The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-03-02

The NAVIGATION OF the hlB 1AhCk River
Isee that you have already begun the work
OF announcing the mines Of candidates for Of
fee for the fall election. 1t is soon enough
and perhaps not too soon. It gives the voter
time to make up his mind deliberately, and
thoroughly 70 weigh the merits Of every one
whose name is before The people for their sui
frages.
The thought, however, reminds me particu
larly, oft scheme | entertained two years ago
now, Of writing for your paper, several articles
on the improvement Of the Navigation of Big
Black river, Then, when the minds of our
citizens were being turned TO the selection Of
suitable persons to represent the great cotton
growing county Of Madison in the Legislature
Of the State. | intended laying before the pub
lie such facts, and arguments deduced from
them-as did hope might influence the expec
tants Of legislative honors in some united and
vigorous effort, to effect a safe and better out
let to market, for our great staple. This, it
seems 10 me-. might he done through the chan
mel of Big Black. But before the plan | had
sketched out was matured, the Rail Road got
the start Of me, And with the rapidity which
always attends communication Of that kind,
SO seized upon the minds OF our people, that
nothing was talked about, or thought Of, but
Canton a City, and a trip to Vicksburg in a
twinkle. These were delightful dreams, Ger
tainly, and only wanted the fulfilling to max
US a "great people" The engineer was a san
guine man, And SO high did he get the steam
that his engine was quite near taking him to
Jackson ere it exploded. OF the other gentle.
men who took passage with him in this adven-
turous race, three Of them, after great labor,
and much wear and tearof limb and lung, ef-
lected a sale Judgment in the "gredt house !"
And in due time, brought the 'Wisdom Of thu
Sates,'' to contemplate favorably the future
destinyo Of this spoiled taUortte. All that Legis
lative sanction could do, was done. Commit
tees, nominations, and names Of theiirst res
portability among US, handed in, who woulC
act in the various capacities designated. And
| b ave heard that there was one, bold enough
to take charge Of formidable f>olios, within
whose lids TO write subscription for stock.
But | have not been told that there was one
single black, sacrilegous line, scratched a
cross their snow white pages.
Seriously, then, there were many, and my
self among the number, who entertained the
conviction that the Rail Road would be a grea
failure, nolwit1 sthnding the boastful promises
Of one Of its advocates. That there was no
idle capital enough in the country to c%onstruc
the road, even if there had been any great anC
exclusive necessity for it. And l state the
fact now, and will contend for its truth after.
wards, that there is a less necessity for a Rail
Road b%isecting our county, than there is fol
one through any other county in the State
And l 90 further. The ad once built would
be a heavier tax upon our industry, annually
than bad State Legislation has been for the
last twelve years.
Rail Roads any where are costly in their
construction, and with us, would be exorbi-
family high. The machinery used in trans.
p~ortation is costly. We corld not use on
proftably more than half the year. The labor
Of management and repairs, both in the busy
season, and when it is doing but little, would
eat up the dividends arising fron stock.
Neither am | an enemy'to Canton, and the
healthy prosperity which the concentrated trade
Of a large portion Of country, would give her,
in thesevent Of a railroad from thence to Jack.
son. But our own interest, and that of those
who are TO come after us: the unparalleled
condition Of our public roads-bad every win
ter, but worse this winter than usual-cuttinn
US of e tirely, for three months past, from the
thoroughfares Of the rail road and Yazoo river
the killing off business TO our teams and driv
ers; the expense Of feed and f%erriages, in such
lcngltrips. demands imperatively that We should
calmly and deliberat ly weigh this matter il
all its bearings and determine decidedly, upon
some course and vigorously pursue it.
Thet course, the most practical and cheapes
: | shall endeavor to unfold in the following nun
bers, 1t Is the one it would seem to me whicI
wisdom would dictate to a people laborinl
under the disadvantages that we do. And
t know il the subject was properly discussed
which | have not the leisure or the reqnisit
, information to dot would so commend il
self to favorable consideration, that, before tn
year goes out, something would be don
greatly to facilitate the taking to market @
the next crop. BIG BLACK.
Big Black, February 26, l849.