The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-03-04


the State of Mississippi. The functions Of
the Chief-Engineer were also extended to a
general agency and supervision of the work,
in order to create, if possible, simultaneous
and united action in all the States traversed
by the road
During the last spring and summer that
portion of East Mississippi south Of POnto-
toe county was visited and thoroughly can
vassed by these gentlemen and subscriptions
taken up. Valuable services were also rem
dered in several counties by public-spiritcd
citizens who devoted much time and person
al exertion to obtain stock. Owing to i'm
perfections in the county tax-laws of the last
Legislature of Mississippi, smaller sum
has been obtained from this source than was
anticipated This law will be amended at
the present session of that Legislature, so as
to remove the objections heretofore enter
tanned, and it is believed that liberal county
subscriptions will then be made to the road
Revised surveys of the competing routes
north Of Buckatunna were completed to
their junction, near Pontotoc county, in Sep
tcmber last. Careful re-cstimatcs were made
Of the cost Of construction upon each, and
the Directors, from the information furnish
ed, finally adopted as the permanent location
of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, the route
from Buckatunna, (the terminus of the pre-
vious location) up the Chickasawhay valley
passing near Winchester, Quitman and En-
terprise, to the mouth of Sowashee creek
thence a north-casterly course up the So
washee valley, and crossing the dividing
ridge, between the waters of Chickasawha
and Tombigby rivers. Thence passing dow
the slope of Postum Creek and one mil
west of Lauderdale Springs, it crosses tn
SucannOchee and pursues a northerly an
! north-westerly course, passing half a mil
west of Macon, via Prairie Grove Churcl
Lodi, Blackjack Mound and Okolona, to th
north line Of Chickasaw county. A r.
G vision of the remainder of the line to tt
y Ohio river is in progress, and when its r
suits are ascertained, the location will /
completed through the State of Tennessee
the northern terminus in kentucky.
E Mcssrs. NJ. j. D. Baldwin and Charl
O +. Meyerhof, Commissioners appointed
l. the States of Alabama and Mississippi, re
pectively, to select and locate the lands d
mated under the act of Congress, pass,
Sept. goth, 1850, to aid in the constructic
of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, have fl
filed the duties assigned them, and the L
cessary plans, diagrams, maps, &c, ha
been forwarded to the several land offices
required by the provisions of the act.
The whole amount located by the col
missioncrs and set apart for the use of t
q. road is as follows:
T, Acres.
In Alabama-even sections
of within six miles Of the
ur road 168, 100
IS, Selected within eight miles $3.50
iy (by Miss. Com. } fifteen 1892 ISL
he Total in Alabama 832, 512 75-1
IS, IS In Mississippi-Eve sec
tions within six miles of
the road 271,643 COL
- Selected within fifteen
>, miles 504, 1924 84-l
Total in Mississippi 776,465 AL
N. making a grand total of 1,108,978 III
acres. The title to these lands, howey
being vested by the act of Congress in
States themselves, further legislation beca
al, necessary to enable the company to emp
~ this munifcent grant for the purposes of
on donation. Bills were therefore introduC
into the Legislatures of Alabama and N
sissippi early in their present sessions,
US transfer the lands to the company for
III benefit of the stockholders, upon the exc
Gns, ton of satisfactory bond to apply the P
ceeds of the lands to the construction
the road. These bills have been passed
both Legislatures, the bonds have been e
- cuted and approved, and the lands are n
vested in this company in full and perfect
. tie, subject only to the condition that
J road shall be completed from Mobile to
m Ohio river within ten years from the q
DIS, September, 1850.
o. o; A portion of the lands thus conveyed
oes. the Mobile and Ohio Railroad embraces
en- tensive forests of valuable timber that
ron, ag' be made easily accessible to the sea by
Ass opening of the road; a considerable port
cles IS fertile, productive soil, and another an
larger portion will equal in fertility the
erage OF the counties in which it is local
IL would perhaps be premature to after
to estimate at this time the pecuniary va
1r;- Of this donation to the stockholders of
hi company, but reasonable approximat
ng- will demonstrate plainly and satisfacto
mch that the road now possesses elements Of ,
900 gress that viii command confidence and
! TO 10 ital, both at home and abroad, sufRcien
ensure It's speedy construction. At the n
rms crate average valuation Of SIS per acre
be lands within six miles Of the line, we i
3iis 1876, 1853 6-1O acres 81, 199,818. At 50
per acre for average outside Of six n
~ 669, 214 6-10 acres 81, 673 ,036, maxim
KS, total of $3,872,8 1854, being within frac
'Sa OF forty per cent Of the entire cost q
road and equipments, complete and IN
operation.
From the report Of the Chief Engin
> It will be seen that the work Of gradua