State journal & flag. [volume] (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) 1843-1846, 1846-11-20
Rail Road communication im Ala.
NEAR KINGSTON, GA.
Oct. 25th 1916. {

|
Oct. 25th 1916.
| Dear Sir -
1t will give me great pleasure to give you
my ideas IN reply to your communication,
touching system Of Internal Improvements
for the State of Alabama, so far as my time
will allow mel have walked ten miles, and
rode len more, and located a mile Of rail
road TO day, and as this is daily opera.
ton, you can judge whether | have much
time a, my disposal.
Your State is divided into four sections,
North, South, East, and West, dsconnect-
ed by natural or rapid means of intercom-
munlcal:oD, and this ur other causes have
produced singular and unfortunate dissim
ilarity in interest. All States have of course
the same sections, but you never hear in
Georgia or Carolina, of North Georgia. or
South Georgia, East Carolina, or Wesl
Carolina. The ridge of high land com
mencing at The North east corner Of the
State. and dividing the Tennessee waters
from those that flow into the Gulf. dlsunites
Alabama more effectually than # distinct
governments occupied each side of the ridge.
In a word | would say that if had it in
my power 10 influence the legislation of the
State, | would cause TO be built in the short
est possible time, rail way from the Ten
nessee TO the Alabama river. | have al
ways favored the roed from Gunters Land.
ing TO Selma, connecting with the Coosa
near the head of Wills Creek. 1t passes as
centrally as possible through the State, and
the Cahawba valley affords national Route
for rail way that cannot be surpassed.
The location however of the Seat OF Gov
eminent in Montgomery, and the wealth Of
the east side of the State, has led me TO be.
lieye, that the route upon which the most
capital could be concentrated, would be
through the counties of Benton, Talladega
and Iallapoosa, 10 connect with the Mont
gomery rail road, somewhere near its pres
ent terminus. Such road would meet the
wants oil North, and East Alabama. 10 ad.
dition to this, were there road TO be built
from Tuscaloosa to Gadsden, your section
| of the State, or the west, would be ultimate
ly united with The North and East sections
of the State. The indireclness of the route
f ON Tuscaloosa 10 Montgomery, via. Gads>
den, would diappear in The short time it
could be passed by rail way travel. were
these roads built--lhat is from Gunters
Landing TO Gadsden, from thence to Mont
go'nery and Tuscaloosa, every county in
the State would have steam communication
with every other, excepting Marion, Walker,
Fayete, BIB, Perry, Russell, Barbour,
Henry. Pike, Butler, Dale, Covington and
Conecuh. refer OF course 10 river navga.
ton, and rail road united
The north half of Eastern Alabama will
have an intimate connection with Charles
ION, va. Coosa river and The rail roads from
Rome 1.-The South half will surely have an
outlet either from West Point or Columbus,
perhaps both. The railroad from Gunters
Landing to Gadsden will give north Alaba-
ma an outlet, via. the Coosa river to Charles
Ion, and west Alabama must build the road
from Tuscaloosa 10 Gadsden for the same
object.
1t is easy. however, TO point out the routes
that should be built. How should they be
carried into effect IL have moi thought
much about this, but will suggest an idea
or two. We will assume that the State in
tends to act honorably an assumption not
justified by pas, legislation, and devote the
two per cent. fund perpetually to internal
improvement purposes and return the three
per cert. into the same channel. With
these Two funds, and the Penitentiury hands,
| could build, rapidly, all the rail roads your
State requires. If this idea should strike
you with any force, send me the amount Of
The three per cent. fund. and the average
number Of convicls per annum, and | will
90 more into detail. The Stale, at this
time, cannot refund the three per cent, but
we could take her bonds, provided that
until we can complete our rail roads she
will lay a tax heavy enough to meet the in
lerest punc,ually. 10 few years the roads
will not only pay an interest upon the bonds
but upon The Uhole Debt of the State. Ala
bama could not do II wiser thing than en-.
gage an engineer 10 present some plan of
this kind for consideration. The bonds 10
replace the three per cent. fund should be
small bonds-not sold abroad, but paid out
as cash for labor and materials-wilh a
certain tax to meet interest the bonds could
be readily disposed of for labor. However
feasible such n plan may be, you will per.
ce We It will require. to carry it into effect
more intelligence and patriotism than legis-
latures are generally blessed with. There
may be fools enough, that will want the
roads to run by their doors, to spoil the
best muatured plans. Xxx.
To JOHN McCoRMTcK, Esq.