of the Can
ton, Aberdeen and Nashville Rail
road, | have the liyeliest apprecia-
ton. And for this munificent gift
anu HltUltlllO Vi lIlS OCbdolpIi,
golden spike presented to me, words
are inadequate to express my graft
tude. am ploud to mingle with the
citizens Of Aberdeen to-day, and take
part in what to them, as we'll as to
me, is an occasion OF great rejoicing;
you are just realizing the dream of Il
quarter Of a century, while the com
pletion of this line to me, is the reali
cation Of hopes seemingly long de-
ferred. The future Of Aberdeen and
the epoch i'll its history from which
will date an era of Improvement and
prosperity never before realized or
anticipated, will begin with the com
pletion Of the Canton, Aberdeen and
Nashville Railroad, and why should
YOU not look forward to future Of
great prosperity, Asa pleasant and
heaIthful place of residence your city
is widely known, and as a place of
business its favorable location is not
surpassed by any inland city in. the
South. Geographically located as you
are, with splendid agricultural re-
gion on the West and mineral regions
of untold wealth on the East, why
spould not Aberdeen be the natural
depot for supplies of every kind,
needed, in both directions;
Gentlemen, in my opinion, it will
not be twenty years before the rapid
strides of progress and development
will bring to this magnificent country
of yours, cotton mills, foundries, blast
furnaces and workshops for the man
ufacture of furniture, wooden ware,
agricultural implements and tools,
and when every acre OF this beautiful
and productive country shall by more
improved modes of agriculture, yield
ten fold its present production, in adj
dition to thousands of Aocks and
herds of blooded stock, in which You
are now taking SO much interest.
This development will bring increas-
ed traffic for Railroads, and the de
mand for more rail roads, and they in
turn will build up your towns and
cities, until this beautiful country
will blossom like the rose. The
President and officers of this com
pany are not only conservative but
progressive i'll their management.
They have deemed it wise to invest
millions of money to further develop
this section of Mississippi. 1t now
remains with you to so develop and
improve your country as to make it
profitable to them, and thus bring
about its further extension for your
benefit and theirs.
Gentlemen | cannot add any thing |
to what has been so happily said by |
our friend Judge Houston. | accept |
this souvenier with feelings OF pride |
to be driven by one of your fair |
daughters, as the completing spike of
the G. A. & N. r. r., to Aberdeen,
and | trust ere long may be present
at the driving of the first spike for its
extension to the undeveloped mineral
regions just East of you.