The Van Buren press., 1866-05-12
SATURDAY, MAY ~, 1896.
Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad.

Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad.
\ meeting OF the surviving directors of th
Company will I've held in this city in a few
days, The result of their deliberations vii
probably affect the interests and destiny o.
this country for the next quarter of centu'
ry. All men admit the paramount necessity
and importance of the road. We pretend to
no professional knowledge upon the subject
of railroad construction but we have witness
cd their practical workings, and have expert
enced the immense benefits flowing from
them. and, with all due Difference to the un-
derstanding and opinions of the cnterprising
and intelligent gentlemen mentioned. we de-
sire to present few thoughts by way ofsug-
gestion. One thing is certain; we must have
the road, or we must suffer, for generation,
the results of our own folly.
Let the work be begun at once, at Little
Rock. is chld's play to waste our encr-
gies and resources upon this end OF the line.
No matter how small the beginning, let the
work begin at once. We all remember how
weak was the beginning, six orseven years
ago, at this place, and how steadily and surely
it increased up to the breaking out of the war.
Energy and determination have wonderful ef-
fects upon the minds of the lukewarm and in
different We differ with those who think 1t
Is too early to agitate the subject. We can
not commence it too soon. If the Company
exhibit enterprise and determination, the pco-
pie will come gradually to their support
They earnestly desire that the road may be
built and If they are inspired with confidence
they will unite in assisting the accomplish
ment of their cherished hopes. But they
must be led If those who have large means
will come forward and show their confidence
In the enterprise, those who have less will
promptly follow their eNmpe The mer-
chants of Little Rock, Van Buren,, and Fort
Smith must lead the way, and those of Lew
isburg, Galley Rock, Norristown, Dardanelle,
Russellville, Dover, ClarksvilleS Spadra Bluff
and Ozark will not be far behind. The farm
ers and land owners will not be long in dis
covering their true interests. Public opinion
will soon be moulded. and the State. County
and municipal authorities will fall into line
upon the grand march of progress to high
er ercivilizati0n. a 45 @
This, of course, Is mere outline. AS matters
of dctal we suggest that the President and
Directors should receive some compensation
for the labor they are expected to perform. 1t
is very plain that II they do not the interests
Of the Company must suffer. Directors can
not afford to spend their time and money for
the benefit of the community, and no man
could be persuaded to devote his entire time
and attention to the interests of the company,
at the sacrifice of his own personal interests.
The President of railroad has important du-
ties to perform, and must possess business
qualifications and talents of high order. die
is, therefore, as much entitled to fair COM
pensaton-and the directors too--as the Pres
idcnt and Congress Of the Uuited States.
Heretofore, we believe, the services of these
officers have been entirely gratuitous. We
hope, therefore, that they will not hesitate to
remedy this matter and adjust it upon a prop
or basis The effect would soon be visible in
the increase Of energy and prosperity of the
enterprise.
To make the roadh financial success. there
are two ofllcers-the President and Engineer
who must be honest and capable men. The
affairs Of the Company must be economically
and energetcally administered. and the road
must be properly located and substantially
built. Could he devote his time and epergies
to the business of the Company exclusively,
we believe that no better selection could be
made in the country than Mr.. TURNER. Mr.
CO. ScoTr. Of Little Rock, is, also. cmincnt-
ly fitted for the position. 1t is no sinccurc
and we hope that, whoever may be selected
he will not shrink from the responsible
ties of his Office, but that he will faithfully de-
vote himself for a few short years to the full
tillment of the grand dcsign-a performance
which will carry with it honor and reputation
among men, and confer untold blessings and
benefits upon the people Of Western Arkan.
sas and their posterity.
We could say much more upon this subject
but onr limits forbid. We will only add tina
the Cities of Memphis and Little Rock have
interests In this Road that are vital to thei
prosperity. St. Louis is stretching out hel
arms in the direction Of Texas and New Mex
leo, passing by our very doors and while
Memphis is quarreling with Mobile, ant
spending hundreds OF thousands to secure the
trade of comparatively circumscribed area