Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-20
Cairo's River and Railroad
Communications.

To-day We present a map or diagram, show.
ing the position which Cairo occupies the
Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and clearly ind
eating it's position as Railroad ccntre, prea.
ent and prospective. or course DO not wish
! to represent all the Roads the diagram
completed, but believe We vonturc nothing in
asserting that within two years they will bc
built, thus forming network OF Railroads
around Cairo.
Cairo is practically the head of navigation.
When the Mississippi is at its lowest stages,
boats of the heaviest tonnage and greatest
draught, can always reach this city. So, too,
in the winter season. Jack Frost has never
beer able to construct a bridge across the river
at this point, sufficient to impede navigation 10
and from the lower river.
1t is q well established fact, conceded by al
steamboatmen, that no section Of the Misgis-
sippi is so difficult to navigate in low water or
in the winter season, rs that stretching be.
tween this city and ST. Louis, thus pcremptor-
lily demanding the speedy construction Of the
Cairo and St. Louis railroad Nor is this all.
The railroad companies east Of st. Louis are 50
desirous that such road bc built, that if Cairo
and the people on the line Of the proposed road
do not construct it they will. But the people
of this city and those living in the country
through which the Cairo and st. Louis Rail-
road is proposed to run, are not only desirous
that itshoud be built, but have evidenced
their determination that it shall he built, and
their ability to build it, 1t il now being, or
has been surveyed, and but littlo remains to
be done ere the work will be commenced.
The 'Caro and Vincennes Railroad is an
other enterprise which is now being agtated
and which will soon be realized. The 'Ohio
and Mississippi Railroad Co. want an outlet,
to enable them to communicate more readily
with the lower Mississippi A branch from
| their road, running from Vinccnncs to this city
will supply the want The distance will bc
short, the country through which it will run il
quite even and inviting, and the expense at
| tending its construction but very light com
! pared to the advantages which would accrue
to the Railroad Company named, tho people
living on the proposed route and our citizens,
| so that we feel assured that its construction,
/ within short period, is a fixed fact.
Tho Mobile and Ohio Railroad" is now in
! running order from Mobile to Columbus. The
! terms ofthc Charter authorizing its construction
! requires that its Northern terminus shall be ~
1 a point opposite Cairo, and the provisions Of
| the Charter will be complied With at an early
! dav At present we have a sem-daily packet
running to Columbus in connection with that
Road, and Cairo now is, practically the North
! ern terminus of the " Mobile and Ohio Rail
| road Before the war effected the equili-
I ,f 4 nd had Df
the South from us, Cairo was the mart to which
| the planters and moned men Of the section Of
country through which the NJ. a. O. K. X. run
and those to whom the Road was tributary,
came to supply their necessities and exchange
| their staples for produce or money through our
| business or commission men for goods by those
| of Alabama and the States lying between. On
| Friday last we noticed one OF our liquor mer-
chants filling q large order for Mobile firm,
and other have informed MS that they too have
! sbipped goods ria the NJ. & o. r.. r. to Mobile
and other points. At present Cairo is but
forty-oight hours distant from Mobile. In "A
few DAYS, when the road is better balastcd
the time will be reduced to thirty or thirty six
hours Argument is not needed to demonstrate
the fact that Cairo is the natural feeder TO this
Road and presents to the planters along it,
line and the commercial men of the cities,
towns, and villages through which il runs
overshadowing inducements to establish II a.
their entrepot.
The New Orleans, Jackson & Great North
ern r. r." commencing at New Orleans, taps
the NJ & O. r. r. ut Jackson, Tennessee, lhrS
making t.e latter named Koad "a lhculnHI
through which all the staples and wealth Of the
, richest section OF the South can bc conveyed
North.
= Bv reference to the diagram which we pre-
= sent today, it will be readily seen that no
freight or passengers can come from the south
either by the Railroad or by River and reach
t the North without passing through Cairo which
stands as gateway between the Northeast anu
Southwest.