The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-09-18
For the Primitive Republican.
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad
Afew words to the citizens of Columbus.

a few words to the citizens OF Cotumbu1.
Not long since I invited the attention Of
the people Of eastern Mississippi, to some
what elaborate article, setting forth the Lead
ing features of this great railroad enterprise.
The political excitement which was then
raging with such intensity has been succeed
ed by a grateful calm, and it is thought that
the time is favorable to obtain patient hear
ing upon 50 interesting theme as the one Ct
the head of this communication In my for
mer article considered the general bearings
of the great subject; in this, it is my design
to lOcalise. wish more particularly to ex-
anime the probable effects of the completion
of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, upon the
town of Columbus To the citizens Of this
enterprising town this questiOnis by no means
a new one Many of you have bestowed
much thought upon it, and most of you, per-
haps, have come to the conclusion that your
pleasant city would be injured rather than
benefited, by the construction of this road
Yet in the face of this conviction, you did
not hesitate, when the proposition was made
to tax the county of Lowndes in aid Of the
project, to come forward boldly and manful-
ly and cast your votes in favor of the meas
ure. While you believed it would injure the
town, you saw clearly its great Importance to
the county and the State, and with none Of
that small local prejudice that refuses to look
beyond the "little limits of its own towp or
neighborhood," you came forward to the sup.
port of the measure with magnanimity
worthy of the admiration, and I may add Of
the emulation Of towns similarly situated.
With this evidence before me, of the In
tarest with which the people of this place,
view this great enterprise, ] proceed with the
more pleasure to submit my poor reflections
upon the subject, asking for them no more
; consideration than their truth and peTtinence
demand. That they viii receive all the at
tention they are worthy Of, 1 have little doubt,
and if ain able clearly to establish the prop.
, osition with which set out, 1t would certain
r ly seem that the people of Columbus would
$ be induced to redouble their zeal and actiYi-
ty in aid of this great work.
: Ny proposition is, that the completion %
E this railroad, 50 far from injuring Columbus,
y viii directly tend to its growth aud prosperi-
e ty. In support of this proposition shall
first consider the sources of the prosperity Of
! towns in general. Second, the situation Of
5 Columbus regarding them, at present and
5 prospectively-and thirdly, appeal to facts,
n showing the effects of other railways upon
! the towns through which they pass OF which
they nearly approach.
. OF the two great routes surveyed between
4 Mobile and the Ohio river, known as the
J. eastern or western routes-the eastern has
f been found the most feasible, all things con-
sidered, for the construction of tie road
Upon this route, however, various lines have
It been run, and the exact location has not yet
!, been publicly made. Thus from the north
= line of Noxubee county to the north line CT
9 Monroe, two distinct lines are presented; no.
Q passing twelve, and no. passing nine and
three quarters miles west of Columbus. So
!, however the road may be located, it can in
# no case be more than twelve, and it may be
it less than ten miles distant from your town.
: Now the country between these points is We
ry favorably situated for their connection at
small comparative cost either by branch
t. railroad or by plank read The former might
It be constructed and suitably equipped for
; from $4,000 to 100000, and the latter
+ could be built for from say twenty thousand
b to thirty thousand dollars. By such connec-
d ton Columbus would be more favorably sit
:, uated for business than if the road passed d.
. rectly through the town, and It would be so
e clearly, the interest of her citizens and Of
/ the railroad company, that the connection
r should be made, that there cannot be the
!, shadow Of doubt that the construction of
r the one would speedily be followed By that
i of the other I shall therefore take it for
St granted in my argument that this desirAtle
y connection will be made.
:. Let us now enquire, what is essential to
e the growth and prosperity Of town or city,
=; Some towns are supported by commerce,
some BY manufactures, some BY trade The
s, town that can. combine the most Of these ell
= ementa is generally conceded to be the most
a. prosperous. Country towns in the South
al owe their growth and prosperity mostly to
E the tradswhieh springs up between their IN
habitants and those Of the agricultural dis
Is tTicts around them. BOtvhat class Of agri-
al epltaFalsts are profitable to the town! Is it
I the large landed and negro proprietor, Who
makes bis hundreds Of bales Of cotton asnu-
ally? Notatall IsisProyerbial that these
men spend little money IN theinterior towns.
4 They never dispose Of their crops in them
ldlthey never purchase supplies there. Their
60 trade and custom mostly goes 70 tie sespor'
8 where they send their producej and Is = con
Is Sequence they care very little Tor, they rash-
,e- e view with contempt the smaller town.
Ife strugg for existence IL the country. No
d so, however, With the small farmer, vkousas
- from three to twenty o. thirty baIeE 81 cot