The true Democrat., 1855-12-11
Benton, Scott County, Missouri, }
 Nov. l2. 1855. (

Benton, Scott County, Missouri, }
 Nov. 12, 1855.
 DEAR SIR:-Although l made short visit to Cairo, and am now on my way back to Bloom field, l did not as 1 expected write you from that point. On my arrival there, accompanied by MT. Johnson, President of the Cairo and Fulton railroad company of Missouri, 1t was late in the evening, and was kindly and pres singly urged to ride out on the Central railroad next morning to Centralia 113 miles, where the company are building substantial and magnificent depot, work shops, etc., etc. Being desrous of seeing the road, the interior of IIli- nois and the buildings a progress, Ijoined the division agent, an agreeable energetic, and in- tellgent gentlemen, and made the trip, return ing the same evening at half past o'clock to Cairo My arrangements were such as to ren- der it necessary to leave next morning, and the little time allowed me was devoted to an inter. change of views with gentlemen connected with the Central road in regard to our enterprise.-- was not only gratitied, but greatly cheercd with our kind racepton and the manifestations eff in- terest by every one connected with Cairo and the Central road and shall be deceived if both the citizens and the Central railroad company do not take hold and participate fully and literally in the promotion of the Cairo and Fulton road. when we afford them the opportunity of doing so They seemed to feel quite as much inter- est in its success as do, and to regard it as an  extension by which the travel and transporta- ton on theirs would be doubled At present, the company is busily engaged, as we were in- formed, in the djus.ment and closing up of their accounts with contractors of and those appertalnlng to the late heavy sales of lands. By the latter part of February it is expected that their pressing business now on hand, will have been disposed of, when it would be well to meet them in conference 1 was assured on more than one occasion, that our road was re- garded as restin. upon sound basis and its suc- cess unqucstonablc
 The country along the line of the Central road as far as travelled, although generally de- srabe is far from being equal in fertility to that on the line of our road from opposite the mouth of the Ohio to Little Rock. No portion of their lands on the first division orhe road, would compare with ours in southeast Missouri, or along the valley of Black river for agricultural purposes. To me the immense quantities of wheat corn and other productions taken up by the cars and conveyed 10 market at the rate of 20 or 90 miles per hour was all interesting sight,
 At Cairo the company have a building in progress, which is intended to be used in the storage of grain, 45O feet long by 100 in width, and two stories high, which Messrs Burnett X Williamson expect to complete in five or six weeks. These gentlemen were heavy contrac- tors in the construction of the Central road, and on account of the high character they have ac- quired, for energy, good judgment and punctu- ahty in plying with their engagements will trust, at no distant day, be employed upon ours With their experience and ample means they would be invaluable in it's prosecuton.- In southeast Missouri the difficulties to be en- counted arise from apathy or want of conf- dence. Local and sectional interests and the want of information on railroad subjects there although in some respects formidable. are just such as all railroad enterprises have encounter- ed, and may be certainly, if not easily, con quered by consistency and perseverance, H. deed time alone would set the great body of the people right on these subjects. From nv intercourse with the people here, and an inter- change of views, have no hesitancy in sav- ing, that they will ina short time gain confidence and participate liberally in prosecuting the road There are already amongst the more intel ligent and public spirited many who are it's warm advocates, and with the we'll informed of the laboring class 1t has at no time found op- position. In Stoddard, the county has taken stock to the amount of S1OO,OOO. Butler coun- ty took $5O,OOO, and will turn over to the com pany portion of their swamp land in payment. Whether any other counties will take stock and meet it in the same way is at present unknown: although 1t Is believed that both Dunklin and Mississippi will ultimately subscribe liberal amounts. Of individual stock subscriptions, very little has thus far been accomplished In Voh o"y oi ieos, sHall pe aOle to declde more reliably about the course of southeast Mis- souri, The prospect now is not discouraging. Col. Johnson, president of the Missouri con- pany, is with mo, and has been from Bloom field. find him honest, agreeable and zeal ous.
 The weather has been excessively wet ard disagreeable, and have once or twice been un able from indispositon to travel Now, how. ever, am quite well, and mean to arouse the good people here to sense of duty and of in terest if l am capable of it. Col. Hunter O. this county is warm and jealous friend of on, road, so is Judge Handy, of Charlestown, Mis- sissippi county. By the first of March, W,