Washington telegraph., 1852-03-17
Enr ybo T,yor,.o,,

Ihere Is tide IN the aliais of men which
taken at the food leads on to fortune
lhat the present Is critical period ia the affairs
OF this State; no one at all cosnzanf with her
situation will deny. That it is the duty of every
good citizen to do all that hes in his power to i'm
prove her condition. and to aid in the adoption of
snch measures as are likely TO secure that result
Will be admitted by every one. The proceedings
OF the convention lately held at Little Rock: the
many good speeches made on that occasion, and
the plain and torcible views presented in the
WING" by one VINO signs himself "Plan Talk
have done much to arouse the pubic mind 10 the
necessity of prompt and speedy action or to the
acceptance of the other aiternatve-to emigrate
The latter is not easily done as might at first
be imagined, for 1t is fact very well known that
landed property here has no marketable value.
1t cannot be sold for the cost of the improvements
put upon 1t. And there is another fact known
at least to some of u.s. that land in Western Texas
(whither most of us propose to go) cannot be
had except for cash. The best we can do then
is to remain where we are, and build railroads to
improve the country, and to give us cheap and
certain access to the markets of the world
When this is done, am very sure we will be salts
fed to remain where we are, for we should then
have everything we could reasonably expect to
get By going elsewhere.
The question to be determined, and the only
important one Is whether one leading railroad.
commencing at Memphis. passing through Little
Rock and terminating on Red river, be built
by the State. If this question were propounded
to the citizens of any other State in the Union. it
would be at once answered in the Affirmative
The question is not, whether Railroad from
Memphis TO Little Rock. another from Helena
to Fort Smith. and third from Gaines Landing
to Fulton, be built at this time for reiec.-
ing man believes they can. But because we car
not build these three roals at once. is TIA
why should not buiid ore. Had tiis
course OF reasoning prevail cd in the councils Of
Heaven the world would never have been cIea-
tel, fer we are told in H lly Writ, IN six days
tiod created The Heavens AMI the earth;" the
work must thalef re- have had commencement
and bv parity Of rea oning. our raj road mus
have De ginning or none wli ever De butt
Tae question tlen to he considered is whether
railroad passing through the hear. Of the State
from Mem i)his by Little Rock to 4 d river. can
he oui:t- In order to ascertain whether THIS
be done, let ils ilr compae the distance and the
cost ana the .ncars that can be had .or It's
stIncti;B. The distance from Memphis to Little
X ~, l. 1i0 m.es-thc whole distance $50 mi -.
Fac cost Of the road VII NOT exceed $4,000 a
mise. The whole cost say tnree millions aad
nai.
What are the means that can be made availa'bl
fJr The building of this road. There is a bill now
before Congress which has passed two readings,
and will doubtless become law lrer similar do
nations have been made to N vt Of the W estern
States.) giving to the State OF Arkan'as for the
purpose of building this railroad alternate
tons of land, for six miles either side ofthe
road. throug hout its whole extent from Memphis
to Red river The amount of land (shoud this
bill become a lav) cannot be less than million
OF acres. Besides this we have previous grant
OF half million for Internal improvement pur
poses. TGjs iand has long since been carefully
selected by the agents of the Stae, out Of the best
lands belonging to the general government with
in The State. part of this has been sold to
some of our citizens. but the larger portion is st
held by the State, and but small portion CT the
money accrUing from the sale has been used. the
balance is yet at the disposal of the Legislature.
That all OF these lands would in the course OF five
years the probable time it would take to COM
plete the road) seii ior two millions and a hail.
would he puttln, III ern at very low figure
They might sell ipr much larger sum. for, from
the time the work was comHcncei a Memphis,
the fact being known that they Were pledged or
its com Dlet,on most Of them would Sc at from
81 to SO per acre, aad the proceeds made az al
able ijT carrying on tae WORK. Ii tWo and a Lat
millions could he raised from tins source (anu
there is but little doubt the slhject) the balance
necessary for the completion of the road would
be only one million, to be taken N stock by our
own citizens and citizens o.. the other States.-
Memphis it is stated. would build the road 10 the
s.. Francis river; there would then remain only
Z
OF Ar'.aa~as, aal4 Toes any ole douot Jhe;r ab,Ity
70 take this am)unS, paya>,e n annual lns,a-i-
,i,ents for fl .e years
SiJui.t. however. the citizens Of this State and
Tennessee refuse 10 take any stock IN tins ROAD,
tior inciividua eataTpr"e caa be tut ntt,e relied
On III tne~ Southern Sata>J for one. viii be vi :
ling to he taxed Annually fer t.ae nest live years,
70 the extent Of tJu5e ny pre~ent STATE AK. ior
he building OF this road. tor, a,de rom any
pride | III gut Wei fee in seeing the ) a e keep
mr. pace with The otie.' States IN the Uaion. II
their march to wealth, to greatness anl renew =
in pec,,aiary point If new, | would ne remune-
rated hundred tod in the enhanced ,a,ue o.
my lani. the reduction OF ireishts, ali In choice
of markets.
The next thing to be considered, is the effect
The building of this road would have on the seve-
raj interests of the State-tt.Is L, almost beyond
computations From the moment the first rail
was laid at Memphis, real estate would rise in
value in every part of the State-emlgrants would
pour il. upon us-.choos would soon De establish
ed in every observation-disclosures, churches
and villages would spring up, and instead of a
population OF two hundred thousand, half of whom
are here now only as long as the range lasts, we
should very soon have population OF hail NIL
lion of Industrious, intelligent and enterprSng
citZens-then other railroads viii be built. dlver9
ing from the main trunk to Fort Smith, Gaines
Landing and other points. This is 10 picture OF
| the imagna ion. for such results have invariably
followed wherever railroads have been built, and
in States far less favored than In SOIL climate
and productions. With this bright prospect be-
fore us-with all the elements around us to make
us great and prosperous community, are we wll-
! linz to fold our arms aud do nothing, and remain
a. we now are. a bye-word, hiss and jest iol
! the rest OF the word! trust not.
| Upon the action OF The ext Legislature, almost
! everything ior the veal, or ior the VICE. OF this
| State. depends. In choosing our representative es
! in the next Legislature, the question should not
/ be asked. to wnat p,iitica party do YOU hclofg
/ but. are you in ia ol bu,dnr 5hs one road,
/ EMPLOYING all he means ,f'tiie State n It's ON
! pietign aud should more required, are you n
/ favor OF taxation 10 rae the requisite amount
This should be tue - d.li the oniy test, through
on: the S.ate Of those who are candl IA es tor the
Legislature. Aud if we have majority IN tht