The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-19
VOL. XLIX---NO. 113
1t is haven OF rest. To live there would
be to live, indeed, in dreamland.

II is haven Of rest. To live there would
be to live, indeed, in dreamland.
THOUSANDS or SUCH SPOTS
allure the voyOger as he glides along tho
Cumberland. But while he enjoys all
that is primitive and feels the refresh
ment OF spirit that comes to the soul OF
MN who contemplates nature in her
| wilder aspects, there comes the conviction
that It were better far IL the region were
filed with thriving cities; il there were
more mills; ii il were not so that in an
hufdred miles tho boat that bears YOU
may meet no other craft. But this change
will DO wrought ii the river, which has
! not frozen in many years and which Is to-
/ day naviglblc from five TO seven months
OF the twelve, were converted
INTO DEEP CANAL,
along which might be borne the argosios
| OF u splendid commerce. Congress is the
magician that can make this transiorma-
ton, and Congress alono. Why should
the natural interruption of the naviga-
ton OF the Ohio at Louisville DO
corrected, that tho mineral wealth of
Pennsylvania may be poured into tho
South and West, while the mineral
| and agricultural wealth Of the Upper
Cumberland is ignorcd2 To lock and dam
the Cumberland would be TO givo Nash
vile the coal OF Point Burnside which was
formerly accessible, aud would DO yet II
the plan OF canalling the river were
adopted. And by the way, who can ox-
plain the cause Of the singular and per-
vose underestimate OF the importance Of
the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers by
the general mind abroad2 Rivers in
Europe have become historic us COM
mpTgiul uypuupa Nhiph ur, rituintu IN ,,,,,
| pared with
Tursr NOZZLE srREAM3
that flow through territory OF incompar-
able richness, the producuycncss Of which,
despite century Of population, has been
tested only in the slightest degree. Years
ago there was an oil well in the Upper
Cumberland country that sho, its iluid
100 feet high, aud flowed for dozen
years until plugged. Ten thousand hogs
heads Of tobacco loatol down to NASH
vile from these farms last year, and in
the same period 100000 feet OF poplar
alone wcrc rated TO the Nashville mills.
] was informed that the tonnage OF tho
Upper Cumberland last year
MAD VALUE oF S7,OO1,010.
But in the gunirics corn aud wheat
rottod because of lack OF transportation.
told me that for a long time people at tho
landings would bring Tim milk, butter,
eggs aud other products OF the farm and
ask no money In return, ~ abundant was
the local supply and ~ impossible was II
10 send those pcrshuhcs 10 the cities that
clamorcd for them. ! give these facts 10
show how tremendous Is the possible COM
mercc, how bcnciiccut and desirable. IL this
RIVER shall be made the avenue Of COM
mcrcc which Providence intended. Col.
Barlow, of the United States engineer
corps. has described the Upper Cumber-
land as
- PREHISTORIC CANAL"
nj the aptnns Of the descriptive will DO
| IN tanty apparent 10 him Who shall mako
| the dcIghtml voyage | have made.
knew we'll tie country through which tho
| Ono nCwp, but itH shores are much Ices
t-uctiicruus than those OF the Cumberland
and tennessee, Thor products are very
far from cqualing Ia magnitude those
which would come down these streams II
Cjngrcss would accept
rT iNooNrRovgRrinLR TESTIMONY
Of the figures and make the navigation OF
thee waters what II ought 10 be-. Leaving
the Mississippi, the proud Father OF
| Waters out OF account, there IRE no
streams In American - important from
he commercial standpoint rs these which,
rising Ia the spurs Of the Bldc Ridge from
almost common source. wind through
the rich lands NJ Kentucky aud Tennessee
~ though 10y design, only 10 dnd COM
mon objective in tho Ohio.
GoD PLANNED ruriR COURSES
that the wealth Of the favored region
might DO distributed 10 mankind. Like
n good physician, Congress should assist
nature. Tho world Is coming 10 know aud
10 seek Tennessee, and the prophecies OF
the fathers will be- because thoy mlst be,
fulfilled. Let there be- les building Of
custom houses and more expenditure OF
money In the development Of the Cum.
bcfland aud Tennessee, that the world
may bo enriched out oi our supcr-abund-
ancc. There is not a hamlet la the whole
extent Of the State that would not feel
the good effect Of the clnalling OF tho
upper Cumberland. nnd the removal Of
distractions In tho Tennessee. When
conventions aro called 90 memorabilia
Congress for these improvements. there
should bc eager dc.cglii0ls, not only from
the respective valleys knt from every
county iu the state. Kentucky, aud Ten
npssrc, aud Alabama, and Missouri. and
Arkansas and Mississippi aud Louisiana,
each and ALL have vital interest in this
giund work.
rnE CANALLiS0 on rHE urrzg CUMBERLAND
wouhl increase ID, value OF the products
Of those hills AMI villages q thousand fold.
The ulIckpnng VI indusrial anl CONNER
cnl life would bo seen IN the rise Of busy
cities and tho thorough development Of
tho b0unlcous aud lovely land. Cattle
would swarm upon Tie lille, the dairy
would become an institution OF suporlatiyo
digHity gardens would greet the eye In
every dii,cii0n, forests would become corn
and wheat anl oat aud tobacco fields; tho
mineral treasures VI ths earth would DO
explored aud seized, aud where tho
serenity Of easy ITO now obtains, there
would be- stimulatsn Of all the activities
From the Noun, rIsgahs OF this yallcy
one may sec IN truth land II
prOmHc. Tho Napoleon Of the humorst
may vet become r. splendid city, rising out
Of Wilderness that Only awaits that new
dispcnsation Of statesmen who shall appro-
ciaic What the investors OF tbs world arc
seeking, the supreme advantages OF Tenn
cVoc. With an cquablc climate, salu'
brious atmosphere, aud an environment
that IL inspiring because II " as rich In
natural resources asst Il beautiful in It's per-
specliycs, Il is here that the ioiler may
come and find both rest and reward.
Mr. Speaker, move the bill appropria-
ting Si,OJO.O00 Tor the improvement Of tho
upper Cumberland be put upon ~ passage
aud | call for the previous question.