Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-07-24
The Rail Road,

vote was taken some months since, for the purpose
of ascertainine if the citizens of Lowndes County,
were willing to be taxed for the purpose of aiding
in the building the Mobile and Ohio Rail Road
The project failed mainly account of the follow
ing reasons >: First, the subject to many was nov
el. and from the manner in which the community
had at former periods been treated by snog banks
made them look with distrust on any enterprise
Secondly, numbers were unwilling to be taxed,
when they might remove from the county prior to
the completion of the Road, and consequently re-
ceive no remuneration
Since the former vote vas taken the people have
been led to investigate, and the more they exam
anime the subject, the more do they become in fla
vor of it, and many who were then bitterly oppos-
ed to it and voted against, are now among It's
warmest advocates.
The last session of the Legislature amended the
former act. and vote is now about to be taken to
ascertain ifthe citizens of Lowndes County are
willing to loan the sum of 500 900 payable in |,
9, 5, 4 and years, to aid in building the main
road, and its branch to Columbus. Now we want
to impress upon the mind of every person, that
this is not a tao but merely toan for which every
citizen OF owner of property, will receive from the
Sheriff certificate that he has paid that sum on
account of Rail Road Assessment, and to that
amount does the person become part owner in the
road. Thus person DESTROYS to sell his property,
and remove from the County, can if he desires,
sell his scrip. Thus not losing the amount, but on
the contrary reapng decided benefit from the
enhanced value of his land and other property.
The people have been led to examine the sub
ect so infinitely, that it would be superfluous to re-
capitulate the vast amount of benefit the county
would derive from the road and its branch. In
the articles Of salt, bagging and rope, and numer
Gus other articles, more would be saved to many
each year than the small amount they are desired
to loan; so ifyou vote for the assessment pay it,
and then burn your certificate, you would be still
gamer. But you are not asked to give this
amount, merely to loan it to the road, and if you
desire to sell your certificate you can readily do
so, there will be plenty who will be glad to buy
up these certificates the same as jury tickets are
now purchased. The merchant will be glad to
give you goods for them.
We want the poor people who are the ones most
interested in the completion of this Rail Road to
come out in body and vote for it. There is a
large amount of land in this County owned by
persons who live in other states and who cannot
be reached in any other way. Vote for the Road,
and you will compel them to come forward and aid
in building it. The question now is, will cid
Lowndes come up nobly to the mark, and make her
self one of the first Counties in the State or will
her citizens consent to see her sink into utter insig
niicance
If the County goes in favor of the Road, then
the Town OF Columbus proposes to loan S5O, eco
in addition by assessment on the Town proper
ty. If the road and branch are built, Columbus
will double in population and as natural conse-
quence create an increased demand for the pro-
ducts of the country and the lands and property
around the Town for miles will be greatly en-
HANGED in value But if the project fails, then CO.
iumbus goes down, and with it the lands around
throughout the country decrease in value.
Let US then all be up and at work let US be
wise to-day, It's folly, madness to delay until i:
shall be too late, and the golden opportunity lost
Where roads not, civilization and trade can
not be; and civilization and trade advances as
roads are extended. By these religion and knowl
edge all diffused intercourse of all kinds are pro-
noted the producer, the manufacturer, and the
consumer, all are brought nearer together com
merce is quickened markets are opened prop
erty wherever touched by, or Contiguous to these
lines, is changed, as by magic rod into new val
ue; and the great current of travel, like that
stream of classic fable or one of the rivers of our
own California, hurries in a channel of golden sand
And Will the citizens of Lowndes permit all the
great advantages to be derived from the road to
pass from her like the mist before the rising sun
Will her citizens be willing to have the finger of
scorn pointed at her, and have it said that her peo
pie were so self conceted and lost to their own
interests as to refuse aid in this great work, when
all others are lending helpin hand No it will
not, cannot be; but the road will be built and
forever remain as monument to the ENLARGED
views OF her citizens. The roads together with
the laws OF ancient Rome, are now better remem
oered than her victories. The Flaminian and Ap-
pian ways, one travelled by returning ProconsuIs
and tributary Kings, still remain as benefcent
representatives of her departed grandeur. The
roads and the school master are the two chief accents
OF human improvement. The education begun
by the schoolmaster is expanded, iberalized and
completed by intercourse with the world and this
intercourse finds new opportunities and induce.
ments IN every road that is built
--~-~~~~~--~-~-->---~o--....-o.,
For tie Southern Standard
Mr. CHAPMAN-Please ask the editor of the
Aberdeen independent, who his poetical cores
ponoent :. ls-that man what re-wrote the
Song OF the Rail Road, think it a very nret.