Washington telegraph., 1853-06-15
IEar The Washington Islegraph.l
LITTLE ROCK, June 10, 1888.


1r on1v subiect of interest hereabouts IS the
pa;Iroad It may be assumed that the voice OF
+he State is for progress, and IN the flgnt direc
-: If is doubtless known to all VINO take the
la,ors that the President has directed reserva-
tf;on from sale of all the lands upon or near the
snnnosed route mentioned in the grant by Con-
~ This reservation is limited to the 9th OF
6cto5er next: when, it is said, there will be no
dificultv in obtaining extension OF the tune.
II also said that in the fall winter the Legis-
ia+,,ro U be couUened This is regarded as action.
Ri there are other objections ltis-sdld that the
oo,nan;es chartered already, can go or and To-
cate their lines and produce their proofs of ability
70 puaranty the integrity the work. by snbscrIp-
tons for stock. and then be ready for the grant;
and that the legislature ought never to grant the
land given to any company until they do produce
nroof of their ability, to go forward and complete
their roads These | believe are all the great
objections urged against immediate legislative
proceeding. 1t is also urged that thinking men
do not see any adequate reason for an immediate
call of the assembly," Men rarely 'think,'' with
out arriving at conclusion or two. The con-
clusions are above fully set FORTH as they un-
derstood to exist. There are facts however,
transpiring daily, which ought to put thinking
men to thinking, if they do not intend to deprive
this State of the direct advantages of the grant by
Congress. Their thinking should be accurate;
and their actions prompt. Facts are stubborn
things. Arkansas, by its position furnishes very
good Mississippi crossing for the great Pacific
Railroad; bu. it does moi furnish the only one,
the best probably certainly there other States
through which that road can be, and will be at
once built, if Arkansas does not notu begin and
press forward with all its power. There is no
aseressity that the road so through Arkansas, and
Arkansas is not able even with the grant, to build
the road herself. If Arkansas desires to have
railroad she must throw herself into the line of
the Pacific road, and induce it to pass through our
territory and this it appears to me- is easy enough
but of that hereafter
1t is true that capitalists are engaged in exam
lining the route via Ell Paso. where it is now
generally admitted the road must go. By look
ing on the map il will be seen that from St Louis
to Ell Paso the best route leaves Arkansas on the
left handl and from Vicksburg she is left to the
northwardl She is no where; being literally be-
tween two placesl 1t is also most probably true.
that before October next, the preliminaries will
be so arranged that either the St Louis or the
Yicksbnrg route, Will be selected and if selected
Che prospects for Arkansas are annihilated-
PTomptness, immediate and Jealous can alone
secure any hope or prospect. The work is great,
is worth the effort, and it is mou. or never Let
the Legislature be at once called, and have the
truth told them. They are patriots and will do
their very best Tell them that two companies
chartered; one from Memphis to Fulton and
one from towards Cairo to Fulton uia Little Rock
both OF them. That these companies cannot both
of them build their entire hnes-they conflict:
and the individuals composing them DO not har-
monize, Then if these two companies will not
accommodate, sweep the factions out of the wav.
Charter company or companies which when
organized, and shall have procured private or
other subscriptions, sufficient to guaranty the in
tegrity OF purpose of those engaged give them the
land, to be used in precise accordance with the
terms of the grant. This is all that the most
timorous desire. The State must wake up.
now; sleep till eternity. The race has begun
already. st. Louis and Vicksburg have started;
they have good riders and the bets are heavy-if
Arkansas does not put right in. and right now, it
will be forever too late. Besides delay will pro-
duce nothing: while promptness and vigor will
answer every thing. Why will ye delay, and die,
oh! men of Arkansas, REPUBLICAN.