The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-12-17

RailreaA. - No 9a11reaA Z
The plan thai the city should take hold
Of the work of bailding railroad north
ward finds in our correspondent Pro
gressn an able and earnest advocate
His communication 90 covers the ground
Of discussion as to the propriety Of the
plan that nothing need be added The
voters of the city know the necessity for
the road and it is to be presumed that
they would vote to aid its construction.
And having voted such amount IS may
be legally authorized, and the municipal
ity Of Tallahassee having assumed control
of the work as public improvement, the
undertaking would be PLACED in substan-
tial shape, and there is no reason To doubt
that means necessary to complete it would
be forthcoming. Many thousands OF
acres of land have already been sub
scribed while the enterprise is in unde
fined form, and there is no question but
that the amount would be largely and rap;
idly increased were the work actually be-
gun.
The cost will be much less than under
estimates heretofore made il, as is sug-
gested, the road be narrow gauge, and
such road would answer all our needs.
The grades and curves could be such "a
would add the least possible expense to
construction, for no high rate of speed
would b. requisite on this short line, a
matter of half an hour more over it being
of no importance when connections could
be assured by leaving either terminus in
time to make them. We are informed
that profile and estimates of a narrow
gauge road are being prepared, and the
figures of cost from Tallahassee to the
Georgia line will be surprisingly small.
1t is altogether probable that by the
time our end of the road reached the
boundary line Thomasvlle would be there
with her end to meet it. This may be
expected not only because her people
have expressed great desire for the road,
but because the portion in Thomas
county could be more cheaply constructed.
But should the Tallahassee road have
to wait awhile at the boundary line,
it would still be an advantage to the city
and the country through which it passed,
while rapid connection could be made by
hacks between the temporary terminus
and Townsville, accommodating any
amount of travel and giving US fast mail
service.
The only cause that can be surmised
to prevent large majority in favor OF
bonding the city for the railroad is the
popular prejudice against bonds" Oh
course ready money is better than bonds
but not having the money, bonds are the
next best thing; and the real question is,
is it better to have no railroad than to
have bonds? If man is starving it is
better to borrow food than to perish
Tallahassee is not starving yet, but she
cannot support larger population than
she now has unless something is done to
stimulate her industrial and business life
and this the railroad will do to such An
extent that the burden of bonds will be
so light as to be scarcely felt. There is
to some a scarecrow look about the
word "bonds that does not properly be
long to it, but attaches when they do moi
represent a full consideration. Wher
they do, as in this case. they would, bond,
are very respectable and useful articles
They have built many great railroads
and other public works, sustained many
| governments, and are to-day the basis OF
the financial life OF the civilized world
There are United States bonds, and
State bonds, and may be Tallahassee
bonds-if you prefer them and a growing
city to stagnant city without them.