Year: 1869




other competitors. Even the much vaunted central
position" in American internal fast drifting
far to the westward Of st. Louis and we nd our
selves comparatively Eastern city. Much that was
once debatabe ground has to be so and il is in
vain rebel against the stubborn facts OF national de-
velopment.


Before the war; vast and rapidyincfeasing portion
Of our trade came from the SOUTH and since the return
Of peace it has been slowly finding its way back into its
ancient channel We have found it useless, however. to
shut our eyes TO the fact that have forever lost many
commercial connections which regarded per-
manently our own and in order TO maintain growth
and prosperity, it has become imperayey necessary
that should look about for some provision for our
commercial future. We done and are now In the
bththroes Of enterprise fully worthy OF the occa-
sion, which promises TO meet all our requirements.
Long before the war We had discovered that our
river communication with the Gulf by way
of the Ohio the Mississippi, and New
Orleans not only inadequate but unreliable,
and to pass under the future control Of commercial
interests which competitive, If not absolutely ad
70 own, and the subject Of through line OF
Southern road. devoted to interests and
troled by citizens had been pretty fully dis
eussed. The war, of course, put temporary q,nets
upon that project but that the way without
the creation Of hostile boundary line have taken
the matter up with enthusiasm and energy
born of the instinct Of selfipreseryaton


Tt was at discovered that we had not at



and that IN some way the burden Of the undertaking
must be made to fall upon the whole body citizens
Here, however net by hostile provision in
Constitution OF Ohio intended TO prevent municipal
corporations from engaging IN railway or ether enter
prises point compelled TO stick until
the passage the present Legislature, Of what known
as the Ferguson Bill" framed for the purpose OF evad-
ing the obstacle, Although the nature Of general
law the direct purpose Of this statute Is 10 enable the
city Of Cincinnati TO loan it's credit to theprOposed road
it provides


That whenever auy city Ofthe srst having population
eeeg 5o COO ubbaHts The City Council thereof seal by
non passed e Am Halor 9, os @1pos,s % & ssss iIs6S declare
named said resolution should be provided between termn ds,gDsie


Trustees appointed herein provided and they hereby authorized
co. and issue bOnds tIsrofor the city,"


The be appointed by the Superior Court,
and invested by the bill with plenary authority in
the premises Legal authorities differ somewhat TO th9
success with which the Constitution has been circum-
vented reasonably safe say that the proposed
action Will be promptly taken.


In advance Of any certainty this point, even OF
the preliminary steps for the appointment Of Trustees
for the matter nomDay TO to the polls in the city
amount Ofnteres has been excited among thu
people Of districts south OF which hope TO be bene
fitted by the enterprise Our hotels with dele
cations from the interior counties Of Kentucky Tens
nessee Georgia. and from South Carolina, Alabama,
and Mississippi Public meetings have been held, noe
only here at many points in these other States, and
everywhere the people be alive to the Importance
Of the road and ready aid it by pecunary subdies in
various forms Knoxville, Nashville, Louisyilles
and many another less pretending yile," striking
hard golden prize which the Cincinnati Trusteea
award What want is TRADE, and all other quesS
tons should be made subservent 10 that shall fnd
expenditure operating for the benefit Of other
and rival communities much or more than for our oWn-
The several contestng interests have already added
largely fund Of information concerning the


ons through which the road but have brough
forward nothing which should vary from the
original conception Of our road.


The region country 10 the eastward which already
possesses sufficient outlets to the Atlantic seaboard1
and that to the west and southwest which ap<
pertains especially TO the Mississippi channel
Of communication need not be permitted trouble the
minds OF the Trustees for Cincinnati has natural
claim upon either. The necessary thing is a main trunk
lne so located that its future branches shall drain as
well develop the largest possible Its route has
little TO do with the present condition Of the country
through which is pass it will Of itself provide fo
population and Improvement. II the Trustees allow
themselves to sight of this leading idea, may yet
have reason regret the passage Of the Ferguson bill


glance at railway map, and hint or two from the
history late war; may suggest to the Trustees that
there is no other such railroad in the South
Chattanooga nor any other by which they readily
reach the Gulf and the West India trade by Of Mo-
bile and Pensacola direct road from Cincinnati to
Chattanooga would be feeder any other city, bua
would belong as enJrely 10 the lOthot as huusOu
River Road does TO New York There richer agrcultu
raj In the world than that which would be controlled
by such road and feeders while it would readily
be made to tap great mineral region Of the Smoky
range OF mountains.


The routes OF OF great trunk lines are deter


mined beforehand by parallel water communications and
preGxisting channels trade but this, like the lnoa
central and the Pacific Railroad, proposes not only to
connect important commercial points but actually tn
create trade by developing the resources OF rich coun>
try II could not fail TO perform for all the region
through which passes the benehcent work which tug
Central aud its Chicago branch have accomplished foa
the so long vacant and useless prares OF Illinois, while
t for Cincinnati than that great artery Oh
trade yet for Chicago 1t would make us inde-
pendent OF treacherous Ohio the dangerous Msss-
sppi and the peculiar disadvantages OF our prosena
serytude to Such road could hardly fail TO
be powerful stimulus other enterprises nchoate or
Numbering and its construction would mark a new era
in the history Of the Southern system OF railways. Cn-
enna is itself the which very comprehensive
system now converges while Chattanooga is another tho
road which connects them but he the backbone
so TO speak, Of third.


line Of road such as 1t is is already constructed
through Kentucky to Ncholasville distance OF liz
miles, and estimated cost Of the remaining 2io miles
70 Chattanooga less than 100000 strong
being created in favor Of carrying line by way OF
Knoxville but while undoubtedly need. and will yet
have direct connection with that point It does mob
answer requirements in seeking southern railroad
center and nothing but direct through line" will
BILE compete with Louisville for the trade OF the cot
ton region short and easily built connecting line. 40
one OF several points would bring all that we could
obtain by way of Knoxville. The between the rival
interests quite sufficiently warm without my carrying
Il into THE TRIBUNE.


The anxiety OF people Of Cincinnati to secure 50
grand addition their existing advantages even
the expense of their state Constitution shows 'nA.


q ehafFnO IN.