The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-03-28
For tks Madisaalan.

49, - NGNN !
teen years, the people OF This county have
been discussing the practeabiliy q a rail
road, connecting this place wiih some
point % the Mississippi river. Routes
have been surveyed, add one serious at
tempt was made to begin the work, but ow-
ing TO the disastrous conditioned the hnan-
cial, and commercial affairs Of that day, it
proveda complete failure. Gu; Slate had
embarked in a loose and wholesale system
ofbankmg, which resulted 10 general bank
ruptcy, and produced in the public mind, an
utter disgust for corporations, joint-stocks
or stocks Of any description. Since then,
such a total want Of confidence has been
feltin any public enterprise, that every
effort 10 put 10 action any plan Of public
Improvement, has been completely parall'
zed. Thr uuseemly skeletons Of broken
banks, are still seen hanging from the gif,bets
on which they persisted, and capital-Der-
vously tiGid--is frightened from any in
vpstment in their neighboThood, however
safe and legitimate. The phantoms Of past
failures have vanquished public spirit, and
proved a scare-crow 70 every enterPrize, Of
whatever pitb and moment Is r5 lsj'
III view Of this state o things, a number
0 fcidzens. from every part of the county,
concluded tO apply 20 the Legislature, with
the full consent ofthc people ofthe county'
fol permission to raise BY taxation. a shfi
cient amount 10 E courage private stock
holders to come forward and take part in
She enterprise, aud 70 create confidence in
the completioy d lht road. This is all that
il required to bring about aconsummation
Of the work. For the las.ten y. airs, private
stock holders had no confidence that any
thing would be done, nor could they be made
To- believe that an attempt was made 10
earnest. The hundred thousand dollars 10
/. lte subscribed bv the county will iotm SO
considerable an item in the amount neces-
sary to be raised, that the necessary addl'
tional amount will be at once subscribed,
unless the building oil the road shall be re-
garded as wholly impracticable, and uRde-
sirable. RI other words iG the work is at all
practicable, the present plan must succeed
and iflhe present plan does not, it may be
taken for granted that noother will, and we
| shall remain secluded from the rest Of the
world, and leitto struggle in our CONNER
cial isolation.
Ibelieve it is conceded by all, even by
, those who oppose the presentplan that this
road is highly desirable, and that its cree
4 lion would confer great benefits upon the
!, county. Ifso, it ought to be made, and
wtur pfuTfvr thutF~rPee~sbvt,ev tLoa as
' PRESENT. We have seen that the plan BY
private subscriptions alone, has wholly fail
5 ed to do anything for US, and then, to what
q source are we to look for those 'adyanta.
ges, ofwbichlh b rest Of the world are avail
ling themselves, and by means Of which,
they are leaving us far in the rear, in point
n Of wealth, conveniences, and prosperity?
o Inasmuch as this work will prove Of vasl
g public utility, even if it pays no dividends,
the county ought to share in its response
n bilities, and is under many more obligations
10 do so, than private enterprise and CAPT
tal. Ia other words, the public is unde.
more obligations to labor for lis own gOo'
than individuals for it.
But hit should prove profitable, of which
, there is but liule doubt, then the county j
/, entitled TO a share of lis profits. This i
!. what the present plan contemplales. A
, is conceded the road when built, will y,
,e apublic benefit, the county takes stock e.
uough, 70 bear a portion Of its burdens,
it shall prove Improbable, and to share ii
ID lis profits, il it shall pay a dividend. Tht
/. State OF Virginia makes tia point Of publ
g policy 10 own half the stock of every rail
4 road built within her borders. Many road
ed ID other States are built on the same plau
Like those, ours is to HAYES suficientnum
Der Of private stockholders, whose direc
interest il will be, to scrutinze the direc
iii ZION ofthe road, supervise the operations
3. Of the company, and prevent mismansge
ment.
1t hasbeen objected 10 the present char
lei, that ii requires a majority Of the quail
fed voters Of the county, to insure III
subscription. This is unquestionably RICH
and just, To have p!scid Tin the powe
y Of the majority Of the votes - which
o. might have been a small minority Of tht
us, vote Of the c%ourty-to exert the taxins
~ power, would have placed a specious argu
.I