The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-28
The jackson and NeworIeans Railroads

Road of more immediate and direct importance to
our citizens. It is the one which should be first
begun and completed, 1t will open to us the trade
Of Eastern and Northern Mississippi 1t connects
US with the grand Southern Railroad from the
Gulf to the Ohio and Ihe lakes w hen TIM, pre-
duce of the wheat and corn and stock country can
select either Mobile or New Orleans as its market,
can any one for moment doubt which will have
the preference 1t may be said that years will
pass before the road can reach the Ohio, Undoubt-
eddy. But it will strike the cotton country Of Mis- |
sissippi and Alabama at once. The moment that |
New Orleans capital is pledged for forty miles, the
counties of Mississippi will carry On the Yoad to
jackson. Let us not permit the magnificent scheme |
for the union of the two oceans induce us to over
look the easier and cheaper, and more immediate |
improvement in our neghborhOOd.
PARISH OF CoNooRDlA, December 49, 1850.
McssrS Editors-Whilst the friends of the New Orleans
aud jackson Railroad entertain great hopes OF accomplishing
the necessary for aiding the execution of that mpor
enterprise, it much to be GREETED that various propo
stons, the route best calculated for the road are
allowed to diminish the prospect OF a beginning.
In the absence of authentic report and of the diff
eren routes accordance with the resolutions of the
vention, held in New Orleans in March, 1850, the pub
lie mind is left to speculate upon proposition
which may be suggested.
The plan of Mr. A. 5. Phelps Civil Engineer advocating
line following the of the Meare Ridge. thence
Blind river to the Ame, etc.. although entirely
agorical to the interests of the original friends of the road
and calculated to deprive the lower Pearl districts of
any participation in its benefits, to have metthe
probation of the committee appointed by the Connects of the
three municipalities for the purpose Of investigating the
subject.
have no doubt that the construction of road upon that
route perfectly feasible, but the question arises will the OBJ
ect 10 be attained within reasonable period of time justify
the amount required TO be expended?
In the first place. it will be Necessary build ninety eight
esOfya in
the high lands upon the Louisiana and Mississippi State line,
thirty miles west and parallel with certain point forty
miles north of Nadsonvile. From the point thirty miles
west aforesaid to the city OF Jackson, the distance by the
hypothenuse of the 100 miles, and only 100 mesupon
the line indicated for the Madonyile The distance
then, from New Orleans to jackson, via MetaiIle Ridge
eto is not less than miles, and that from Madsonyie to
Jack9on 142 miles
Without gaag 10 myself any pal oular knowledge
garding the of constructing Railroads such gouud
ss that line presents, will the assertion that the
ninety EIGHT miles of road, before mentioned if properly
and substantially constructed, with all necessary aqueduc
bridges, etc.. will average the of $40 coo per mile
amounting to $l9600C) and the remaining los miles to the
city OF Jackson VIII average SlO per mie-say $lO0OUU-
amounting in the aggregate to s30l0CC), and requiring
CAPT al Of not less than $3,5OOC1 to place the road IN
operation.
This calculation may be called exravagant but my opn-
ion influenced by good authority upon Railroad
te and after consulting tables exhibiting the cost of every
Railroad in the world, with minute deneations
corning those in heUnted States have placed this poeo.
by comparison, unaided by positive data.
In the next place, the amount Of capital required build
said road will occasion the necessity Of of incOpOl.
ton, with pOwe beyond the provisions OF the present Con
stution of louisiana and unless extra session Of the
Legislature lie called, and the Constitution amended with
respect to corporations of this nature, much valuable
will be lost before operations can safely be commenced
Admitting all the advantages such Railroad calculated
to produce and its importance the city of New Orleans
men of enterprise will hesitate before they embark into
schemes of this character unless fair prospect oremunefa
ton exhibited, independent of its influence upon other spe
ces of properly The city fathers when authorized do So
may, pro bono plbc0, invest s5OOO00 in stock but they
should be well assured of the position of individual influence,
before the city is committed to particular plaH.
1t wish depre5 the prospect of any enabe pro.
POSITION do expect the public to be influenced by Opin
ions which may be esssed premature but | certainly
think that it due in the defence Of the Madsonvle
Represent it being decidedly the available and to
show that at cost of one and half millions of doars (ess
money! the pad will completely subserVe the interests and
wants -0 the COMMUNICABLE effsctualy develop the
resources of the contiguous county, and be athat
IS requisite as means OF communication between the two
cities until considerable extension beyond Jackson will
command aud justify continuation Of the road into the
city, by deour 0l& The ridge or by line directly
| Lake POntChaItroin.
IT, in the course of the ten years. the latter necessity
should arise, then the Madonvie Road being already in
successful operation, would be the Of Transporting from
the interior all the lumber gravel EARTH and other materials
necessary for the work, which would otherwise amount 10
of exceeding the original of the Road abau
doned in consequence of said detour
An entraNagtpt proposition Will
and allimDortant that thiswok should receive rs tim
petus under the most economical arrangement.
For the Of two millions of doal5, the capital fixed in
the Charter granted by the Mississippi Legislature, the Rail
road, with all its appurenances, between New Orleans and
Jackson ria Madsouve bs completed and put ope
ton within yeas from this date certainly agree with
r Phelps, where he remerks that the objections the
MadOnvle rout5 are founded caprice than
son. And feel assured that when the public ghty appre-
caie the proposition for transport Lake Pontchartrain
they will believe MIR. Phelps and other Engineer do.
Hla n, ILL gv u
which certainly has been sufficiently combatted to
convince the most noleduous inquirer. that it placing the
scheme in false position compared with other routes, viz
That the MadsOnvie is Objectionable because pro
duee, viii be subject expensel and cherges in
cured by reshpmea have not the report before mo- bu
: such is the meaning.l
To this objection again, will propose Floating
Railroad for thirty miles better foundation than car
be found in the swamp rim other WORDS steamer proper
constructed will have enough upon the main upo
each side of The boierhatGh for Railroad track sufficient
accommodate tram Of thirty burhen cans, which are egu5
two freight trims, commonly drawn by the heayis,
y locomotives in u.s.,
! In England, 1881 the weight of goods train, in
Guiding engine and tender was ffy.two tons in 1873 it va
RED from l6O to l76 ous Thus, allowing for the great in
provement in Railroad transportation England down to tn
year lS4s, the North Railway, Che best in tn
world, having weight of rail of IS pounds the yard til
heaviest an locomotive included, does to one
third much ordinary GAMES up stream
4 the rapid current of the Mississippi
Now, with boat $50 feet long, 80 feet bearY,and
fest hold measuring nearly $50 TONS the weight of train
burthen cas- would merely place her trim to attain III
a | speed Of sixteen mics per hour.
There be no danger OF rendering such boat unsea
worthy by her freight, and would her safe agam
" the heaviest gale to be met with upon Ponch0r,rain
Two boats of this class would not cost the company Owe
$l20OOO and would eGdur with ordinary care for ten YEAR,
The modus operand for serng the from the roa
to the steamer, and from the steamer to road both up
and practicable would suggest the very expeditions pa
at present in use the river Forth drawing Of whic
may be found IN the polsess oil several professional eng