The Van Buren press., 1866-12-14
From Little Rock Conservative.
RAIL ROAD CONVENTION.

Elliott, Hon. viii Hicks, Hon. L. G. Brinkley,
Col, Z. II. Porter, and Hon. W. W. Watkins
Vice Presidents; aud Maj. ". d. Blocher, and
Capt, 10. W. Martin Secretaries.
The President explained the object of the
meeting, and advocated the general Rail Road
system of the State.
Mr.. CAN'T presented communication from
the Mayor and City Council Of Little Rock,
welcoming the deputations from other States,
which was read Iea
Hon. S. W. Williams moved that a commit
tee of five be appointed to draft resolutions
expressive Of the sense OF the meeting upon
the Rail Road interests of the State. Carried,
and Hon. :. W. Williams, Hon o. p. Lyles,
Cen. s. Z. Tre2eyant, Gen. n. B. Forrest and
Mr. Grant, were appointed said committee.
The committee reported the following pre-
amble and resolutions:
WHEREAS, There are several Rail Road
Companies in Arkansas, with assets more or
less considerable, which are struggling to eff
feet the completion of their lines; and where
as, the value and importance of Rail Roads to
Arkansas is too palpable to need argument to
prove and whereas, experience has demon
stratcd that Railroads are built only by united
effort and that unity of effort cannot be bet
ter secured than by States In their corporate
capacity: and whereas, ii is evident taat the
Rail Roads of Arkansas ii built soon, must he
through aid With capital outside ofths State;
and to procure that capital 1t will be neecssa-
ry to secure it by State aid TO Rail Roads.
Therefore, BE it Resolved:
1st That il Is the sense Of this meeting that
IL, S,otn 81 A,l- .hnull Grant State nil
to all Railroads IN this State duly incorporate
ed. who have. or may hereafter, grade and full
ly prepare for the iron forty consecutive miles
of thefr road, to the extent of ten thousand
dollars per mile.
"a. That the General Assembly of Arkan-
sas, now in session. be. and lis hereby, memo
rallied and requested to pass Il law granting
such State aid. and providing that when any
Railroad Company shall, by the affidavit Of
their Chief Engineer, or other proper officer,
presented to the Governor OF the state OF Ar
kansas, show that there are at least forty con-
secutive miles of such Rail Road completed or
graded and in readiness for the iron. 1t shall
be the duty of the Governor to make out and
deliver to the President Of such Company,
State Bonds issued by said Governor and
countersigned by the Secretary of State, un-
der the great seal ofthe State, payable in thir-
ty years. with interest payable semi-annually
in New York, to the amount and extent Of
ten thousand dollars per mile, and likewise
foi each consecutive ten miles thereafter so
graded and made ready for the iron /; it being
the duty ofsuch road TO provide for the pay
ment of the interest and principal of said
Bonds to the State and the State paying d-
rectly to the holders.
so. TfIlt the President Of such Company
shall have power to negotiate said Bonds in
the market, and such Rail Road Company
shall make provision with the State, to meet
the annual interest on said Bonds, and the
State shall pay directly to the Bond holders
4th. That in said law it he provided that
said Rail Road Companies, after the comple-
ton of their Roads, shall deposite with the
Treasurer of the State Of Arkansas. annually,
in addition to the interest, such per cent of
a sinking fund either in said Bonds or in cash,
as will meet and at maturity, provide for the
ultimate payment and retirement Of said
Bonds.
The Convention adjourned until o'clock
2. NJ.
Convention met at o'clock, p. m, and
was called to order by the President,
Hon. Jesse Turner.
Gen. j. L. Trezevant was introduced
and proceeded to address the Convention
in favor of Rail Roads, as the great in.
strument for the population, develope-
ment, and enrichment of the country !;
and in doing so, pointed out particularly
their great advantages to the people of
this State, in the development Of our
unlimited, but now for the want Of Rail
Roads barren resources.
In the course Of his remarks he stated
that bill will be presented to the Ten
nessee Legislature to authorize Memphis
to subscribe one million dollars to Road
projected, or to be projected, from Little
Rock and running west over the 35th
parallel.
He argued that it was to the general
interest of the people that the aid should
be extended by the State, as asked in the
resolutions reported by the Committee as
memorial.
Hon. John r. Fellows was called upon
to address the Convention. Not being
present at the afternoon session, he ask.
ed that the resolutions be read, which
was done. Mr. Fellows then, after stat
ing that he was not sufficiently acquaint-
ed with Rail Road statistics to discuss
anything but the great benefits Of Rail
Roads, eloquently welcomed the Rail
Road men from abroad as the advanced
guard of enterprise and high civilization.
lie then proceeded to picture the high
position Of Arkansas, when her resources
are properly developed, as they should
be- and to declare the general duty Of the
General Assembly in aiding that devel-
opcment by liberal system Of legisla.
ton, in the interests oflnternal Improve.
ments; and pledged that it would do all
that could possibly be asked of it by the
friends Of improvement. Hi
Gen, n. b. Forrest was called on, and
in response, said that he would not at.
tempt to make q speech, but had few re-
marks to make upon the subject before
the Convention. = q
He then proceeded to address the Con-
vention in favor of the resolutions, Civ
ing the statistical information as to the
necessities Of the Memphis and Little
Rock Rail Road, and the amount Of aid
T.. A.