The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-09-14
fT For 0e Mississigpian
The Gulf and Ship Island Railroad.
How it may, be Finished at Little

Il
MR. EDrToR:-AII our public men and all
the newspapers in the State, have expressed
opinions more or less favorable to the rGalf
and Ship Island RaSssOSd.n And IL may !
think with truth be said, that our people were
never more unanimous about anything, than
they are IN favor Of this road. In fact / may
say the opinion Is universal that ther0ad ought
to be built Faith removes mountains, butg
opinions don't build Railroads--sOmething
more material is required @Han 40 10
1t is very clear. if this great State enter
prise is to be carried out something more
must be done than can be accomplished by the
people living on the line Of the road. If pa
triotism and devotion to principle would build
the road the work would go on bravely. But
1t requires money and that is scarce com
modify in the mighty East.a ,z4y6y ~
1t has been suggested to raise the money
by taxation That is certainly very simple
mode Of doing the thing if we could only
get the people to stand it. But tell Eeu Mr.
Editor, they viii do no such thing. snsr-sa 1l
In view of the great importance Of the
work, have thought it my duty, asa good
citizen, 10 devise if i could, some scheme by
which it could be completed, and respectful
ly submit the, following outline Of plan
which l think may be made to work success
fully. q9g e5.z.sT "a ..,ss
First. | would have the, Legislature at its
next session, ask Congress to change the char
acter of its land grant for the benefit Of this
hroad, and instead Of giving a1tanate sections
allow the State to enter at the government
price [tyelye and a half cents per acrel all
The lands speak cen6deatlys when 4 say
that Congress on proper explanation of the
matter will promptly agree to such a propO-
sition. @ ea. &
Second In view of the probability that
Congress will make the changsif asked, I
would have the Legislature appropriate from
the State Treasury enough to enter one mil
lion of acres of this land, say one hundred
and twenty five thousand dollars and place it
at the disposal of the Governor to be used for
that purpose.
Third The land thus secured scithout the
Railroad, we all know, would be worthless,
with the Railroad it would be worth from two
dollars to five dollars Say an average GER
tainly of three dollars per acre. As a means
of commencing the,road, | would have the
State propose to raise by first mortgage on
these lands one million Of dollars at say eight
per cent interest The security being ample
the money at that rate of interest could in
my opinion be readily borrowed from our own
citizens. s
Fourth. When the million Of dollars had
been expended would execute a first mort
gage on the road itself and second mortgage
on the land for sum sufficient, saytwo mil
lions Of dollars to complete the road. gs4Asli
Fifth. As means Of paying the interest, ]
would use the first earnings Of the road and
make up Deficiencies BY appropriations from
the State Treasury. .g.s.t.t.
Sixth. When the road is completed would
sell the lands, pay off the debt as far as il
would go-I think certainly to the extent of
three million dollars-and let the road itself
stand as security for the balance.
Seventh. l would secure all actual settlers
in existing rights, but would in view of the
greater interest Of the State in the road grant
no pre-emption to new oOmers at less than
the Railroad value Of the land. ga Sass
offer the foregoing Mr.. Editor as my plan
for building this road. do not elaborate it
because know your space is devoted toother
matters-and for the other reason that in this
fast age, readers prefer CONCLUSIONS without
arguments, and indulge the hope that have
50 stated my conclusions as to suggest the ar
guments without my giving them. clesi @
ea HANCOCK.