The primitive Republican., 1851-02-20


Third Annual reporlof the Directors OF tll=
Mobile and Ohio Es. e Conn
In conformity with the instr nctions ot the
stock osders at the last annual meeting the
/ board soon after closed the Conditional con-
tracts previously made for adnatl lon ma
sonry, 4Cc., pom that portion OF the work
between Mobile and Riddles, thus making
/ Ithirty-three miles under contra ct, and upon
which construction was commence ced; -
Since that period the work has been stead
lily prosecuted, and the grad dnation IS now
nearly completed upon this portion Of The
line. - &
In accordance with the provisions of the
charter, a jury of freeholders was som mon
led on 2Oth March last, who proceeded to
condemn, for the use of the company, suit
able lands for the terminal depot, machine
and repair shops, &c. &c, at Mobile
The Jury returned q verdict, assessing the
land damages at the amount. IN the aggre-
gate, of $S,172 so. This verdict secures
to the company, at a nominal price, about
forty acres of land, at the northern end of
the city, with a conmodious water 'front.'
and, at the south psrt, large and convenient
wharves, to be reached by tracks through
Commerce and Water streets. for the ac-
commodation of that portion of the city.
making, in all, an extent of depot accom-
modation fully adequate to the wants of the
road for many years after its -compl n
The advantages Of securing these exten-
sive depot grounds at the outset, while pro-
durable at a moderate price, may beestInla-
ted, whenthe fact is remembered, that ter
minal depots are ordinarily among the heav-
lest items Of expenditure, amounting, with
some of the northeIn companies, to hund-
reds of thousands oT dollars of their capi-
tai.
The act of the Legislature of Alabama,
authorizing. a special tax Of $500, 600 upon
real estate in the city Of Mobile, for the
benefit of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
was submitted TO the freeholders of the city.
on the 9th February last, and was confirm
ed by an almost unanimous vote. The re-
suits of railroad progress here have been
the same as elsewhere, and property own.
ers in the city of Mobile already realize
in the in proved demand and enhanced pri-
ces of real estate-a return much greater
than the whole amount of the tax to which
they have consented. Tt is proposed to
change this tax at the next session of the
Legislature to an assessment of two per
cent per annum upon the real estate of the
city, TO continue for five years, the tax
payer, as now, to be entitled 10 stock OF
the company for the amount of his assess
ments The proposition has been submit
ted to number of property holders, and is
| received with general appreciation; and
there can be hardly doubt that it will OBJ
tain the sanction of all persons Interested in
Of
Should the change be authorised, as the
hoard hope and believe it viii be, it will Sc
cure the means necessary to complete the
roadbed to Kemper county line, and enable
the Directors to place the entire work un-
der contract to that point, from whence
Mississippi stands ready TO take it forward,
and construct it through her borders. The
experience of other cities will Justly the
opinion that the enhancement of value of
real estate in Mobile, consequent upon the
progress of the railroad, will far more than
keep pace with the expenditures of her cit
izens for this object.
Deening it a matter of the highest I'M
portnnce to secure a donation of public
lands from Congress, the Board authorised
the Chief Engineer to proceed.to Washing
ton, IN May last, as the agent of the Cons
pany, to assist In that object. His mission
was successful, and, through the earnest
and llntiring efforts of the Representative
from the Mobile District, and other friends,
both in and out of Congress, a bill finally
passed the House of Representatives, and
became law, September 20th, ! $50, do
mating lands to Illinois, Mississippi and AL
abama, to aid in the construction Of a Rail-
road from Chicago to Mobile. BY the spl o.
visions OF the act. the alternate sections,
for six miles in width, on each side of the
road, are donated for this purpose; and in
case deficiency should exist, by reason of
previous sales, the requisite amounts to be-
made up by selections of alternate sections
within fifteen miles. The proportion of
lands accruing to the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad, under this grant, will not be far
from one million acres, which, at the mini-
mum price at which the lands remaining
to the Government can be sold, would a.
mount to two and a half million dollars. -
But the construction of a railway tllrougll
these lands will increase their value mate
Tally beyond this point; and, IF judiciously
disposed of. after the road shall be compile
Ted, they viii probably realize a sum slffi-l
cient to iron the entire line, and furnish hit
with ample equipments for q large through
business. By order of tile President of he /
United States sales have been suspended
at the various Land Offices in Alabama 4
Mississippi for SIX months to enable he
Company to make lie necessary selections
and two engineering parties have been or |
ganized, aud are now in the 6eld, revising
the lines through the State of lississi f1i, |
aud repair ing he requisite land ma ps: I'D /
j II: BaldWyn Esq i. has been a appointed
BY the Governor Of "A Iabaiiia TO make le
Selections IL this State and will proceed q |
carry ont flIe objects 0f hisgzco commission (