The true Democrat., 1856-10-14
Cairo and Fulton Railroad-The will Of
 the People.

meetings for the purpose of making known to the ensuing Legislature the deep interest they feel in the progress and completion of this grand enterprise-and more particularly to urge upon that body the importance and necessity of speedily removing the restrictions created by the only Kno,O Notlsing Legislature known in the history of Arkansas. It seems to be the earnest and unanimous desire of the people il this section of the state, as far as we have peer able to ascertain, that the hinderng Cause to the company of this road be removed, that the wheels of the enterprise may roll on unimped ed. And we would suggest and urge the i'm portancc of meeting in every county for tht purpose of giving expression to the will of tht people upon this subject Lay on and pust forward the nterprise!-Hen.pstead Democrat ------s<-.u>~s~----- From the Chicago Democrat, Sept. 26. Chicago and the Gulf of Mexico-The Pro. posed Railroad Connection--The Cairo
 and Fulton RaiirOad--The Galveston and
 Red River Railroad.
 Within few days the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central railroad will be completed to It's junction with the main trunk, thus giving a direct connection with the head of perpetual navigation on the Mississippi. This will be the finishing of that magnificent enterprise which has done so much towards developing the re- sources of the State, and to bring into settle ment and under cultivation its vacant lauds- Lands which the government had in vain offer ed for fifteen and twenty years at the minimum rates, are selling rapidly now at from twelve to twenty-five dollars per acre.
 We took occasion, some time since, to call attention to the Cairo and Fulton railroad, which IS but continuation, on direct line, of our own Central towards the Gulf of Mexico The construction. of this road we regard as i'm portant, not only to Chicago, but to the whole State of Illinois, as we'll as especially to the States through which 1t passes.
 Recent action of the management of this road, looking towards entering upon an imme- diate commencement of the work, has again cal ed our attention to it.
 The Cairo and Fulton road is composed of two divisions. The northern, or Missouri di- vision, extends from opposite Cairo to the Ar kansas line. To aid in its construction it has land grant of six hundred thousand acres, besides, under the general law of last winter passed by the Missouri Legislature 1t is enti- tied to loan of six thousand dollars per mile from the State. The cos | of this division Is estimated at Sl,5OO,0OO But if we put it at $2,OOO,OOO-or S27, 900 per mile for road and equipment, there Is plenty ol land at the low prce oI 50 per acre to pay Tor 1t and third over Much of the land--espec;ally that near est the river-is valued at $lO per acre-aud some of it as high as $2O for the timber So that this division has ample means as soon as they can De made available, to secure it's con- struction and to secure the road clear of cost to the corporators.
 The Arkansas division extends from the northern line of the State to Fulton, on the Red river, which is the boundary between that State and IeXas-the distance being 30l miles. The route, as surveyed, varies but six miles from an line, and the gradients are easy, and there is comparatively little bridging. It pas ses through Little Rock the capital of the State. Congress donated to this road land in the same manner as it did to the Central of this State, that is, every alternate section, for six miles on each side, and the right to supply land entered, within fifteen miles. The amount realized from this grant will not be far from eleven hundred thousand acres. Application will be made to the Legislature of the State at its approaching session in November, for grant of the swamp lands. From the great importance of the road to the State, ard the favor with which the enterprise is regarded, there is but little doubt but what the application will be successful.
 At Fulton, this road connects with the Gal weston and Red river road, which is now in process of construction. It is about 300 miles ln length, and Is now in operation 30 miles north from Galveston, and the work progressing finely on the next 50 miles. This road has |, land grant of ten thousand acres per mile, and Is entitled to a State loan of Sl0,0OO per mile, and is to be pushed rapidly forward to completion.
 The line has already been surveyed through out its entire length under the superintendeuce of Mir. Williams, and located, though some changes will probably be made. Col. Mason lS soon to make a reconnaissance of the whole route, and Mir. Burrall will soon open the "con- struction account for tbe Missouri division-I proposals being already out for contrac Mr Brayman will proceed st once to organize the land department" The titles are not yet fully perfected, particularly on the Arkansas division. On the Missouri division the patents have mainly been made out.
 From these indications, 1t will be seen that the Fulton and Cairo railroad is to be built, and that too, as soon as circumstances will permit There is land enough to pay for the whole line and equip 1t, If 1t can be advantageously used that is-f sales can be delayed until the par tial construction of the road has produced its inevitable etfect-the appreciation of prices The engineers estimate of the cost of the en- tire line, 373 miles, including equipment, is S7, ,528,34l. The land now owned bv the com pany, at the reasonable price of $5 per acre would bring $9,OOOOOO The lands of the H. linos Central are selling at from S1O to $25- The average for August was over $l6
 ha tru pfl rf IS OF hp importance to the States through which it passes. It is matter of necessity to Arkansas, and hence the liberality of the State towards it. The rivers of that State-what few there are--cannot be depended upon for navigation. Other means must be resorted to. or the State will remain sparsely settled for half century to come Even now there are at many points two years crops of cotton in :he warehouses; the rivers not having been high enough to per init the passage of boats. The people of Ar kansas feel that the road must be built. as their only savation-and this feeling will build it.
 But what has Chicago-what has Illinois to do with this road, it may be asked. A good deal. It passes through cotton growing, into a sugar growing region. The planters neither raise nor wish to raise their corn, wheat, beef, pork, etc., which form the staple productions
 
 upon the west for their supplies of those arti. cles. We were told by Judge Cross, president of the Arkansas division, when in this city. a few weeks since, that flour had cost him SIS per bbl. on his plantation in Hampstead coun- ty, in the Red river valley, while the market price in Illinois was but $6--and pork S25- while it was but SIP. And so in regard 10 all his provisions. This was owing to the great cost of transportation.
 Nearly the whole country for the distance of about 3OO miles, will draw on the west for its supplies. The Red river planters will come to Illinois instead of going to New Orleans, where they are now compelled to go, and pay two prices in the shape of transportation and insurance.
 And then it will create a large carrying trade for our railroads. The merchandise for that region will take this route, aud the sugar and .>f lsl