The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-22
New Orleans and jackson Railroad

COhVehIlOns- sF~ ,
This body met yesterday at II O'Clock in the new
Municipal Hall. Judge VIM. A. Stone, the Presi-
dent of the Monticello Convention, was called upon
to preside over the deliberations, and the Vice
Presidents and Secretaries who acted on the same
occasion were chosen anew. IL
On motion, the proceedings of the Monticello
Conyention were read.
On motion, the names of the delegates from each
county and parish were called, when it appeared
that fifty-one members were present.
The President announced that the first thing in
order would be the reports from committees
Captain Grice regretted to say that the Committee
on Routes had not yet been enabled 10 make their
report. There were differences of opinion in regard
10 the selection of the route, which had not yet
been reconciled, but in the mean time he had drawn
up report which he would beg leave to submit to
the Convention.
[rhe-report is one Of much ability, and contains
information of character so important to the pub
lie, that we deem it necessary to publish it in full
1t is as follows j
Mr.. .President--I exceedingly regret that the
Committee upon Routes have not been able to
prepare report, to be submitted to this body,
agreeablyto resolution number two, at the Month
cello Convention, as it was regarded matter Of
paramount importance, and its absence may involve
US in much controversy. Whilst the practicabity
Of constructing Railroad from New Orleans to
the city of jackson, Miss, is now generally con-
eeded, there seems to be some diversity of opinion
with respect to the best and most feasible route to
be pursued. AT the Monticello Convention this
difficulty presented ITSELF and it was resolved that
| three routes should be surveyed viz commencing
| at Jackson; and terminating either at Madison
| vile, in the Parish of st. Tammany, La, or by
the way of the Rigolets at New Orleans, or to The
terminus by the route originally projected for the
| New Orleans and Nashville Road" Without the
| surveys before us, we are, of course restrained
from observing the spirit of the Monticello resolu
| ton but those gentlemen who advocate each
particular route supposed to be prepared with
argument and statistics in support of their respec-
| tive claims, can objection why their merits
should not be discussed in the hope that favora.
bic conclusion may be arrived at in the minds Of
| this Convention. Since the winter of 1886 have
been much engaged in the consideration of this
| subject and have travelled over much of the coun.
try between the north shore of Lake Pontchartran
and the city of Jackson and it is well known tc
members of this Convention that have advocated
| the route for a Railroad, commencing at the town
of Madisonville, and pursuing nearly north course
to the intersection of the Nashville Railroad route
east of the Tangipaho river thence to the city oil
Jackson, along the line of that suryey-connecting
| Madisonville with New Orleans by line Of
steamers across Pontchartrain. 1t is my firm
| opinion that this is the best and most feasible
route which can be adopted, and the only upon
which the road can be constructed, for the amount
OF influence the enterprise will at present command
and for the stock which will be subscribed. This
route would command the assistance and influence
of the best portions of the Parishes of st. Tam
many, Washington and st. Helena, and also Of the
counties of Amite, franklin, Pike and Lawrence;
and by touching near the Pearl river at Monticello
would receive the patronage Of several important
counties east of that stream. gs r
I could, however, suggest another line cOmrnen-
cling at the same point and continuing due North
course, along the dividing line between Marion and
Pike counties Miss, directly to the town Of Mont
cello, upon the Pearl rivera route which would
involve no more cost in its construction, except
perhaps, the erection of two bridges and crossing
one thousand yards of. swamp This last route
would prove to be the most Direct and bette
I adapted to the interest Of the Pearl river below
% Monticello, and would pursue line equi-dstan
between Holmesville and Columbia, but, in mi
opinion, would command no influence westof Pix
county. 49,, "a, E -1s..-.. ., .,..,,f
The most important reason Tor commencing tn
road at Madsonville is to avoid the thirty miles 0
swamp or marshy land lying between the city {
Neworleans and the pine lands. on the north shor
of Lake Pontehartrsin, through which il would b
almost impossible to construct good Railroad
even at an expense Of $4,000 per mile. This fac
] has been clearly denOnststsd to the citizens {