Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-10
THoMAsvnnE TO MONTICELLO
With q Branch to Tanahsssse-A Rail
road Enterprise that Ought to Meet
with Favor.

road Enterprise that Ought to Meet
with Favor.
TOWNSVILLE, GA, Dec. 7.-E'ditor
Morning NetoS: In common with many
others have been gratitied at the interest
you have late taken in the construction
OF arailrOad from this point to Tallahassee
or Monticello. In order to continue her up
ward career Thomasville needs more
railroad facilities. | am informed, and
think the information correct, that Leon,
Jefferson and Madison counties have lost
population within the last few years and
their loss in progressive, active and en-
ergetic young men has been noteworthy.
To bring fertile, but idle lands into mar
ket and reclaim them, to make it possible
to divide up immense plantations into
small farms ana to recover a vanishing
prosperity, we must foster and aid every
enterprise that promises the development
of our country. Before speaking OF the
road, would call the special attention of
land owners between this place and Talla-
hassee to the fact that foreign immigra-
ton and by this mean immigrants from
other States, will occupy by purchase or
lease, the lands adjacent to railway lines
first. Strangers coming among us are not
going very far back into the country off of
railway lines. The land most distant
from railroads will be the very last land
sold to new corners.
But, recurring to the proposed line of
road, 1t strikes me that the line most de-
sirable for Middle Florida and this sec
| ton of Georgia would be one from Month
cello to ThOmasVille, and, to one who
does not claim to be specially informed,
1t seems that the Florida Railway and
Navigation Co. people have slept for many
years over a project that would have
| brought them great relief. For instance,
look at these figures: The most direct
| connection between Monticello and the
West now is via Pensacola and Mont
| gomery, the distance being from Month
| cello to Montgomery about 395 miles.
Were road built across to Thomasville.
the distance by rail to Montgomery-be-
yond which point the route would be
common-would be about 265 miles, or a
saving of $50 miles. The road that in all
| probability would pay best would be a
road from Townsville to Monticello, with
| branch to Tallahassee and on to the
coast. This road would ''straddle," if l may
use the term, section of country which
| produces from 10000 to $4,000 bales of
| cotton. l speak of this crop, because
with us it is the commercial barometer.
| Now this does not look exceedingly large,
| but If in contemplating its transportation
| as source OF revenue, we bear in mind
that the Savannah, Florida and Western,
| with over 500 miles of track, hauls only
| 100000 bales of cotton. and the further
| fact that all the counties through which
| it passes from Chatham TO Lowndes, a dis
| lance Of 140 miles, did not, according
to the census of 1880, produce 10000 bales,
| then the yield in the territory mentioned
rises into splendid proportion. This road,
| built on the route indicated, would ira
verse not a barren wilderness, but it
wOnld pass through the best farming
lands in Southern Georgia and Middle
| Florida. These lands, before the great
| depression in agricultural pursuits and
| the hegira to the towns and cities sold at
| $l5 to $50 an acre, and they can now be
bought at from 81 to $40, sales at the last
| figure being extremely rare.
| AS you have suggested, such a road
would hold for Savannah, a trade which
| she is fast losing. Three years ago a COM
mercial tourist from New Orleans, or Mo-
| bile, would have been something of a Gu
riosity on our streets. Now, many of
| them come. A narrow-guage road would
answer every purpose, as the transfers
are made quickly and cheaply. Direct
connection with the gulf would add great
| Iy to the advantages of Thomasville in
| winter and in summer. Our people stand
ready to aid any company that will
| build the road.
Adventures will get little encourage
ment, but any company composed OF re-
sponsible men, whose words go at par,
will receive very general, and very sub
| stantial encouragement in the building OF
this much needed road. hope you will
continue to agitate the matter.
THOMAS.