Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1888-08-21
Cairo & Cumberland Gap Railroad


While in Mayfield last week we had
an interview with Hon. Ii. a. Neal
President of the Cairo u Cumberland
Gap Railroad, relative to the present
ioutlook and prospects of the ultimate
construction of his road. Mr.. Neal
has unbounded confidence in the en-
terprisc, and as an evidence of it he
has abandoned every other business
and concentrated his entire energies
upon his road.
We informed Mr.. Neal that it was
utterly useless and sheer folly to talk
TO orr people about aiding in the con-
struction Of road through our part of
the country unless he could exhibit
indubitablc evidences of his ability to
comply with his pledges, and uu-
doubted evidences that his enterprise
was regarded with favor by the mon
ey devils in Europe. We were soon
shown a batch of letters from party
who represents syndicate of tinan-
cicrs that is now largely interested in
tunnel now being cut throuh Cum
berland Gap in the Cumberland
Mountains, which party proposes to
take the bonds of the road from Cairo,
Illinois, TO Cumberland Gap at 50
cents on the dollar at $4,000 per mile,
provided the road secures certain sub
sides, rights of way, NC. Cadiz and
IlOpkinsville are nearly OH adirect
line, and the counties of Trigg and
Christian are directly interested in
the success of the enterprise, as ii
would develop the wealth and re-
sources of these counties beyond meas
ure. This company has had the line
surveyed from Cairo to Paducah,
which shows the line to be one of the
best and cheapest for the construction
of road that can be found, as the
heaviest grade between these two
points is less than 35 feet to the mile.
Since this part OF the survey has been
completed, we learned from Mr.. Neal
that he had received proposition
| from company to furnish suili-
cient amount of money to build this
part of the road, and another COM
pany has agreed to do the work, and
do not want dollar until it is COM
pleted. the company, however, will
not accept the proposition until it fret
makes an effort to secure the nee
cssary aid to construct the entire line
as chartered from Cairo TO Cumber-
land Gap. AS Governor Buckner
has limited the charter of the conf
pany TO three years. they have but
little time TO instruct the people of the
untold advantages that the road will
be TO them, and to secure the requis-
ite aid to securcits construction. The
| city of Mayiield has voted aid TO 1t,
and now have under consideration to
give an additional amount, which
will undoubtedly be given. The road
il built in accordance with the line
as projected, will run near the divid-
ing line between Galloway and Mar
shall counties, strike Tennessee River
within q radius of three miles of Au-
rora, cross Tennessee River, thence to
the Cumberland River, either just
below Canton OF the mouth of Little
River thence, IL the aid from this
county is voted, within short dis
lance Of Cadiz on to Hopkinsville. The
company will not agree to extend itf
,, line cast of Mayfic!d until these coun.
ties east of the Tennessee give assur'
| ance of their Willingness 10 aid it,
Q construction, and the company will
. not submit the proposition TO ask siC
i, unless il has assurances that thC
: people are sufficiently instructed
d npon the advantages that the build
ing of the road will be to them
q While the question of the amour
that will be asked Of tbi
II county has not as yet been def
C nitely determined, yet from the shor
IS conversation we had with Presiden
!. Neal, we believe that If this count
- would take stock to the amount Q
II $4,000 the road would be bull
e through the county as above ind
's Gated, aud they would, in addition
d give free bridge-way to the trave
: ing public, which would be gres
" immunity 10 The people living bt
y tween the rivers, as it would say
J. them an annual cost of hundreds {
IT dollars that they now expend for feI
70 ryagc to and fro across the Cumbe
> land river. The question is, are II
y people sufficiently interested
l. this road, to aid in its construction
a We pause for tangible answer.