Year: 1869

the postal facilities that before the wsl


they enjoyed-it was surprise to FIND


these men go far advanced in knowledge


of what is needed to complete devel


opment Of their country and possessed o


a spirit and energy for modern improve


ment that indexed an uncomfortable
| eagerness for the railroad and all that il


will bring to them. Two or three out Of


so many hundred opposed the scheme


cautiously, but these were overborne by


their neighbors and friends, and sue
cumbed with what grace they could. TO


the inevitable destiny forced by the in


dustry Of Mr.. MITCHELL, and in spite OF


the feeble opposition Of the Memphis


"ring." At Durhamville, 8 very


pleasantly situated town, but


consisting OF not more than half q


dozen houses, a meeting was held In the


school house Of Mr.. THOMPSON, and was


presided over by Mr.. HARDIN J. TUR-


NER, one Of the most influential gentle


men of the neIghborhoOd, as peculiar for


his mental attainments as for his ply


sique, which Is that OF large and pow


erful man. He is s philosopher in the


real sense Of the term. A constant and


steady, il not profound thinker, close


reasoner, and good tslker," with 3


capacious memory; you may well i'm


agine him one Of the most sociable Of


men and the best Of companions. He


wss Just the man for the situation.


Briefly reciting the objects Of the meet


ing, he introduced the speaker and took


his seat. His presence and position as


chairman inspired the friends of the


measure with confidence, and justly so,


since the result was a unanimous


conclusion in favor OF the Missis-


sippi River Railroad. Myself and


companion spent that Thursday night


at Mr.. TURNER'S house, and most enjoy


ably. The annals OF West Tennessee


were repeated to US, and snecdOte after
anecdote, illustrative OF the lives Of the
pioneer worthless, most of whom have
long since been laid away at rest. The
history Of the bar Of Lauderdale was
given us, and Its members painted TO
the life; preachers and their mission
were discussed, and doctrinal points,
with q quaint gravity that no
character that have ever read of or met
with could illustrate for your spprecia-
ton. We left our philosopher with
much regret, and made the journey to
this place, twenty-tbree miles, by night
fall OF Friday, stopping on the way for
Gen. WILLIAM CONNER, so well known
through the length and breadth Of the
State. At this thriving village we were
met by more than one hundred and fifty
OF the respectable, hardy and industrious
yeomsnry of this part of Lsuderdale.
The meeting was held at the Presby-
terian Church, and notwithstanding the
cold weather that prevailed, the speak
ers were listened to with marked stten-
ton and the best possible resuit-only
one Of all those present dissenting from
a support Of the railroad. At the close
of the meeting, and in few minutes,
we return to Gen. CoNNER's, where we
remain until Monday, when we attend
the meeting of the County Court at R'p-
ley, and will urge the subsidy Of the
road, already proposed.


Wherever have travelled, l am happy
to say, have met none but friends of
the APPEAL. In many instances sub
scribers OF twenty years or more pref
fered kindnessss and congratulations
that the old newspaper that for so many
years had carried the history Of the
times into their households, was flourish
ing, and likely to fl fiourish long after they
and the writer were mingliDg with
kindred dust. The interest thus mani
Tested in the paper was, you may be sure,
q passport to my heart, and is something
to be treasured. At this place quite a
club Of subscribers was made up for our
WEEKLY, and more was promised when
reach Ripley. The uncOmpromising at
titude Of the APPEAL on all questions
affecting the welfare Of the people was
the theme OF its supporters In this re.
gion.


In travelling through Lsuderdale 1
have been astonished at the immense
quantity and variety Of merchantsble
timber that on every hand awaits the
coming Of the railroad to find buyers
and market. Not the least of the val
ues Of the county, even under present
it must become, with the
Mississippi River Railroad to carry it
North OF South, source OF immense |
profit to the people and revenue to the
State. Oak, poplar, walnut, hickory
and gum are in great abundance, and Of
q growth that must insare to the owners |
fortunes from these alone. In converse
tions with many Of the largest property
owners, found disposition prevaleRt
to encourage immigration by such sub
divisions Of land as will suit, not alone
Of the people of the Northern States
who desire to settle here, but the hardy |
thousands who are leaving Europe for
homes and independence in the West.
How many Of these can be aceommo- |





dated in Lauderdale county it would be
difficult to compute. You can, however,
have some ides, when you know that
not one-fourth of all the lands are under
The want OF a means of
such as the Mississippi |
River Railroad will afford, has operated
as q seal to close to the outside world |
these millions Of acres Of the best lands |
ia the State Of Tennessee. In order to /
reach Memphis by the river, the Missis-
sippi bottom, nearly eight miles In ex-
tent, has to be traversed, with many |
risks Of stslling and utter break down.
In the other direction, towards the
Memphis and Ohio Railroad, the roads |
are longer and in some places still
more difficult; indeed, for many months
in the year, Brownsville and Mason's or
Bells depot, are inaccessible. By the
proposed road, passing up to Cairo,
all this trouble and trial will