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

NO. 80.
-
To the People q Eastern Mississippi. I
Tie Noble and Ohio Railroad-its progress
IDS prospects feastbility-its ialpor-
tqnee 70 Mississippi as aaeaptdqes to tbe /
South.
FELLoW-CIT1zENs:
The Editor of the Prips-
tire Republican, has kindly placed his col
umns atmy service, and several ntfriends
Of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, have been
kind enough to urge me to address you re-
garding that most important enterprise.
Political themes have so long been the all alb
sorbing topics of discussion, Ihayc thought
that the direction of the public mind to al
subject, at least equally important, and to-
one 50 intimately connected with. the present
interests and future prosperity of the people
of this section, would be to them grateful
relief if it accomplished no higher purpose.
The first public meeting to consider the
project for uniting, by railroad, the Missis-
sippi and Ohio valleys to the Gulf of Mexi-
co, was held at Mobile on the 18th of Janu-
airy, 1917.
The proposition was novel, and the inevita-
bic expenditure enormous, but 50 striking
did the advantages of such connection APP
pear, even upon the most cursory examina-
ton, that a committee of influential citizens
of Mobile, was appointed to obtain accurate
information regarding the proposed route and
its feasibility. A reconnaissance was made
by Louis Troost, Esq, civil engineer, and 50
favorable was his report, that applications
were Immediately made to the Legislatures of
the four States through which the proposed
road was to pass, for the requisite charters,
These were granted without delay, and the
company soon organised under favorable aus
pices.
Scarcely three years have elapsed since the
organization, yet the whole route has been
accurately surveyed, the expenses attending
thcconstructiono of every mile of the road have
been asccrtained, and public opinion, which
at first regarded the scheme doubtfully, (and
many openly ridiculed it, has been enlight-
encd and propitiated Seventy miles of the
road have been located, and thirty three
miles arc nearly completed and will soon be
in use, ana it IS hoped that another twelve
months viii witness its extension beyond the
Buckatunna. Although this progress is not
all its friends desired, yet when we take into
consideration the magnitude of the underta-
king, the necessary delays for the surveys,
the exceeding timidily of capital, the great
-outlay demanded, the little experience. in,
and practical acquaintance with railway i'm
provemcnts, in the greater portion of the
country more Immediately interested & from
which the means of construction must be de-
rived, and the slowness with which great and
novel enterprises make their way to the con
fdence of the people, it is rather matter o.
surprise that so much has been accomplish
ed.
The prospects Of the road are cheering
More than million of dollars stock hav,
been subscribed in Alabama, the subscription
Fl in Mississippi, though comparatively small
{ is almost daily increasing, from Tennessee
and Kentucky VIC hear the most favorable ii
dings, the magnificent grant of the publ
lands, by Congress, viii if judiciously dispos
cd Of, furnish means to equip and iron tn
road, and the Directors are not without hop
Of obtaining efficient aid, from the Legisla
, lures Of the four great States, so vitality in
tercstcd in its speedy completion, at their AZ
preaching sessions. If the company NEE
: with that response from eastern Mississippi
which they feel that the deep interest she ha
at stake warrant them in expecting with cor
J fdence, there is nothing that need proven
! the daily passage of the locomotive on il
iron track, from the Gulf to the Tennessee
within the next two years.
!. With this brief notice-for the limits
!, q newspaper article preclude elaboration
! the commencement, progress, and promise
the proposed railroad, I proceed to considc
its feasibility. Toarriye at a correct concl
\ sion upon this subject, we must first enqair
: what is requisite to the feasibility Of a.
railroad enterprise; and secondly, does tt
road under consideration possess these esse
tial characteristics?
To the first enquiry it may be general
responded
/. The terminiof theroad should be poin
of commercial importance, representing Sc
of diverse productions, between whi'
Aterchange of products is essential or d
sirable-or
It 2. The proposed route should offer supe
Of or facilities to the traveller, such as would'
-e- ford a saving Of time, distance and expen'
and attract to it a heavy travelling custc
o. -or,
"a 3. The road should pass through rich /
ricultural or mineral districts, and afford
W. slirest. the snead;ost The oboorast. and