Washington telegraph., 1852-01-21

RAILROAD MOVEMENT IN ARKANSAS
We ask the deliberate attention Of our
readers TO the very able communication
of John Martin, Esqr., President Of the
Helena. Little Rock ard Fort Smith
Railroad, and addressed 10 committee OF
our fellow citizens. with the view of
having the subject submitted 20 the con.
sidera:ion Of the approaching Railroad
Convention in this city.
With any railroad movement in Arkan-
sas, New Orleans has lively sympathy.
We are now the recipients of the pro-
ducts of taat young Hercules, and with
an operative sympathy promptly and
ludiciously exercised, we may hold fast
to this vantage grcand; but, on the con-
trary, if we are derelict or backward in
avaiing ourselves of the opportunities
that are now offered TO us, and yield the
field to vlgilant, enterprizing and active
rivals we let this important and profitable
trade slip through our fingers.
The trace Of Arkansas is worth HAVING
and we'll worth an effort to retain, as
hundreds of our commission and grocery
merchants we'll know. With the proper
exertion we can hold or to 1t, and keep
it; without such eXertiou we lose il, and
when gone, it is gone forever.
But important as this trade now is, j;
is mere fOyeshaloW of what it will be-
when her wonderful commercial, agticu.
tural, manufacturing and mineral resourc-
es are fully developed. The successful
development of all these natural advan-
tages of Arkansas, in consequence of the
tDotnppsS from n, =, f,r tbo ,,ra.o,,
ob-tructed bu, it is nothing more than
postponenlent, which the strong native
energies Of the people will soon overcome.
The people of Arkansas have woke up:
they have become sensible of their
strength and power, aud with such mate.
rial, it is only necessary to be resolved, to
insure success Her relative position, as
tributary to the Mississippi. from which
great artery will IN a short time radate
all the great avenues or channels of trade
converging to all the important cities of
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, suggests
the true practical policy. Happily, and
we use the term without meaning a para
dox, Arkansas has no great natural outlets
for her products: for had She Mississippi
to rely upon, she would have no more re-
Operative energy than Louisiana. She,
therefore supplies her natural wants 10y
the employment and consolidation Of the
menta! and physical power of her people,
and thus doubly armed, this young Iusty
State has resolved to open an artificial
communication with the Mississippi, riv-
er, which Will bring her in connection
with the Atlantic and Gulf trade. This
is the grand cOnsumation she is aiming
at. With spirit and zeal beyond all
praise and deserving of the imitation of
older and more presumptuous and pretend
ing States, the precoclous giaut Of the
West IS bringing out the latent energies
of her population, so that by an earnest
and combined cooperation of individual
enterprise aud strength. she may succeed
in developing and reutaotag the vast re-
sonrces OF the State. This once accom-
pllshed, US 1T most assuredly will be. her
success is complete, and no less SO the
mart with which she will be connected.
Is New Orleans to be this mart, as
heretofore or viii superior energy, and
more enterprisng spirit, succeed in wrest-
ing the golden prize from her? We have
shrewJ, busy, unti.Ing competitors to
contend with. The Eastern cities are
stretching out their i5riarean arms, aud
clutching to everything that rs worth hav
ing. Ii we do not stir ourselves, ard
take par, in This grab game, we shalI
be soon left alone and destitute. As will
be seen from the communication of Mr..
Martin, oneiderabie diversity Of feeling.
interest and opinion prevails among our
Arkansas friends, IN discriminating be-
tween the several eligible locations pre-
scented which form the individuality of
local Interests, il being promised that the
fact is fixed. that a railroad has to be built
to the Mississippi. TE the determination
of this veXed question, which. as is very
natural, local differences have created,
we, in New Orleans have direct and
vital interest. II stands US instead, to
combine cordially and earnestly with those
who favor the constructor of a road ter
minating at the lowest or sou.hernmost
poin: On .he Mississippi. The advau-
tages of such terminus over all others,
are too apparent and palpabie for argu-
ment, aud IN the place of any remarks OF
our own, we will refer our readers 70 the
conclusive reasoning of our correspon-
,leur-N O Bulletin
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