True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-01-21

ty;, The amount of this fund may be stated as
! follows
Amount now in the Treasury of
the State, lO3,O68 40
Lost principal and interest in Plan.
tiers Bank, 10000 90
To be colected-but in safe hands
and secure, 38,28793
Total, 25l,355. 80
What disposition should be made of this fund,
propose to speak in connection with another
subject
RAIL ROAD EAST
Within a very few days after the adjournment
of the Legislature in 1874 the Commissioners
OF the JACKSON and Brandon Rail Road and
Bridge Company, made an application to u.e
Tor twenty-five thousand dollars Of the two per
cent. fund, loaned to that CompInV by az Act
Of the legislature, Approved, February 2Gth,
1912. The period limited by law for the con
pielon OF the Road having expired. and the
Road being still unfinished, thought the han
chses OF the Company so far forfeited as not
only Justify, but indeed to require me 70 with
hold the money ana await f.ahf le-.saiye
action. In presenting TINS subj. t. IN rge
a.'fe, It IS proper tor met3say. .hatgls future
ctt3e Company TO complete tul Road within
the required time, was owing, in Il great degree,
to circumstances which they could not control
not the least an .ong these was their disappoat
ment in not receiving the benefits CT this loan
as early as 1913 1t will be recoIlecied tina,
the Act OF 1912 made the loan contingent ap7u
tie consent of Congress. Some lime aitrr the
adjournment Of the Legislature in that ycar, an
agent OF the Company repaired to Washington
tor the purpose OF ub,iining that coa5 n. il
which he succeeded torIcason: satisfactory
to himself my predecessor Withheld the money.
When came into Office thought the Comra-
ny entitled TO receive it, and should have dircc;-
ed It's payment but for the expiration of the
charter Il seems not to have been the fault Of
the Company that they did not realize the ben
ciltS OF the loan, aud TO that extent they are ire
Sponslble for the non-completon OF the Road.
recommend that the $4,000 and such other por-
ton of the two per ctut fund, as is necessary
for that purpose, be expended in completing the
Rail Road from Jackson to B,anlon, guder the
direction of Commissioners 10 be appointed Tor
that purpose.
This road forms a link in the great chain
which is ultimately to connect the Mississippi
river with the Atlantic, and in that view it
swclIs into an Importance far beyond anything
connected with the mere exist nee Of a road from
Jackson to Brandon At the time when Con-
gress at the earnest aud repeated solicitations of
this State rclnquishod the two per cent fund
TO a Rail Road from Brandon to the Alabama
line it was confidently expected TINT the link
between Jackson aud 8auion then in state Of
procr,gs would be completed by other means
These expectations have boon Disappointed
They in iut,d Congress. however, to mention
Brandon, instead OF Jackson, rs the starting
point Of the road The cous,ut OF Congress
has only been Obtained 10 the application OF the
twenty-five thous nd d3ih's 10 this intermediate
link Her consent should BE- asked to The use
OF 50 much Of the two per cent ilnd rs nfcC3-
slry TO complete the rail roid from Jackson to
Brandon; or. in other words, the consent Of
Congress should be- obtained for commencing
the road at Jackson. instead Of Brandon And
in anticipation oi this consent beng had. thc L.
uislur" ought ~ once 20 make such provision
rs wal ensure thr most economical aud speedy
application oiJha moury. invite the attention
Of the Lagisl1lu 10 'hr several memorials from
this State, ard the Gnal action OF Congress in
rcliuquishiu- the two per cent fund II will
be seen that the State asked, and Congress re-
iinquishcd it TO this particular road
The scheme of connecting the Atlantic
with the Mississippi river by means of
Rail Road is one of vast magnitude aud
will doubtless engage the early attention
of the Legislature.
Rejecting the idea that Congress may
apply the National Treasure to improve.
ments which are only loca, in their char
acter. it is nevertheless true, that works
which are essential to the "common de-
fence" ofthe confcdcrGted States may, aud
ought to be Constructed at the National
expense. Viewing the contemplated Roll
Road as a work ofthis character, | do not
hesitate to advise the legislature 10 maze
an earnest appeal to Congress 70 aid IA Its
construction.
Should the South Western States be inva-
dad. the Road, rs a means Of speedy 0nd
s,ia transportation Otto rr- rrd 1H.'.as
ofwa-. uly'5 .a .a.., of u"a.,l.ls.u
..'.....-r tr t.. Nation .-re
Vla delays Jud dangers Incident TO
VOYAGE around the F.0ridlS, on the one
hand, and the perpIexIties Of tedious mar
ches over land on the other, would be
avoided. Army supplies, Instead Of being
sent down the river when the waters aIe
low and the delays great, c7rd be- 'arw7sa- /
Cd from ihs E14i, and by tIc same "a
the Eastern and Middle States could br
supplied with safety aud expedition from |
a., S,,,,h aud XErzf