The Van Buren press., 1860-04-20
Railroads in Arkansas
Rese esions apon the presest asd Future
Railroads n tie &ate

Railroads in Arkansas
Hssec csions upon. TIE presast asd fkfare ofl
Railroads n TIE .Sate. Fl
1t behooves all public spirited men in Ar
kansas to look wei TO the interests of the
State, as embodied in her present system OF
raifroads Several roads are projected :;
some surveyed only, others commenced. 1t
is of vital importance to Us all now that
these schemes fan not into nothinsness.
The Memphis road is under contract. and
some Of it completed the f. S: bianchi OF
the C.. i Z. L. Z Is Now, q possisa- -of II.
under contract, and the grading on the first
20 miles goes On very we'll. In such a
state of things who can fail to see the i'm
portance of ins.itutins plans by means Of
which these public works may be carried to
completion. Several plans have been sug-
gested, all OF them good in themselves, and
if carried out freely and faithfully would,
doubtless bring about the desired result.
The one first in order and almost in import
ance, is the plan of subscribing stock equal
to 80 cents per acre of all lands lying with
in the six-mile limit. Every real estate
owner then becomes not only interested but
q participant in the affairs of the road, SO
that there can be no swindling. as is so
|uuch fears1 by those econscieaeaus exem :
plars of honesty and virtue, who own no
interest in the road. and have nothing to be
|swindled out of. This so cent subscription
it is proposed shall be spent in grading the
road in the county in which it may be taken,
making this special subscription. If all
the counties along the line will adopt this
plan, then it is fully as good if not prefera-
BILE to the plan of general subscription. The
question of profit and loss or dollars and
cents is a plain one. A man owning 160
acres of land, becomes stockholder to the
amount Of $50. His land, at the time of
subscription, was worth say S5 per acre, he
has now encountered it with SO cents per
acre. Can he get it Let us see. Every
one knows how the value of land has gone
up (since the railroad assumed the form of
leven a possibility in Crawford county
Land purchased three years since for IS
per acre has been readily sold for $40, Is,
and even $50 per acre. Lanils will rise in
value in all the counties along the line as
soon as there Is q probability of the road
passing through them. Lands rated at
S5, so then, at the least calculation will go
up to SIS and $40. 'Y Yes, but says the
thick headed anti-railroad man-s' would
Just as soon own my land at S5 as at $50,
acre. had rather because then my taxes
would be lighter, and could make Just as
much of the SOIL Exactly, my friend,
but have YOU no desire to acquire a greater
amount OF wealth than You possess would
you not like to feel easier pecaniarly ?
would you not like for your business to en-
large? think you all feel thus. Now let
NE inform You OF fact that you already
know, but do not consider. Business men
and, to n certain extent, all men must have
credit. 1t is impossible to get on without
it. What is the basis of credit ? Is it not
property And real estate is the surest
and soundest basis. When your land then
will command $50. when formerly it COM
manded only So. hevA vAy~---.- i--,io s-n
| times broateT than formeriy-your credit Is
ten times larger, you can increase Your bu-
siness ten times, &c. But again, you may
say, suppose my credit is so greatly exten-
ded, how can meet my payments any bet
ter, my land produces Inc 70 more because
of its increased value Let me suggest.
\ ou raise corn, wheat, oats, potatos, hogs,
cattle, horses, and perhaps a few sheep In
cultivating your land, You are crampcd by
the want of The appropriate farming uten-
sils. With your extended credit you
can procure these and your land uill
produce more than formerly. Your corn
may meet with a choked home market
You must take what you can get,
nominal price. You cannot help YOUR
self; you have no means Of reaching any
other market. So, unless you fall upon a
lucky year, you do not make much profit
on your investment. Had you a railroad
running along near your land, purchasers
would come to yoa, and give high prices
for anything you may have for sale, because
they buy in quantities and carry to distan,
markets; the cash flows into country a.
produce goes out of it. AS it is, we raise
produce, bring it to town, sell it for town
money, and in less than twelve months the
same money will again have reached the
town, and by the time our next crop i,
ready for sale, the same seven and six.
pence" awaits us in town, that we had one
year before. Thus We turn our cash in a
circle, and never increase it. Whereas, il
exported, sold to men FROM other States,
then the cash would flow In every year in q
new stream and the country becomin gweal-
thier, the farmer would assume his first and
proper status, independence. The Other
plans suggested are State=aid. land. mort
gage and special tax, which We will call
your attention to next week.
| SON what meat hath this oa,r Cesar fad