The true Democrat., 1854-10-18

l Here is another fact in our industrial econo- mics; and as such any measure with which it conflicts will therefore, levying an unnecessary freight tar on tue people, be unbusiness-like and unwise. This is the matter of fact philosophy of the Mississippi, Ouachita and Red river rail- road in the Southern district of the State, and of the two enterprises running in the Northern district, the Fort Smith, Little Rock and Helena railroad.
 The system designated here is that, be it ob- served, based on the economy oftransporting agri- cultural surplus to it's market; but in addition to this must be considered the other class 0 transport entering into the carrying business of a people-the transport of their supplies.- Could all these be obtained most economically at the product market, then the line of econo- my outwards would (unless disturbed by me- chanlcal ditficulties) be the line of economy in- wards; but while sugar, rice, fruits, etc.. are found southwardly, the residue of those SUD- plies which are too valuable for water-carriage, aggregating at that debouch of 10000 miles of river navigation for Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, etc.-must be brought into tue State (the snort t'''e beang assumed tue cheap l,ae) o tue most dsrect route from Cairo or Kentucky city. Here then is the fundamental ground of that magni- tcent illustration of practical statesmanship, the Cairo and Fulton railroad.
 The Mississippi, Ouachita and Red river rail- road and the Fort Smith, Little Rock and He- lena road are, 1t is true, each shipper of domes- tic products; but separated by 75 miles at their nearest approach, and along the line of any pos sible competition being further separated by the barrier presented in the Arkansas river, they work with perfect harmony in the accomplish ment of like but distinct purpose The bu- slness south of the Arkansas from Pine Bluff to the mouth, belonging properly to that road, will fall down, as water does down hill, on the rails of the Mississippi, Ouachita and Red river railroad; the business north of the Arkansas be- tween the same points seeking its outlet over the rails of the Midland railroad. For forty miles south of Little Rock the products of the coun- try will ship from that city to New Orleans by the Midland railroad; the residue, breadth of 50 miles, taking the rails at Camden will seek its market over the Mississippi, Ouachita and Red river railroad. There is therefore no con- petition here. neitheris there at their deboucAe upon the Mississippi; for while the economy of rver-shlpmentS in con junction with the railroad demands that the river termini be points of og- gregatlon the distance asunder of Helena and Gaines Landing forbid the possibility of da- mage on either side by the splitting up of their aggregatlonS into fragments. There is there fore between these two roads no rivalry what ever either in the interior or on the ri- yer. The Cairo road, prohibited by its direc- ton from interference with the business o1 either of these eastern roads, possesses business which, growing out of its peculiar direction, is placed beyond the possibility of competition on the part of M. & O. & R. k. railroad, or of the Fort Smith, Little Rock and Helena railroad Indeed these three roads are auxiliary to each other; much of the way business of the Cairo and Fulton railroad being made up of the pro. ducts, etc., shipped along its route to the first crossing of either of the eastern roads; and oace uerso. These three roads having been seer thus to grow out of the business wants of the people; and having been seen also to possess each purpose proper to itself and at harmony with the respective purposes of the others may therefore be called with strict propriety the raal rood system cf tue Stote H.