The true Democrat., 1855-07-03
Arkansas Railroads.

If they have not yet placed the locomotive on the track in Arkansas, the people of that frontier State are not insensible to the many benefits, it brings in its train. The report to the stockholders of the Cairo and Fulton rail- road company, furnishes us with information from that quarter, in relation to productions and means of transit, that will not be ulinteresting to many of our readers, especially as Cncnna- u merchants have an extensive trade in that d. recton.
 In February, 1853, bill passed the Senate of the United States, which had previously gone through the House, granting to Arkansas and Missouri the right of way through their public lands, 'to aid in the construction of railroad from point on the Mississippi river, opposite the mouth of the Ohio, in the State of Missouri, vta Little Rock, to the Texas boundary line near Fulton, in Arkansas, with branches from Little Rock to Fort Smith, and again to the Mississippi river" The act of Congress further granted to these States, to aid in making the roads named, every alternate section of public land for six miles in width on each side In January, 1858, the Cairo and Fulton railroad company was duly incorporated and survey commenced.
 The contemplated road traverses diagonaly the heart of the State, from north east to south west, to the Texas line, distar ce of 3O1 miles, passing through thirteen counties. These coun- ties contain population of 75 225 and comprise an area of 8,7lS,O ,O8O acres, of which only PAY, ,- 7O1 are in cultivation. We find here some cu- rlous statistics i'll relation to this feature and the sparsity of population in this region of the State There are 36 counties embracing tract of 50 miles on each side of the proposed road (the aggregate number of counties in the State is 54. ] all of which would be benefited by its opera tion, that contain 18,46O,OOO acres of land, of which but 522, ,669 acres are under culture of any sort, or one acre in 37 The population of these counties is l51162, so that every man woman and child of the district may be consi- dered as representing 121 acres. This territory Is said to be very productive in all the elements of wealth
 The agricultural product of single year is set down at 1O3,O22 bales of cotton and S.124,- 57l bushels of grain. The argument of the report may be inferred from the following ex. tract which We quote:
 Ut will be seen, that within the described limits ot these thirtysix counties, there are 17 731, 34l acres of land unimproved, a greater portion of which IS unappropriated, belonging either to the generel government or to the State; most of which Is we'll adapted to dense settle ment and profitable cultivation. Estimating that one-eighth of the unimproved lands within this belt of territory was settled and improved, in the same ratio as those now under cultivation,
 in ten years, and this is not too high an estimate, if the road is built, it would give us popula- tion, within the limit of 683, at 942, and cor responding increase of productions and wealth If we extend these statistics and estimates, so as to include the rich and populous counties
 in the other portions of the State, it will give a grand aggregate of about 1,34OOOO population in 1865"
 The above Is paper calculation, but if the soil is as represented, the calculations may all be- come true granting little more time than has been allowed: the Illinois Central, the largest railroad in the world controlled by single com pany, has been constructed almost entirely upon means directly or indirectly obtained from similar land grants.
 The entire cost of the road, according to the engine er's report, is estimated at $6,373 1902, or $21, ,175 per mile, with equipment ofrolling stock, buildings, etc. The report places in