The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-08-28

2 81
725 tons, in Tennessee 244, 500 tons, and in
Alabama 156, 847 tons, making grand total
of 620,641 tons. The total amount of caps
.ital invested in trade, commerce, and manu-
factures in the same counties is SIS, 257 goo.
From such an exhibition of the wealth and
capacity of the country, is itnot evident, that
setting aside, the great advantages Of through
travel and freight, the road would be ade-
quately supported?
We now come to the consideration Of the
lastrequisite. The entire routefrom Mobile to
the Ohio has been accurately surveyed, and
from the report of the engineers it seems pc
culiarly adapted to railroad purposes. In
deed venture the assertion tl1at.n single
railroad route of equal length can be found
in this country combining so many advanta-
ges of construction There is no gradient
going North. over 40 feet to the mile or go
ing South over 80 feet, and the shortest curve
will not be less than 1888 feet radius. The
highest elevation on the whole road is not O.
yer $50 to 700 feet above tide water at Mo-
bile. To one having any practical knowledge
of civil engineering, the great benefits to be
derived from slight gradients, will be appa-
rent. Besides, the money and labor saved by
them, in the construction of the road-bed,
fthey are of continual advantage in the econ
omy of power which they allow. This will
be readily seen from the following statement.
A twenty-four ton engine will draw net load
of merchandise, ona level track, weighing
587 tons The same engine will draw on a
grade of 10 feet per mile, 800 tons-on a
grade of twenty feet, 296 tons-on grade
of 80 feet feet, 236 tons-on a grade of 40
feet, 1914 tons-on a grade Of so feet, 166
tons, and on grade of 60 feet per mile, on
" 142 tons.
The ratio of the cost of traction between
the level grade, and the grade Of go feet, is
as l to Alb. Now, when we remember that
many roads, in active use and paying well,
have much higher gradients, the superiority
of this route will be manifest. The Charles
ton, Georgia and Tennessee Railroad for in
stance has maximum grade of about 100
feet to the mile, while the Baltimore and o.
hio road has the enormous maximum of 116
feet to the miles.
The natural superiority Of the outo Of this
road is also in the few streams which it will
be compelled to cross. The Obion river in
Y Tennessee is the broadcast, and that will no,
: require a bridge over160 feet span.
Again, this absence of rivers and noun.
tains, enables the company to preserve al
: most direct course from the Gulf to the O.
hio. Let us compare it with other roads il
| this respect. The Mobile and Ohio Railroad
4 only varies II per cent from an air line
the Charleston road, above referred to, yarie.
Sc per cent-the New York and Erie roaC
T 40 per cent. and the Baltimore and Ohio
: road 50 per cent. Here we see the great ad
vantage in this respect Of this road over al
: others of which we have any knowledge.
d will add on the subject of construction; tina
; an abundance of timber for all its wants j
I found in the vicinity of the railroad, an,
|, brick of excellent quality can be readily man
d ufactured for the masonry.
;, We proceed to consider briefly what stall,
J Mississippi has in this magnificent undertak
I ing.
IS The total population Of the counties in til
I State to be accommodated by this road,
E I239,445.
Il The assessed value of the lands in thes
$ counties is $50, 740,432. They produce al
= nually about 8,626,7OO bushels of grair
= (corn, wheat, &c.) 536, 800 bushels of pot,
: toes, 81, 900 lbs of tobacco, 165, 500 lbs
: wool, and 1882, 800 lbs. of cotton. I'll
dairy and orchard products, and the hom
made goods of these counties are valued
: 81, 13l, 400. The value of their poultry
= S171 900, and they haveinyested s., $3.50, 10
: in manufactures and commerce.
The yalne OF the slaves owned IN them ca
y not be less than s25,000,000. It will
= recollected that large portions of the land
- these counties is at present unoceupied, al
- : much Of it must SO continue without son
. such avenue to market is opened up. The
lands embrace some of the most fertilein d
= State.
e Now what are the market conveniences
= this large and wealthy section? It's Deepen
ent upon uncertain river navigation, op
hardly three months in the year, and at b
eb attended with great expense and delay. Z
Ia; river is at the extreme Of this section, a
Tor very much of the produce shipped, must
hauled a great distance over almost inipas
his bic roads. Hence, 50 great are the haul
I'VE expenses, nothing but cotton viii bear ira
his mission to market, and that burdened v
lue such heavy charges as materially tointcff
th, with the profits anticipated from It's sale.
GIT Open up this line Of railroad and what
les- We sect Running as It vii through
ans heart Of this section Of counties, It gfea
Be lessons the distance and expense of haul
md enables the producer to get his products
ers, market, much earlier in the season, 70 f
t Of advantage Of favorable prices, to purch
- J;s s,,,,l;os ae J,S,sl,sls n a.,