Washington telegraph., 1856-06-25
The Weather-the Riyer-Railroads. &c

The Weather-the River-Railroads, &c.
Since our last copious rains have re-
heved all apprehensions of a failure of
the crops in this section, provided we can
have anything like favorable weather from
this time forward, until they mature
The prospects are, that we will have more
rain, and rise in Red river is not alto
gether unlocked for. A rise would be of
incalculable benefit to the planters above
the shoals. We heard one of the wealth
lest and most reliable planters in this sec-
ton, speaking of the amount of cotton
above White-Oak Shoals, estimate it at
certainly not less than fifteen thousand
bales, and possibly as high as twenty
thousand. Many planters have their en-
tire crops for two years, on hand What
a change in this condition of affairs, a
Railroad from Red river to the Mississip-
pi. river would make. After making a
rough calculation, we have come to the
conclusion, that if every time the people
of this country are called upon to grum-
BILE for want of facilities iu the way of
getting their supplies to and from market,
they would, each one of them, slip dime
or a quarter or a half into some safe
place, and make of these coins saving
fund, to be applied to the purpose of
building road, the amount thus obtain
ed would soon astOnish them, and be of
material assistance in the prosecution of
the great and good work. But this is
mere playful suggestion but we do not
know why We should not avail ourselves
of this opportunity to endeavor to i'm
press our readers with the paramount ne
cessity which exists-demanding them
imperatively, as absolutely a matter of
self-preservation, to foster, by every means
in their power, the Railroad enterprise
which most Immediately appeals to their
interest. There will hardly be any ques
ton as to the enterprise to which we re-
fer-the Mississippi, Ouachita and Red
River Railroad. Just look for moment
at your cotton lying for months on the
bank of the river, exposed to every pro-
cess of decay and corruption in which
nature is so prolific; the loss and delay
and vexation-the loss of good market,
the delay in obtaining returns, the vexa-
ton at seeing opportunities to invest prof
itably, of which you are deprived, by
want of the means, which you see grow
ing 'fsmall by degrees" by reason of
waste, before your eyes-and then ask
yourselves what are the considerations
which should induce you to withhold your
liberal and unstinted aid to an enterprise
which is In the keeping and under the
direction of public spirited, energetic, re-
sponsible gentlemen-an enterprise which
will do more to settle up your section of
the State with thrifty, wealthy, indus
trious population, and open to you an av-
enue for the speedy transmission of your
products to the best markets In the South,
than all the political campaigns between
now and the millennium and secure to
you an equally speedy return of your
money and all of the necessa-ies and COM
forts of life for which you can wish, at
less than half their present cost, and with
out a tithe of your present trouble p
What are the answers to these questions
Why, manifestly they are the assurances
that you cannot, by any other means, so
thoroughly consult your own interests as
by laying at once and with all your might,
your shoulder to this great wheel of Pro-
gress, and helping the cause with all and
every legitimate effort you can bring to
bear. The return will be fourfold-the
increase incalculable- benits not to
be told, but such as will be felt in the
rattle of dollars in your pockets instead
of dimes-as will be seen in the glorious
vision of hundreds of broad acres over
which the feathery tasSels of the corn
shall wave in the midsummer, where now
there is only the forest tree and the tan
gled vine-and be seen, beside, in the
not less cheerful sight, of field after field
of the great staple, ripe in the autumn
time for the gatherer. But-we will
'spread ourselves" on the Railroad ques-
ton one of these fine days, and until then
content ourselves with the hope that all men
who oppose this great measure of i'm
provement, "if any such there be-" will
reflect upon the matter, and seeing how
closely their own interests are connected
with this great movement, shake off the
incubus of dirt-roadism, and ego in" for
Railroadism-the only ism except Ameri-
canism, Gas is" an ism-worth talking
about. Clear the track here comes Col
Tyra Hill! Pay your fare, and he will
have the train in motion before you can
make two more crops.
Five Steamers Burned.
The steamers New Latona, D. s. Stacy,