The true Democrat., 1855-07-03
Memphis and Little Rock Railroad
 Company.

'" HUI "c loCclVcU q lew SiAS0' wv 6A'S it to our readers for what it is worth. There IS no one in this community who more anxlously desires the construction of the road than our self, and that the company have brought them- selves into bad odor with some of its best friends in the State, they have no one to re- proach but themselves. In some respects they have acted in manner unparalleled in the history of railroad construction.
 They have, before making survey and est- mate of the cost of constructing railroad be- tween Memphis and Little Rock, let out the work at the enormous sum of twenty-five thou. sand dollars per mle The estimate of the cost has not to this day been made. That all good citizens should be dissatisfied, under such circumstances, no one, in his sober senses, can per mile, every one in this community regards as exhorbitant, and so exhorbitant that the road will prove an utter failure.
 This fact, taken in connection with the fact that four out of five of the directors are citi- zens of Memphis, and have no interest in Ar kansas, causes our citizens to suspect that the interests of the State have not been always the guide of the company The State of Arkansas furnishes .tour,vths of the capital of this work, and yet she has only one out of the five drec. tors who manage and control it. Arkansas has been asked to give everythng-to give her land, which the company estimates to be worth, at the lowest, one and half millions of dollas- her little towns, villages, and her counties have been asked to subscribe literally, to work, in which they are denied controlling voice--and which they have seen let out to contractors at the sum of $1OOOO per mile more than they believe it ought to cost.
 And to sustain them in this position, the company have not deigned to address arguments to the common sense of the people. They have not told our citizens that they followed the usual course of surveying the route and es- timating the cost of it, and that the cost was found to be full $25, ,O0O per mile. They have not done this, but have told them that they have let out the road at 25, GOO dollars per mile and that after having done so, there is no ne- cessty for any estimate of cost.
 This is what they have told us, and now they ask Us not to doubt not to hesitate, but to come forward and give them our lands and involve ourselves, our towns, and our counties to carry out their gigantic schemes.
 The company have pursued, if possible, a course towards the people of Prairie county still more disreputable. They have made the citi- zens of that county at each little village upon White river, believe that for their benefit they will cross at that point. This dupcity they have carried to such an extent, that the whole county is now in a turmoil about 1t. Each set clement has found that 1t has been duped. We ask now, how will the company get out of this dilemma? We care not where they may cross the river, two-thirds of the county will be dis appointed and regard themselveH as having been badly treated by the Memphis directory Hence of Prairie county, the probability is they ] have made all enemy from which the road will get no assistance. This shows the importance of acting in such matters, openly, honestly and in good faith. We hope it will be lesson to the company.
 The President in his letter. tells us the com pany have appointed supervising engineer" If any thing we have heretofore said has brought this about, our labors have not been entirely in vain. We do not like the policy of the contractors doing the engineering. That is the province of the company. We want the company now to have the supervisor'' make a survey, estimate the cost of the road and pub fish the estimates to the people, and he should ! be free from and above any influence of the contractors.
 We do not write for the purpose of injurng the road. We are deSrous to save 1t from the blundcrs of the company We desire the com pany to act openly and in such way as to in spire the public with confidence. 50 far they have not done 50.