Washington telegraph., 1853-09-07
For the Washington 7eleeraphl

For me H0shffgfon Telegraph
e Mr. ETTER: The elections are over, and we are
5one With them for time, As the subject of
railroads seems to be a common topic of the day
bpre. | will now propose to give you the views
nfa nlain farmer, in regard to the Cairo and FuI-
~, .on railroad The first and most important mat
.er in all great undertakings, is the ways and
ooans This Cairo and Fulton Railroad Conn
onv now formed in accordance with the Charter
Franted by the last Legislature, have by this time
money enough to pay corps of competent Engi-
neers to Survey and locate the road Then the
land can and will be seleeted when that is DONE
ond not before, want call of the legislature:
and for what purpose7 to transfer these lands to
This Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company | am
well apprised Mr.. Editor, that you and many other
EDITORS in this State, have contended that the
d Governor should have called the legislature, when
the grant was first made. | with a great many
others followed in the track marked out for us by
most of the newspapers, without examining for
mvsef but after asking myself the question. what
do want the Legislature to do? came to the con-
cluson that we wanted nothing but transfer of
the lands to this some other company. that the
land could not be transferred until selected and
that that could not be selected until the road was
surveyed and located, all of which will take
time to accomplish. think the Governor has
acted wisely, and will do for his enemies without
an effort, what they have taken much pains to
40 lOi hthAi A9 dilQ VIII prevail.
That the Legislature could have done anything
previous TO this time for the advancement of this
road. no candid man will contend All will see
that this war against the Governor is caused by
personal III will or party spirit. and do think
that it is high time such things should cease in
Arkansas; that we:lay aside whiggery and Democ-
racv, and unite on this road that will bring so
many blessings to our much abused State Should
the land donated by the General Government to
this State be transferred to this Company (of
which have no dou59 it will place the compa-
nv in a situation to borrow the money to grade
the road by issuing the bonds of the company and
securing the payment of the same by a mortqare
on the lands. Vel but say you, this hardly half
finishes the read well SO be it; it is fact in the
history of railroads. that If the company can GET
the read graded, they can always borrow money
to finish and equip it by mortgage on the road.
If this can be done, and see no reason why it
can not. then the lands along the road will be
worth from two dollars and fifty cents to twenty
dollars per acre: and at an average o. IS onlv it
will nearly build the road Then Won see that
the stock holders have the road and are out little
or no money You will say that this looks we'll
on paper bat can it be done in Arkansas. I con-
tend that it can; | am not out of heart with Ar
kansas yet, Il have beer here since lSl9l |
think that what has been done by Others can he
done by u.s. all things being equal! Take Illinois
for example am told that a company took the
land donated as ours by the Government and have
the road nearly completed and not only make the
land pay for the building of the road bat will have
millions of dollars left after paving all expenses
1t does seem to me that the stock holders of this
company, must make nearly the entire amount
ri their stock clear profit. After this road is
made and continued 10 Ell Paso as it will undoubt-
cdIy be. and from thence TO the Pacific who can
estimate the amount of business that will be done
on IT. when this Is done we will not be on the
outskirts the world. but we will be in the center
Of tits great republic, extending from the Allan
ii" to the Pacific: ard those oceans connected by
this greatest OF all railroads. ard this is not ak
Saint Louis and New Orleans are determined to
have railroad, to connect those great cities and
that road will connect with the Cairo and Fulton
road at or near our. northern boundary and follow
the SAME. TO the valley OF the Ouachita river 1t
is also calculated that there will be railroad
from where this road strikes Red river to Calves
ton Texas; in fact this road is now being built
and viii be finished by the time the Cairo road is
done. Is there a railroad on this continent that
viii concentrate so much business as the Cairo &
FuCn railroad; after oil this. give it its two le-
climate branches. one from Little Rock to Mem
phs and the other FROM Little Rock to Fort Smith
and Is it not mammoth road truly? The fore
going propositions in regard to the ways and
means Tor tins road arc tue not true of course:
and upon at alone rests the success or defeat of
the road. 10 man believes that Joint stock
company can be raised in Arkansas that can COM
Inand the means to build the road without the
henetIt Of the magnificent land grant donated to
the State by the general governments but with it;
It can ard | think will be done. Then why not
all avail ourselves of the gift by taking stock in
The road: for il is most assuredly bcouest 10 the
stock holders.
The people OF Arkansas will certainly take hold
and build this road. when:the means are bestowed
upon them, but il not (which God forbidl they do
not deserve another favor from the General Gov
rrnment and Arkansas should be i1iotiej o;. of
the Contederacy. and made colony for free ne
groes and those that have enterprise 90 where
peop!, attend to their own interest
\ FARMER.
Serier Co.. Aug 25h. 1853