The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-10-16
FIRST SPIKE IN
MTERURBAN R. R.
MAJ. wHITTHoRNE GIVES MOST
INTERESTING history or
BUILDING OF ROAD.

, driven in the first OF the rails which
will connect Mt. Pleasant, Columbia
Spring Hill and Franklin with the
: Capitol City Of our state by an electric
railway.
A special train conveyed a large
number Of citizens Of Davidson. vii
Hanson and Maury counties to the
point where the electric railway makes
physical connection with the Tonnes
see Central Railroad, some three miles
this side of Nashville, and oyer which
railroad the rails and equipment Of
the Interurban will be delivered.
The ceremonies were in charge Of
Hon. John A. Pitts, who after brief
address introduced Judge w. NJ. Pol
lard, Chairman of the Davidson Coun-
ty Court, Mayor Brown OF Nashville,
Mayor Perkins of Franklin, Hon. H.
P. Fowlkes, Charles Burch, President
Henry H. Mayberry and Maj. w. J..
Whitthorne, each OF whom made
brief and appropriate speeches,
Miss Mayberry, of Franklin, the
lovely young daughter Of President
Mayberry, then presented Mayor
Brown a golden spike, which was
driven by him into the first of the
splendid steel rails, to be used in the
construction of the railway, which
promises to be of immense benefit to
the three most magnificent counties
in Tennessee.
The roadbed, bridges and culverts
have been completed to Franklin,
ready for the rails, except about half
mile, where construction has been
temporarily delayed by contest over
a right of way. The cars will be run
ming in December to Franklin, and
next year construction will be rapidly
made to Columbia and Mt. Pleasant.
Franchises have been granted by
Franklin, Columbia and Mt Pleasant |
and rights of way secured from Frank
lin to Mt Pleasant, except through
two or three farms. Citizens Of
Maury county Especially those along
the Mt. Pleasant pike have generous
ly donated rights of way through their
farms-the finest lands on the face of
the earth.
The construction of this electric
has been attended with many
delays and difficulties, and has re-
CURED pluck and perseverance and
faith that removeth mountains"
From Maj. Whitthorne we have OBJ
tanned some interesting facts in re-
gard to the enterprise: In 1902, while
in Mt. Pleasant. he was asked by Mr..
John H. Conner, Of Nashville, if he
would join him in an effort to have
quilt an electric railway from Nash
Vile to Mt. Pleasant. Knowing Mr.
Common to be man of energy and in {
diligence and experience, a competent
Ind successful railroad contractor and
builder he instantly agreed to do so.
dr. Conner interested some Of his
riends in Nashville and Gallatin to
mite in the undertaking and organize =
to build this road and u
lso one to Gallatin. At considerable y
ost and labor rights of way, surveys. 7
etc, and complete and thor =
ugh data as to probable receipts from =
assengers and light freight ship =
lents, were obtained and formulated.
with these Mr.. Conner went 81
} Pittsburg where he was known
S successful railroad builder) and =
t once interested friends of his in y
ne matter. The party came here ~
1dorsed by banks and trust compan- Y
IS representing over fifteen million
pillars. They we're simply delighted u
it'll the proposition, and the immedi- :"
e construction seemed certainty. -
uring the trip here, however, the ).
aiding spirit in the party Capt. VIII q
Am Mckinley Ia first cousin and VI
lysically a counterpart of President
contracted pneumonia and p
ed within ten days after his return
Pittsburg. His associates after
ards required that some Nashville
pital should be invested Seeking
obtain this we submitted the prop
ition to men of brains and capital ye
d possessing integrity and public r
irit, who could not be Influenced by Gle
y antagonistic Influences. Among Tu
sse were Col. Nat Baxter, Maj E. B, fer
altman, Joseph Prank, John T. TIL
ndis and Hon. John A. Pitts. After pa,
roughly investigating the matter Th
use gentlemen stated they were I'M da,
ling to join the Pittsburg parties ter
minority stockholders, but were tie.
ling to purchase their interests and Far
Id the road themselves. This was the
result OF the negotiations. My
ociate, Mr.. Conner, sold his inter-
at the same time. In the re-or- Ill