Washington telegraph., 1852-03-03
WAYS and Means to make Rail
ESnadS.

EAO10Ss
To THE EDITORS THE GAZETTE DEMO
GRAFT: Among the many suggestions made by the
Internal Improvement Convention lately assem-
bled in this city, none are more important than
the one recommending those most interested. to
construct the various railroads proposed through
the State.
Petitions to Congress for grants of land to each
road. should be gotten up forthwith, since 1t is
| important that those grants should be obtained,
if possible, duris &c present session, for the 1all-
ure to do this will retard our Improvements for at
least two years.
And as the plan proposed by myself, for raising
additional funds, may not be unworthy of some
consideration, you will pardon me for calling your
attention to it, for a moment 1t is embraced in
my proposition to the Convention that they
commend the passage of law. by the next
Legislature, requiring all prope,ty-htders to take
railroad stock, annually, to an amour, not exceed
ing one per cent. upon all property, and that
each individual at the time he pays fol his stock
be allowed to designate the particular railroad in
winch he wishes to place it; and that his money
be applied according to his wishes. either to the
main trunk road, or of its branches. Let the
stock be transferable, that every one may
sell or keep it, as to himself seems best. Such
an arrangement would yield at once the hand
some sum OF three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, to commence with; to which may he
added one hundred and fifty thousand from the
internal improvement fund and sale of swamp
lands; making In all half million annually
Lest any should think that | wish to Law burdens
upon Others which myself am unwilling to bear,
| may here remark, that I have already taken a
few shares OF stock, and am willing to take. an
nual!y, stock to the amount OF one per cent. on
all the property | have. for ten wears to come if
1t Is neccSsary-so confident am that the funds
so raised can be guarded from improper expendi-
ture or Wastage. l hope better day in this re-
spect Is daWnlng on us as State. Then let the
man VINO has property worth 500, take stock to
the amount OF one dollar while he who has ST.
OOoi takes stock to the amount of ten dollars
Such property holders, too constitute large ma
Jo1ty of the good people of this State You,
gentlemen, can build the railroads or not as YOU
please If you wish it, you have only to choose
honest, Intelligent faithful men, to represent you
IN the next Legislature and they will carry out
your views IN this respect. | wish the people Of
TINS State to take this matter in hand and thus
tree us from the guidance of the sell-styled lead
ers VINO have so long cursed our State. Let such
leaders become honest and patriotic men, and aid
IKE good citizens. In the iurtherance of those
magnificent schemes of internal improvement
Let every man put his shoulder to the wheel
the men OF small means and the men OF large
means-work like men, and face the musico as
Mr.. Topp would say.
am: Messrs. Editors, as you know, plain
unpretendlng planter and farmer, living in PuiaS-
kl county, raising little cotton. corn. &c. For
more than fifteen years have resided in Arkan-
sas-ail my earthly possessions are here--her
people are my peop.e; and here will l be buried
am now, SITS, In the scar and yellow leaf,
glng on to three years. and according to the
course OF nature; may not live to enjoy the fruits
OF our iabors In this respect Yet | ana willing
to work for the generations following. and have
an abiding hope. that ere am called to 90 hence,
shall see the commencement of improvement
which shall develope the resources and hidden
wealth which nature has bestowed upon our
Sac.
We shall then be able to lquidate our State debt,
and establish cur credit among men. Nothing
but such hope would have brought one of sl,cn
humble pretensionS myself before the public
upon this great subject 1t is cause in which
every one should do what he can. He that has
money, let him take stock; he that can talk let
h m 5ai k; he that write, let him writa: he
that can work, let him work Individual and
corporate enterprize will excite kindred spirit
IN the State, wlch, if once aroused will insure
the comp lion of those great works.
When this is done, ouI wilderness viii blossom
as the rose; the mineral resources Of our State
as various as they are exhaustiess will be deveI-
oped mills and factories, of all descriptions will
be butt Throughout the State The school house
and the church viii go with them and agriculture
with every other branch OF business viii feel the
invigorating influence Of An industrious and thri-
wing population.
JOHN ADAMSON.
FEB. Is, 1852.