Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-05-30
From the Weekly Jacksonian
Memphis and Charleston Rail-ROad.

At the recent discussion at
the Court House in Holly Springs on
the subject of the present location of
the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.
between Gov. Jones and Messrs. Bar
ton and Clapp; Gov. Jones said that he
was willing that the Board OF Directors
should select an Engineer, and the citi-
zens of North Mississippi should select
another, and the two thus selected
should proceed to resurvey the Holly
Springs route for said Railroad in COM
pliance with the Mississi.oi Charter,
make their estimates OF cost and dist
ance, compare the sums with the esti-
mates of the LaGrange route and the
shortest, cheapest and bestroute, should
be adopted as the main line of the road.
This at first-view looked very fair, as
it certainly is very plausible PROPOSE
ton unless closely examined, and |
have no doubt it was so considered by
many when first proclaimed, but upon
reflection many like myself, find it will
not bare the test of equity and fairness.
For upon propounding few questions
to Gov. Jones, it was ascestained that
the road must necessarily be construct
ed from Memphis to LAGRANGE, such
was the contract entered into with the
LAGRANGE Company land that company
it is said has exclusive privileges, that
have been dormant for fifteen years.
If then the road must be made to La
Grange, that place being fifty miles
from Memphis in the direction of
Chattanooga, how is it possible for the
Holly Springs route to compete with
it, the Tennessee line having fifty miles
of Railroad built or a contract COM
pelling it to be built! If the starting
point is the city of Memphis, as it
should be, the Tennessee line will pass
over fifty mile of railway in process of
construction by contract, the Missis-
sippi line if it has to compete in
distance with that of Tennessee, will
use only a part of the old LaGrange
grade, and the Southern line will lose
the main road on account of increased
cost of construction. If the Mississip-
pi line is surveyed so as to insure the
smallest amount of cost they will use
more of the old grade, cause their line
to be some two miles the longest, and
thus loose the road on account of in.
creased distance.
1 five contend that the Mississippi
route is the best, all things considered
then we come in contact with the pride
of opinion of the Board of Directors
and shall be told that is only matter
of opinion about which men may hon.
, estly differ-can we satisfy the Directo
, ry who have expressed their opinion
and tenaciously adhered to it, that thu
Southern route promises the creates
: amount of traffic to the roadl w,
: may show it conclusively to any on'
) unprejudiced and not satisfy those VIII,
have formed different opinion.
Gov. Jones was asked if he woult
: consent to add to the estimated cost 0
the LaGrange line, the cost of a brancl
to Holly Springs, and to the cost of tn
road on the Holly Springs line as as
: certained on a resurvey, the cost of
branch to LAGRANGE and then locate tn
! main road ON the shortest, cheapest an
best route. This he declined.
He was also asked if he would con
!. sent to make LaGrange the startin
: place on that line, and point on tn
+ Southern line, the same distance fror
+ Memphis that Lagrange is. the start
, ing place of the Holly Springs route
: and from these two points, survey tn
competing lines East to Jacinto or Tus
cumbia, and locate the road on tn
70 shortest, cheapest and best. This h
g also declined, exhibiting a determin;
s ton to retain two chances out of thes
% in favor of the LaGarange route, {
> . decline every offer of compromise, pre-
IS fering to construct the road in Tenne'
y see at an additional cost to the stocl
~ ~ holders of one or two millions of fdolla
30 to locating it in Mississippi unless /
70 could do SO in accordance with his ow
d 10 opinions, regardless of the opinions |
u others. He has right SO to constru
10 the road, but the stockholders shoul
,e as they no doubt will, remember TIL
I they pay the cost and not Gov. Jone
e This M. and C. Railroad Compan
lf have charter in Tennessee, under
! provisions they can survey line f
,f the road where they please, in tn
! State and locate their road thereon
= let them make such survey and est
!. mates without encroaching on the TIE
h ritory of Mississippi, & ascertain itsco:
Of They have also charter in Missi
IS sippi which designates a line by Hol
lie Springs, let this line be surveyed
C. compliance with the charter, the dis
t. ances accurately measured, the es
th mates Of cost made-and the1 let L
n shortest, cheapest and best route ia
IS. the road and no one will complain
of have cause of complaint. This is f
to and just, in compliance with the cha
he tiers of the two States.
ch The company have no legal authori
u to run line just as they please in TIE
OF nessee and Mississippi, and then say
we can find shorter, cheaper and b
M ter, we may have the road. Theshol
ed est, cheapest and best route, belongs
ed the Community through which it pa
- es, the right of appropriating it to I
nv Legislative authority Of the State, a
the Legislature would be unmindful