The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-03-19
CORRESPONDENTS OF THB DEMOCRAT
HOLMEs Co., MISS, March IA, 1858.

DEAR DEMOCRAT "The dearth in the
news market" makes il somewhat difficult TO
manufacture letter on local items. How
ever, trusting to the sublmity Of luck, here
goes"
The conductors of the county press arr
unremittng in their endeavors to arouse the
people on the Branch Rail Road question.
Certainly the scheme as presented is feast,
ble one; and united action on the part of
its friends cannot fail 10 establishing a rail
way communication with Lexington and
Durant The beneficial results that would
attend the completion Of this branch road
are obvious 10 all; and were it otherwise, it
has been SO ucidly developed by gentlemen
Of the press, that it is unnecessary Eere to
repeat arguments which have been so clearly
set forth. 1t is to be Hoped that citizens will
investigate this branch road question calmly
and decide favorabIy on its merits. Asuwey
of the route has never been made, and your
correspondent is unacquainted with the to,
biography of the country through which the
contemplated line would rum therefore he
is incompetent to express an opinion as to
the cost of the road. However, from, repre-
sentations made, | am induced to believe
that the road can be built at a comparatively
small outlay. Some certain conclusions Can
be arrived at when the Directory of the Miss.
Central Rail Roai meet next June in Gren-
ada.
Some two years ago there was no little
interest manifested in this county on the
subject of extending the Memphis and Ten
nessee Rail Road hon Pauola, through Tai
lahatchie county, the western portion OF Car
roll, the western portion Of Holmes, and
leaving the Yazoo Valley at McMath's hills,
running through the town oi Lexington, down
Cypress BOTTOM to intersect the Mss. Central
Rail Road in the southern portion of this
county. Whatever became OF the interest
manifested in behalf of The extension of the
above named road, | am unable to say !;
however, one thing is certain, at that time,
men of wealth, influence aud intelligence
were to be numbered among the friends Of
this proposed extension. The question was
considerably canvassed at that time an ac
curate estimate was made as to its probable
cost; the time in which the earth work could
be constructed was calculated and men OF
means, largely interested in the several coun
ties through which Tire proposed line was to
pass, were willing to take stock literally );
yet this enterprise was suffered TO fall through
and grow into disrepute, from want of some
leading splrt-some man of capacity and
untring energy-to take hold aud press it
through to u successful completion. The
commercial interests of Memphis, in part, the
prominent citizens both of DeSoo and Pas
nola, the eutire county of Ellahatchie the
wealthy planters east of the Yazoo both in
Carroll aud Holiness were anxious to have
some decisive steps taken in relation to the
extension of this road! Whether its old
friends have Abandoned all hope. and con
slider Its day as past, remains to be seen5;yet, 4
nevertheless, there is one thing which does
MT adm Of doubt had this extensonI
question been clearly and correctly discussed
before the intelligent citizens Immediately
Intel ested-the advantages 10 be derived, the
facilities that would be afforded to the finest
cotton growing country in the world, the
enhancement of real estate, The increase Of
population with thrifty and substantial men,
The easy and dilect communication that
would have been given to r wealthy portion
OF the Siate-capable of being made a." gar
den spot" either with New Orleans or
MemphIs-would most certainly have insured
its c. mpetion. The railway interests Of
that section of the State have been sadly me-
elected, and it is to be hoped that the day
Is not far distant when its capabilities to
sustain a first class road-its stock declaring
a handsome divideud-wll be vindicat ed.
Let him who doubts the feasibility of road
running through the above described coun>
ties, take the map of the State and examine
the locality of the contemplated route, then
take the statistics compiled by the Auditor
and submitted to the people last summer
and inform himself of the increase of itt
population and its taxable property, when
afforded ilroad facilities, for the next ten
years, on a ratfo with the increase of the
st four years, and if he does rot sbdndon
every doubt, and admit that it will be a pay
ing road, figures will surely have lost all
virtue in carrying conviction.
The petition signed by hundreds of our
ctizens-of which mention was made in a
previous etter-and forwarded TO Col. S'n>
gIeton, evidently met with cool reception,
when presented by him to the Post Office
Department. However, we shall not take
offence at the reply, doubtless based on the
information Of ragged under clerks in that
Department, and the statements Of delinquent
contractors, but will continue to forward
petitions until the nuisance, of which we
have necessarily complained for the last eight
months, is abated. The reply of the De-
partment will be published, and l hope you
will afford your readers an opportunity to
inspect it.
We have this assurance that man, who
has proved himself capable 10 every walk OF
life to discharge duties imposed upon him, is
now at the head of the Post Office Depart
ment. Mr.. Joseph Holt, we'll known in this
State as an eminsat lawyer in the days Of
Prentiss and Guion, and lately Commissioners
of Patents, is the right man in the right
place" He will make himself fell through
out the entire Department; and delinquent
contractors and negligent agents will tnd
their sulnbers broken in upon by the energy