Washington telegraph., 1853-05-04
From The 81. Louis JourncL & Ciriliqm

From The 81. Lons Journal & Cirilian
Arkansas and Missouri EsaiEroaa---
Chalk Bluff and Fulton Rail-
roaa---Uniced states Grane---UEi-
ted States Survey, etc.
Arkansas may be considered The pet child
of the General Government. No other
State in the Union has been favored with
more liberal grant CT the Public Domain
No other State in the Union has been sur
veyed with such kind regard by the officers
from Washington City. & singular com
cdence, too, has occurred between the
United States Railroad Survey and the
Grant of Lands by Congress for that State.
From the Northeastern to the Southwest
ern corner Of Arkansas the survey and the
grant are on the same line, while the
grant is extended to provide for branch
es reaching from the eastern to the western
boundary, all being made to concentrate at
the caapital, the very heart Of the State.
The survey and the grant are on the same
line, because the survey commenced in the
State at the Western base Of Chalk Bluff,
in township o. range Z, east, at point due
south Of st. Louis, and was continued al
most in a straight line through Little Rock
to Fulton on Red river; ard Chalk Bluff is
on the line from Cairo u5a Little Rock to
Fulton; and the grant was made for the
railroad on this last mentioned line.
BY investigating the report of this U. S.
Survey, made by Capt. Barney, which was
reviewed in the ''Western Journal & Civil
ian, vol s, page 40S, We find the length
and the cost Of this railroad through Arkan-
sas; and by investigating the Law of the
U. S., making this grant Of lands to Arkan-
sas, which law is published in this volume,
page 346, and applying the grant to the
length of this main trunk line, we find the
amount of acres granted to aid IN its con-
struction; and then, by assuming that the
land along the road would be worth $3.50
per acre, the minium price Of lands reserved
from the grant, we arrive at a demonstration
that the land will be worth more than one
half the construction of the road will cost.
And by assuming that the cost of the equip
lnent will be $4,000 per mile, which is a
liberal allowance, we find that the cost of
the road ready for operation, is only ST.
921'10l more than the value of the land
This problem is one Of momentous i'm
portance for the consideration of capitalists
and upon its clear elucidation the g Cairo
and Fulton" Or mississippi Railroad Cos"
bonds will be in demand, and the stock
in the road at premium from the begin
ming
We have paid very particular attention to
this subject during the six months just past,
and will now, in few words demonstrate
the problem, starting with the most reliable
basis, and proceeding to the conclusion with
the most irresistible reasons.
The U. S. Survey, by Capt Barney,
above alluded to, is the basis Of this calcu-
lation. The cost of the construction of the
railroad from St. Louis via Little Rock to
Fulton on Red river, 460 miles, with iron
rails, 65 pounds per yard, is S8,3l6,S74
(see report of survey
The cost OF construction Of the portion Of
this railroad, within the limits of the State
OF Missouri, from St. Louis to Chalk Bluff,
l'o miles, Is found, on a careful examina-
ton and apportionment of the costs of the
construction of the Sd division made by
Capt. Barney, added to the costs of con-
struction of his LIST and I'd divisions, to be
S3,5l4,77 Therefore, by deducting the
costs of construction of the Missouri portion
OF this railroad from the whole, the cost of