USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > Nashville Business Directory, 1860-61 > Part 7
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It is the object of the management to make the institution self-sup-
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porting. It has been so for some time, and if the proper interest is felt by our citizens, and particularly by the ladies, it will continue to be so. Every species of needle-work is here done in a superior manner, aud ladies' apparel of all descriptions made in the most approved styles and fashions, under the supervision of an experienced superintendent.
To show something of the interest felt in this institution, its receipts for the past year were nearly $2,000. To make it still more successful and useful, let it be borne in mind by more of our people.
These two institutions reflect honor upon the city. They afford & theme which may be contemplated with pleasure and pointed to with just pride. Their existence and maintenance is but another proof of that philanthrophy natural to the heart of woman, and her undying in- terest in the welfare of the unfortunate. It shows that she is still moved to deeds of love by the same devotion to the cause of the distressed that inspired her when, two thousand years ago, she was last at the Cross and first at the door of the Sepulchre.
RAILROADS.
The railway system of the United States commenced about the year 1830. In that year a road four miles long was built, over which to tran- sport ice, from a small lake near Boston, to the sea. South Carolina, in. the same year, began the Charleston & Augusta road, 135 miles long, and finished it in 1833.
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In 1831, a railroad spirit began to pervade the whole country, and then the Legislature of Tennessee incorporated a number of railroad compa- nies; bnt owing to the want of the proper enthusiasm among our people, all these projects slept. This state of public feeling was mainly attribu- table, we suppose, to the severe money revulsion of 1836-7, which par- alized, for a time, the efforts of commerce. Atany rate, it so effected the prospects of the country, that the projected railroads were abandoned, and the work was not renewed with effect until 1845, when the Georgia roads, working their way north ward, approached Chattanooga. The con- struction of these roads spurred our people to vigorous action, and the charters of the old enterprises of 1831 were revived. The Nashville & Chattanooga, the pioneer road of the State, was then chartered, and some of the oldest and ablest heads of this city labored zealously for its ac- complishment. Among those foremost in the work, were John M. Bass, John M. Hill, Francis B. Fogg, Andrew Ewing, A. O. P. Nicholson, V. K. Stevenson, John Bell, Willoughby Williams, William Nichol, S. D. Morgan, Joseph T. Elliston and John Shelby. The vigilant and power- ful Press too maintained the enterprise. But chiefly, is the country in- debted for the successful and speedy accomplishment of this important
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work, to the sleepless energy of its present President, V. K. Stevenson. He, not only aroused by his ingenuous eloquence, the people along the. line to the great necessity for this improvement, but, together with John. C. Calhoun and other energetic spirits of South Carolina and, Georgia, convinced their people of its importance, and secured their aid in con- structing it. Mr. Stevenson's letter of December 12th, 1846, to Mr. Calhoun on the necessity for the road was a forcible appeal for it. We would be glad, did our space admit its insertion here, as showing the state of the trade of Nashville then, and for the benefit of the comparison that could be drawn from it, between the facilities of trade enjoyed over the Chattanooga road, and those had by the old dirt roads, or even by our matchless macdamized turnpikes.
In the summer and autumn of 1846, John Edgar Thomson, the cele- brated engineer, with a corps of assistants, surveyed & line for this road and reported so favorably of its practicability and probable costs, that his survey was adopted. From the concluding paragraph of his report, we quote the following :- " I will add that the considerations in favor of this work are so strong, 'its value to the farmer, mechanic and traveller so clear,' and its importance to the continued prosperity of your city,. so manifest, ,that I cannot for a moment believe that there will be lacking the enterprise or means, necessary to carry it through when the subject shall be properly brought before the citizens of Tennessee. Its construc- tion need not be a drain upon their resources. A proper application of their time and labor, will enable them to complete most of the graduation and superstructure, without materially interfering with its ordinary oper .. ation, and the iron may be made within the State, upon more favorable terms than it can be procured from any other quarter, leaving but little of its cost to be expended for foreign labor or materials and making its con- struction add to the activity of the population and the early develope- ment of the resources of the State."
Of his reception, and the hospitality of our people, he further says :- " I take this occasion to acknowledge the hospitalities to myself and assis- tants by the citizens of Tennessee, upon the line of our survey. It has been my fortune to have been professionally engaged in nearly every sec- tion of the Union, but I have nowhere met with so cordial a welcome, or observed such strong feelings manifested in favor of any enterprise as by the people generally for this." Mr. Thomson, says a record of that time, charged nothing for his services upon this survey.
In the summer of 1847, a proposition was made for the city of Nash- xille to take $500,000 worth of stock in the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad Company, and the proposal was by an order of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen laid before the citizens to be tested by the popular vote. The vote was taken on the 3d day of July, and the result showed a large majority in favor of taking the stock. To pay this stock subscrip-
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tion the bonds of the city were issued in the year 1849. In the mean- time however, work on the road had commenced and it was pushed for- ward' with great energy, even in the face of the opposition of some of our citizens ; who believing that the Legislature had no power to authorize the city to issue bonds for this road, took legal steps to restrain their issuance. The suit after having been carried to the Supreme Court was there decided favorably to the subscription. The indefatigable president of the company was during this time canvassing the line of the road for aid, and the records show that his duties were arduous indeed. Not- withstanding the opposition it met, the road went rapidly forward to- wards completion, and except a few mountain sections where the earth frequently slid upon the track, was completed in December 1853 ; hav- ing been entirely constructed in the short space of five years. If we consider how this road passed for a great part of its length what was then a wilderness, through solid mountains, and over and through deep and dizzy ravines, it must be regarded a great work.
If we were asked what have been its advantages, we should point to the magnificent store-houses that have arisen magic-like upon our streets, and . to their business, which compared with that done over the old dirt road or even over the macadamized road, is as 100 to 1000. We should ask ourselves if we could now do without it ?
We have said thus much of this road, because it was the pioneer rail- way improvement in our State, and upon it was inaugurated the inter- nal improvement system so liberally endowed by our State Legislatures of-1851-2 and 1853-4. In those years many of our main lines of railroad, received the bountiful aid of the State, and are to-day mighty monuments of the wisdom that placed them beyond peradventure. Tennessee and Nashville too, may feel proud of the active part and interest they have in these great blessings of communication, these correctives of ignorance, which are building up and improving our humanity.
Nashville having now become aroused to the importance of railway. communication, urged upon the county the necessity of becoming in- . terested in other lines, and of siding them. So in March 1853, the city and county voted a subscription of $1,000,000 to four roads, as follows; to the. Tennessee & Alabama, $200,000, to the Louisville & Nashville, $300,000, to the Henderson & Nashville, $200,000, and to the Nashville & Northwestern, $300,000; all which roads were put under construction and have gone forward with mixed speed towards completion, as the dif- ficulties opposed or the energy enlisted allowed.
The Tennessee & Alabama, the favorite company of our people, judg- ing from the vote it received at the election above mentioned-chartered te form a rail connection direct with the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Road asked authority of the Legislature of 1857-8 to stop the their road at Mount Pleasant, 5712 miles-the company there agree-
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ing to let go the State aid of about $100,000. This action of the com- pany was regreted by many of our citizens, though the stockholders and the county court both agreed to the stoppage. The Legislature at its re- cent session, re-instated this road upon its original plan, by re-chartering the Southern Railroad Company, which is designed to connect the Tenn. & Ala., with the Memphis & Charleston, and the Mobile & Ofrio roads by means of a branch road from its intended southern terminus at some, point on the Tennessee river, to Iukah, Mississippi. The T. & A. road has a valuable ally in the Central Southern which connects it at Decatur, A las with the Memphis and Charleston road, and will eventually with the Alabama Central and Tennessee, a road in progress from Selma north- ward. The trade coming to this city over the Tenn. and Ala. and the Central Southern grows apace, and when the se connections are completed our merchants will have cause to rejoice at the bulk of their business.
The Louisville and Nashville road was commenced here in the spring of 1853, and much work was done by the winter, when by reason of financial difficulties the work stopped. It was commenced again with vigor in 1855, and was not again stopped until completed in October, 1859. No road connecting with this city has had more varied difficulties than it during its construction ; and considering those difficulties it has been built in a remarkably short time-say five years at most. Out citizens regard this road of chief value and importance to this place, open- · ing up a new route to the Eastern and Western States and cities. The management of this road are striving to make it, as they believe it will be, the first road in the South ; and if we consider its connections, we will be forced to fall into their belief. Its connections at this place diverge to all points; but in time its principal one will be the Tenn. and Ala. road. At present the care and anxiety of its directory seem to be centered upon the branch road from Bowling-Green to Memphis. This will undoubtedly be for some years its chief feeder from the South. The Louisville and Nashville road offers the cheapest route to our merchants for their costly goods from the East-saving to them the insurance paid by water transportation.
Depot buildings, for this road, are to be commenced here shortly, which will reach from Front to Market, and thence 10 College street. The pas- senger building is to cost $65,000, extending from Market to College st. The Henderson and Nashville road, though little has been said about it, will in a few years lay at the doors of our trade a more varied freight perhaps than any other coming into this place. Its connection at Evansville, Ind., with the N. Western roads will open up a great grain market to us; and the proximity of the track to foxhaustible coal fields will we are assured bring coal here at cheaper rates than ever known to us before, A connection is proposed for this road from Hopkinsville to St. Louis, which if constructed will open between the North-West and
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the South-East almost an air line through Nashville. It passes through the richest tobacco region of Kentucky, and the productive Red River valley, whose produce have made Clarksville what she is : one of the principal tobacco markets of this Union. The construction of this road in Ky. has been retarded as circumstances over which the management has no control, want of proper enterprise among the people along its line. But they are awakening to their interests, and the road bids fair to reach an early completion. The coming summer it will be opened to Trenton, Ky., and entirely, we are told, by the summer or autumn of 1861.
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The Nashville and North-Western, the last of those four roads to which the $1,000,000 subscription of 1853 was made, was commenced in that year, but its construction, like all others mentioned, was delayed partly by the opposition of the County Court, who refused, until ordered by the Supreme Court, to issue the bonds of the county ; and by the money revulsion of 1857. Until the summer of 1859 its finances were in a collapsed condition. In June of that year a proposition was made that the city subscribe for $270,000 of stock in this company, and it was put to the vote of the city-and triumphantly carried. We say trium- phantly, for since that subscription the work of the road has progressed very rapidly. The completion of the entire road, 172 miles, is now looked to with certainty within two years. The bridge over Tennessee river will perhaps require a longer time to complete it. Track laying was commenced at its western terminus in February, and will be commenced here the early part of April. Sixty miles of the road will be open for travel this autumn, we are told.
We wish to record the fact, as showing the fondness our people have for elections, when coupled with internal improvements, that the election had upon the proposition to subscribe the $270,000, although it added to our already heavy taxes, was carried with great enthusiasm. The con- nections of this road will be of vast importance to our growing city, pass- ing as it will through a very rich mineral and agricultural region : and terminating on the mighty Mississippi, at Hickman, Ky., 172% miles from Nashville.
Other railroad lines have been proposed from time to time, emanating here ; but among them no one which seems to have the substantial air of solidity about it, like a road projected to run from this city up the Cum- berland River valey to Somerset, Ky. Thence a few miles, so to speak, would bring it to an air line connection with Washington city : whence a line drawn direct through the roads of Virginia to the above mentioned valley would pass directly through Nashville, and over the N. Western road to Memphis. Think reader what a road, what a connection this would be for the Southern Pacific road terminating at Memphis. Over such a line the time consumed in going from Nashville to New-York would be hardly 24 hours.
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Besides these main roads, there are branches of the Nashville and Chat- tanooga, all of which add to the increasing importance of that road, and to this city's trade. They are the Shelbyville, eight miles long, the Mc- Minnville, thirty-three, the Winchester and Ala, thirty-eight, and the Sewanee Coal Road, twenty miles long. The last mentioned should, per- haps, be regarded the most important of these branches, because it brings to this market a sure supply of pure coal. Arrangements are being per- fected for the full development of this company's mine, and from its suc. cess we look with high hopes for good results to our manufacturing inter- ests. The branch road to Jasper, 11 miles long, is put under contract, and it will soon open up to the world the rich and beautiful Sequatchee valley. From the Win. and Ala. road another very important branch road is in agitation, to connect with the Ala. and Tenn. River road at Guntersville, Ala., which will draw trade to the N. and C. road from the South, and vice versa.
The Legislature has liberally provided the Nashville and North Wes- tern, and the Southern roads, with aid ; which, with the Columbia Cen- terville and Piney River road, as a branch to the N. and N. W. road, will go speedily forward towards completion, and will open new country to our city's trade, and add to Nashville a vigor trade.
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Both the Nash. and North Western, and the Southern roads, will open to Nashville new and speedier routes to the South and West, besides bringing to market country now without any fit ways of commerce.
This city has a stock interest in the Winchester and Alabama, a branch road of the Nashville and Chattanooga, amounting to $75,000; and $270,- 000 in the Nashville and North-Western. The stock of $525,000 in the Nashville and Chattanooga, has been sold by order of the city council, to help to pay a city debt contracted thirty years ago for water-works.
RAILROAD BRIDGE.
THIS bridge is built for the joint use of the Louisville and Nashville, and Edgefield and Kentucky Railroads, under the supervision and direc- tion of the latter, and its Chief Engineer, A. Anderson.
Its length is 700 feet-in four spans-two fixed spans, one on each side, and two draw spans.
Each fixed span is 200 feet in the clear between supports, and the clear opening of each draw span is 120 feet, making it the longest railroad draw in the world ; that at Rock Island, being 120 feet on one side and 116 feet on the other.
The total length of draw from one extremity to the other of the move- able portion is 280 feet, and its entire weight is computed at 285 tons. It can readily be turned into position by one man in four minutes, and by two or three in two minutes and a half.
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The bridge superstructure is of the kind known as McCallum's Truss, and was erected by Gray, Whiton & Co., contractors. The master build- er was Mr. N. K. Waring.
The Masonry supporting the bridge, was built by Maxwell, Saulpaw & Co., contractors, and consists of two abutments, two main piers, one centre pier and two rest piers.
The centre pier, on which the immense draw is turned, is circular, 30 feet in diameter at top, 34% feet at bottom, 68% feet high, and contains 229513 perches of masonry.
The eastern main pier is 75}5 feet high, and contains 12083 perches of masonry .. The western main pier is 7012 feet high, containing 10723% perches of masonry.
The foundations of all the piers are laid upon the solid rock, in water about twelve feet deep, at ordinary low stage. The extreme rise of water at the bridge is 47 feet.
The total quantity of masonry in the bridge 680034 perches. In the superstructure are 454,000 feet of timber, and 160,000 pounds of iron.
A heavy frame work is built between the rest piers, designed to pre- prevent steamboats from being thrown against the piers while passing the draw, by wind or the force of the current. In its construction 387,288 feet of timber are used, and 49,117 pounds of iron.
SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
THE wire Suspension Bridge, which spans the Cumberland river at this point, is one of the handsomest structures of the kind in the United States. It was completed during the Summer of 1850. The architect was Major Heiman of this city, and the contractor, Capt. M. D. Fields, brother of Capt. Cyrus Fields who superintended laying down the Atlantic telegraph. This fine bridge is about 700 feet long, and its height is 110 feet above low water mark. The view we present of it gives a fair idea of its ap- pearance. The large building on the right, as seen under the bridge, is the jail of Davidson county.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
THERE are a large number of public buildings in the city that, had we space, would be noticed at length. In future volumes of this work they will be properly represented. Among them are the Churches, New Ma- sonic Hall, Maury House, City Hall, Court House, High School buildings, Banks, Odd Fellows Hall, Nashville Theatre, Post Office buildings and others. In the city and vicinity, also, there are large numbers of private residences, which, in style of architecture and finish, will compare favor- ably with those of any other city.
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WHOLESALE DRY-GOODS.
THE Wholesale Dry-Goods trade of Nashville is one of its most im- portant interests, and is in the hands of men who, in point of business capacity, are not surpassed by any to be found elsewhere.
The manner in which Nashville stood the financial shock of 1857, is sufficient to show what sort of material our commercial men are made of. There was not a single failure or suspension, and it was stated at the time that no business men of any place stood higher at the East than the wholesale merchants of Nashville. As a class, they are men of clear heads, good judgment, comprehensive ideas, shrewdness and fine talents, fully conversant with their business. Adopting the language of one of our daily papers-"In commending them to those who may come among us for the purposes of trade, we can proudly point to their proverbial fairness and integrity in all their dealings, and to their high credit. An elevated aim prevails among them as a class, dishonesty finds no favor, and the tricks of trade are scouted from their midst. Their customers know what they are buying, and that the representations of the seller can be relied upon. Long experience in the business, and an intimate knowledge of the wants of the trade, enable them to buy and sell to the best advantage to their customers." The skill and judgment of Nash- ville buyers is evident when it is recollected that with the carriage added they sell goods as cheap as they can be bought in the New-York market. Any country merchant may get his orders for a stock of goods filled here at the figures he would have to pay at the East, with the cost of trans- portation added. Some of our houses, in fact, import goods from the same places that eastern importers purchase from, and as the duties and custom- house charges here are no more than in New-York, it follows that goods may be purchased as cheap here as there, thus making a difference in favor of this point, of the amount it costs for transportation from that city to this.
Another item of some importance is the insurance which is saved, as well as the expense and loss of time which attends a trip to the North. Neither is there the vexatious delays which goods are often subjected to in the transit from eastern cities to the towns of Tennessee, southern Kentucky, North Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, etc. And then again, "as the trade increases, and our city expands, new facilities are being constantly offered, and the inducements become stronger and stronger from year to year. It may be said, without exaggeration, that every article may be found here to suit the diversified tastes and necessi- ties of all the various sections which are geographically dependent upon us, and that here dealers will be found in all departments prepared to sell upon as reasonable terms, and at as low prices as those of the eastern cities. In every department of trade and mechanics, dealers and manu-
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facturere may be found in this city, including dry-goods of all descrip- tions, clothing, boots, shoes, hats and trunks, china, glass, queen's and britannia wares, drugs and medicines, hardware and cutlery, books and stationary, groceries, liquors, manufactured tobacco and cigars, jewelry, etc., while our agricultural implement manufactories, our founderies, book- binderies and printing establishments, carriage builders, marble and lum- ber-yards, saddlers, tailors, etc., are all well prepared to fill orders to any extent upon as acceptable terms as those of any city."
When the carriage facilities furnished by the railroads radiating from this point in every direction-the purchase of goods by our merchants from the manufacturers-the low rents here compared with New-York, (by which profits are regulated,)-the terms of sale offered-the saving of time and money involved in a northern trip, are taken into the account- the case is a plain one, that it is far preferable for the country merchant of this and adjoining states to buy his stock of goods in this market rather than to go farther East. A retail merchant in any of the locali- ties above named can do better in this city, all things considered, than at any other point. If any doubt it, let them come and make the trial, and we vouch for it that their doubts will be speedily removed.
The Dry-Goods Jobbing Trade has grown rapidly in this city in the last few years. A glance through any one of the leading establishments will disclose the fact that the proprietors are prepared to offer the strong- est inducements to buyers. The stocks, selected by as expert and expe- rienced buyers as any in the Union, under the spur of an active compe- tition, will be found superior in point of taste, comprehensiveness, and general acceptibility and adaptability to the wants of the country, to the stocks of any Jobbing Houses in the Eastern cities. A retail stock may be selected here with a fraction of the labor and expense which attend its selection in New-York, Philadelphia, and Boston, and be found, when se- lected, better adapted to the wants of the buyers. The goods, indeed, are selected for the merchant, in the great measure, and he is thus enabled to. act more deliberately, more self-possessed, and under circumstances more agreeable in every respect than when thrown in the midst of the din and confusion of New-York, obliged to pick up a little here and there, and often buying in opposition to his cooler judgment.
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