Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-03-11
NUMBER 46.

Ao"NN hhi iNISAidlS. o4Au IL bIA4 tiltcG
great sources viii be drawn in part the
profits of the road. But these profits
will be small when compared with
those flowing from the travel. The
Mississippi now bears on her bosom
half a million Of passengers annually.
What will it be in sixty years, when
this great valley will contain one hun
dred millions OF souls. Il would be in
calculable, but we will rob him of his
treasure. Soon will we give to the
traveller at the mouth Of the Ohio, the
choice as to his means of passing 10
New Orleans. Who can doubt the
choice between The ..fioating palace
and the ''hying carl'' The expense will
be the same-but on the former he viii
be confined five days-on the latter but
eighteen hours. On theformer, he will
be in constant dread of the SAWYER, the
collapse or the flame. Seated in the
flying car, he has no such fears. He
Knows that danger is remote, and that
he is drawn by an iron steed that heeds
not the roar of the whirlwind, or the
tread ofthe earthquake, and starts not
at the flash from the angry cloud or the
thunderbolt that follows.
But will the New Orleans and Nash
vile Road payl Can the State become
a stockholder in the road, with a GER
tainty of receiving profitable divi-
denG All that have said in reference
to that portion of the central road ~
ing within the limits of this State, can
with propriety be applied to this road.
The wealth, population, agricultural
and commercial resources and faciIi-
ties forconstructing the road, are about
the same on both routes. This road
will pass through the rich and fertile
valley of the Tombigbee, and become
the carrier of her commerce. 1t will
afford a market for the products of the
valuable coal-beds lately found on her
northern boundary. Ii will penetrate
the rich valley of the Tuscumbia, and
will secure its valuable commerce. 1t
will bridge the Tennessee River at the
only point where bridging is rractica-
BILE. 1t will pass through Middle Ten
nessee, the garden-spot of the South,
and bear her flour, bacon, tobacco and
cotton to New Orleans, connecting at
Nashville with the roads leading still
northwaTd- will effect a direct com
munication between New Orleans. Lou
iSviile, Cincinnati. and Lake Erie. The
commerce Of the Upper Ohio, impe-
ded by the ice of winter and drought
Of summer, will seek over this road its
outlet to market. The travel of the
western portions OF New York, Penn
sylvania and Virginia-of the whole OF
Ohio, Kentucky, and large portions OF
Tennessee, must pass over this road on
its way to the Gulf. The friends OF
this road insist that by it, and the
Memphis and Charleston, the Hiwassee
and the South Valley roads, New Or
leans will find her most direct and
speedy communication with Washing
ton New York and Boston. No one
can doubt that this road viii pay as
well as any other in our Union. Ii is
a direct line road from New Orleans
to Nashville. 1t has enlisted in its fa-
vor for the past twenty-four years the
talents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Tennessee. 1t has been the pet of New
Orleans for a fourth of q century. Its
construction is now placed almost be-
yond the possibility Of doubt. New
Orleans is compelled for her own safe
ty to open direct communication
with the valley of the Upper Ohio, and
to call back to her -wharves the COM
merce that is now leaving her for nor
thern cities.
The Southern Railroad is equally
worthy of our regard and esteem. The
State has already offered bonus val
ued at 37S,O00 dollars, including the
engines and fixtures, sixty likely ne
groes, a considerable grade east of
Brandon, and the two per cent fund, to
any company who will complete the
road TO the Alabama line in six years.
This bonus is to become the property
of the company, whenever 100000
dollars of stock is subscribed, $4,000
dollars paid in, and the road is graded
70 miles east of Brandon. The whole
road cannot cost more than 1000, 900
dollars. This bonus should cei :ainly
insure the construction of this road
whenits advantages are taken into con-
'sideration. The citizens of Alabama
are anxiously watching its progress,
and are ready and willing to continue
it 10 Selma. In passing to this point,
1t intersects the most wealthy portion
of the State: Marengo, Perry, Green,
Dallas, and Sumpter counties, produ-
cling annually over 10000 bales of
cotton, will be wholly dependant on
this road for an outlet to market. The
central portion of Alabama must send
over this road the valuable products of
her coal and iron mines. This road
will enjoy In high degree, valuable
commerce. Whilst the freights on TINS
road must be very considerable, its in
come from passengers will be equal to
any road in the South, A road OF ~
miles will connect Selma. with Mont
gomery, and then complete conlmu-
nication Is at once opened with all the
Roads of Georgia and the Carolinas.
By means of the Alabama and Tennes-
see River Railroad, the Hiwassee and
South Valley Railroads, commune
cation will be effected with the whole
of the Eastern and North Eastern At
iantic seaboard. In .lS23, a corps of
engineers under Col. Bernard, was Or
oanized bx the Federal Government tn