The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-08-29
90 WE WANT a aAlLRoXo.

ptocpcCt ioF THO ouCCcoo VI Ouis
B00ne's Black Diamond railroad Is
very encouraging. In view Of the
prospect 1t Is very good time for
our people here in Macon 10 begin
to manifest lively interest in the
scheme. It Is a well known fact
that for years we have been wait
ing and watching and hoping for 3
railroad to come our way, and our
dissapointments have been 80
many our people are slow to take
hold Of any proposed new scheme.
The consequence is that not much
interest has been manifested In the
matter, ever since Col. Boone has
been at work, but we believe there
are those of our citizens who have
been carefully watching the move
ment and waiting to be convinced
that there is something tangible
about It. It is time those who have
been watching Boone closely should
be convinced that he means to
build the road. 1t is time, being
thus convinced. that our people 60
actively to work to serve its pas
sage through Franklin. No cOun-
try today presents greater advan-
tages than does the South, and this
fact is 80 well known that capita
lists are seeking to invest their
money in Southern enterprises
more than ever before. But Macon
county is not reaping any Of the
benefits, because il seems our PEG.
pie are not stirring themselves as
they should to secure these benefits.
The first thing to be done in this
way is to secure a railroad, and In
securing It we should be content
with nothing short of main trunk
line, just such as Col. Boone pro.
poses to build. Side-tracked as we
are by the great railway arteries,
on every side Of US, We can not
prosper on the natural resources
we have In abundance had we Op.
portunities of utilizing them, but
we are constantly being encroached
upon and Slapped Of our substance
without power of development.
! At this rate our mines and ouI
forests will be depleted and other
sections constantly benefited by
wealth that should be ours. With
q trunk line railroad factories
would spring up in our county, and
all the profits of our natural wealth
would be utalized at home, and old
Macon would become one of tht
wealthiest and grandest counties
west of the Blue Ridge. Without
the road dry rot will be our doom
in a few years, for If this roat
bitches US off 1t will only be to sar
our substance the more rapidly
and we will wake up to find thai
we neglected our best opportuni
ties.
.Our great opportunity lies in this
Black Diamond project. The dan
ger is our people may not realize II
till it is too late. This great trunl
line from the West to the Atlanti,
7 coast is going to be built some day
Franklin is most favorable situatet
to be on that line, but this Is no
the only route to the great Yves
from the sea.board across tn,
mountains, and the road when bull
is not obliged to come by Franklin
and Rabun Gap. 1t is no time TO
US to sit still and say nothing. /
is true that we need not raise tn
: dust very high just now, but tn,
opportunity will be offered soon 70
US to show how much interest w
feel in this matter. We can be get
ting ready to put ourselves in lin
a with the coming trunk line to thu
West, or we must decide to hOlt
our peace hereafter and say to tn,
5 world we don't want a railroad
What we need badly is trunk lin
to the West. Will it pay US to IN
/ vest in it and get it? That is tn,
practical question that confront
us. We submit to the thinkin,
men of Franklin and Macon count,
that in the building of this road
. there would be at least thirty mile
of track across the county. At al
, assessed valuation of $4,000 pc
mile this would add to the taxabl
property Of. the country $4,000
more than we have already.
At a very low estimation
would enhance the value of rea
. estate within four miles of the roa,
J at least twenty per cent. Upon thi
estimate would be added ut leas
$70,O 600 more to the taxable value Q
our property, making a total Q
$4,000. An assessment Of fiv