The true Democrat., 1854-11-08


 D the Missouri company and after completing the n survey of that part of the road in this State, s has proceeded with his corps of assistants to ) Missouri, to extend the survey of the route for the Cairo and Fulton railroad, from the north 3 ern boundary of this State, to the point in Mis- souai opposite the mouth of the Ohio river, de- signated by the act of Congress-
 , Your consideration is requested to the facts that the survey of that part of the route for the 2 Cairo and Fulton railroad, in this State, was completed on the 25th of September, 1854 and that the act of Congress requires that a copy of the survey of said road, :" shall be for warded to the proper local land offices respect ively, and to the general land office at Wash lngton City, aoathin ninety days after the com pletion of the same'
 By the communication of the chief ngineer, dated October l3th 1854 addressed to the pre- sident of the Cairo and Fulton railroad compa- ny, you will see that the necessary copies of the survey have been prepared in accordance with the instructions of the commissioner of the ge- neral land office, and are now ready to be for warded to the proper local land offices respect lively, and to the general land office as required by law. That this may be done, the granted lands selected, and the public lands along the line of the road restored to market, so that act ual settlers may acquire them it is recommend ed that the survey of the road as made and adopted be confirmed by an act or joint resolu- ton of the General Assembly in time to have a copy of the survey filed in the general land office and the proper local land offices respect lively, before the 25th day of next month. To do this, prompt action Is necessary, and therefore recommended. If the survey be adopted at an early day, as recommended, 1t Is possible that all the lands granted to aid in building the road, may be selected and the number of acres included in the grant, be ascertaned, and re- ported to the General Assembly, before the ad- journment of the present session.
 We ought to look well to securing the lands as speedily as possible before the reservation expires The Executive earnestly desires the early construction of all of our Railroads.
 To secure and invest part of the swamp lands, and in such way as to have perpetu- al swamp land fund, yielding dividends to be used and applied to the objects foc which the lands were donated, and ill repairing and keep ing up levees, it is recommended that suitable provision be made by law, for iny'esting in the way of stock, in the Cairo and Fulton railroad company, for the benefit of the swamp land fund.- one million of acres of swamp and over- flowed lands This amount of sucn land add ed to that granted by Congress to aid in build ing the Cairo and Fulton railroad, would afford basis for credit, upon which means, 1t is be- lieved, could be obtained to insure the speedy and certain construction of the road For the purpose of having the branches ot the Cairo and Fulton railroad from Little Rock, one to Fort Smith, and the other to the Mississippi rver constructed without failure-at an early day-it is recommended that one million Of acres of swamp and overlowed londs be appro- prated in the way of stock 5OOOOO acres in each branch road, or the benefit Of the swamp land fund.- It is also recommended that five hundred thousand acres of such lands be ap- proprlated in taking stock in the Mississippi Ouachita and Red river railroad company, for the benefit of the swamp land tun.l, so that that important railroad may also be completed as early as practicable
 h making arrangements to carry out these suggestions, should they meet your approbation great care should be taken not to render the State, under any contingency, or in any man. her liable. For the purpose of securing per- manent and perpetual swamp land fund.- from the dividends of which, levees might, through future time be kept in repair and preserved from destruction, 1t Is not too soon to set apart and invest 2,5O0OOO acres of the swamp and over- flowed lands. If we defer 50 doing till they are sluandercd, we will then have 10 fund to keep up the levees, and what costs the Stale millions of dollars, will vanish, and scarcely an embankment of earth, built at the expense of this magnificent grant of lands will remain to remind those who see 1t, that there ever had been such a grant, and that by our improvi lence for the future, we had suffered all the benefits of it to be lost By this policy we will save part of theswamp lands for a future fund se- cure the lands granted by Congress to aid in building the Cairo and Fulton railroad and branches, and it is believed, without doubt or possibility of failure, if properly managed, sc cure the speedy and certain construction of the road and both of its branches, and also cause the completion of the Mississippi, Ouachjta and Red river railroad, at an early day
 These objects can be accomplished without involving the State in debt or imposing any burden upon the people, or violating the provl- sions and conditions of the act of Congress, granting the swamp and ovcrllowed lands to the SLatc
 The terminus of the branch of the Cairo and Fulton railroad from Little Rock to the M sis sippi river, must be fixed by your authority, be- fore the lands granted can be selected On that branch of the road. In designating that point, I have confidence that your action will be wise and patriotic, and that it will prove your devo- tlon to the interests, present and future, Of our own State and its citizens.
 In providing for the disposition of the lands granted by Congress to aid in building the road and its branches, your own prudence, intelli- gence and love of justice will doubtless cause you to respect and protect the rights of the people, the counties and the State.
 From the Governor of the State of Misss- sippi, the Executive of this State has received and herewith transmits for your consideration and attention joint resolutions of the Legisa- ture of the State of Mississippi, on the subject of railroads, and approved by the Governor of that State on the 2I March, 1854 One of these resolutions requests the State of Arkansas {" to meet the State of Mississippi at Helena with her central trunk line railroad running east ard vest
 The Executive has been notified by the su- , perntendant of weights and measures of the United States, that set of balances, intended for the dustment of standard weights and ca , pacity measures due to this State under an act of Congress, has for some time been ready for delivery. It is recommended that suitable law on the subject of standard weights and