The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-06

Congress. There already exists q railroad line
from Toledo on the Canada border, through
Indianapolis to vincennes. Indiana; and Gen.
| Burnside 10 building continuation from Vim
/ cennes to Cairo. Connecting with this road at
Cairo, the International Pacific road viii pass
through the southeastern corner OF Missouri,
through the center II Arkansas and the most
| populous Part Of Texas, to Lsrado, on the Bio
| Grande, whence II continues. bifurcafing. to the
| city Of Mexico, and to the port of San Bias on
| the Pacific coast. The importance OF such road
cannot be over:estimsted. II WIN connect the
| South with the North-New York, Pennsylvania,
| Ohio and the Western States with Arkansas, Lou
| isana, Texas and the tier of southernmost
| Stafstltbe frozen regions of Canada with the
| torrid plains and valleys Of Mexico-the great
lakes wi'h the Pacific. II cuts large number of
| the great rivers of the continent, whose
| commerce viii be tributary to it. It
docs not. pass. through an undeveloped
country, but through territory already
wealth and importance. Cities, towns, and vii.
sges will rapidly be founded along its entire Iiue
Other roads, running eest and west npon parallel
of latitude. can facilitate only the exchanges
which the Eastern commerce calls from the West.
ern fai mer; but this line. having its northern
terminus on Lake Erie In latitude AZ degrees. cuts
all the intermediate parallels to latitude 81 de-
krees on the Pacific. By such road the inhabi-
tan's of the South readily reach the North in
summer, and those of the North as readily reach
the South in winter: it opens the natural exchange
of Ncithern products with those of Southern
growth, and the exchange of bullion from the
mines Of Mexico for the manufactures of the
Western States. When built, it will be the great
connecting chain, binding the South and the
North and West together by the indissouble bond
of commercial prosperity. lstaiad q . ~
10 satisfactory, therefore, to see that intelli-
gent people in the Southern States are being
aroused to the importance OF this great work to
them. At public meeting held the other day ia
the city of Memphis, a committee was charged
with the duty Of inviting the attention Of the
~ shoG 81 H. - 80
the Mississippi to the subject of Pacific railroad
and securing their cooperation in some plan which
will extend to the citizens of these States the be.
nefits of the enterprise. The committee inclades
prominent members of the business community at
Memphis. who on the 10th INST. made and publish
ed very able report upon the subject. OF the
opening for the road they say: We learn from
reliable sources that these companies have re-
preventative in Mexico asking for rights Of way
and land grants, with fat,ering prospects of sue.
cess, so as to extend said road from the Rio
Grande to San Bias, with a branch from
The main stem to the city Of Mexico. By
referring TO maps, geographical descriptions,
and other reliable sources Of information, IL N
be seen that this projected road. as route to the
Pacific, compared with all others north of il, is
several hundred miles nearer every great com.
mercial city In the United States than the more
northern roads; that for its entire distance from
Cairo to San Bias it Is in settled country. unin-
Tested with Indians; the lands on both sides rich
capable of yielding immense productions; in
mild climate not liable to be impeded by ice or
Rorged with snow; with no deserts or barren
wastes to encounter; with no mountains to turn
or tunnel with navgable streams intersecting or
close to the gulf, 10 facilitate and cheaper con-
sfructioD, and, when built, feeders to the road
with q generally favorable route for railroad
construction with large land grants; with the aid
asked granted with so many facilities to con-
sfruct road cheaply, and working at so many
points st once, there can be no question but that
this road can be built and, with proper energy,
from "a tn fha Ia
Grsnde. in this connection we forbesr discuss
ing the outward trade which would flow to this
road by opening commerce with the -four
isbirg states on the Pacific coast, the
isles of the sea, with China, Japan,
the East lndies-the coveted prize OF nations for
so many MISUNDERSTANDING, while this road
would receive It's due share of that mighty traffic
its surest reliance will be found in its directness,
In the vast and varied productions which will be
raised on its margin, ia the feeders from connect
ing Davlgabe streams, from the Gulf ports and
connecting railroads. in the temperate climate
through which it passes, the chespness and facility
with which it can be constructed. By referring
10 railroad maps 1t will be seen that this proposed
Southern road, in its present shape will afford
admirable facilities for st. Louis, Chicago,
baltimore, Philadelphia. New York, Boston,
Illinois, Ohio. and the States North of the
Ohio, with their finished roads to connect
~, Eiih This nad AT GsSn or some oas and
as are near il; but that the people OF Kentucky
Tennessee, Virginia, North and South Carolina
Alabama, Georgia and Florida, aud the greater
part of Louisiana, the people Of the South which
this railroad bill proposes TO aid, cannot connect
with 1t or participate in its benefits. By
the completion of the Memphis and Little
Rock Railroad, the Vicksburg and Shreveport
Railroad. the New Orleans, Opeousas and Great
western, and Texas roads connecting with the
same 10 the direction of Columbus, or some other
point west. all the South can be made to connect
with this Pacific road, as all the country from
Kentucky south. by finished roads concentrating |
either at Memphis, Vicksburg, or New Orleans
can be brought in connection with the same. The
railroad companies mentioned have each of them
done something toward completing their respect
i've roads. expanding large sums Of money. but,
In consequence of the terrible prostraton of the
South, they cannot, without aid finish the same
1t will not be overlooked that the Mississippi
betum on each of these routes, about forty miles
wide, sparseiy settled, liable to overflow, inter.
venes :hat It VIII require large sums of money to
raise the beds of these roads above overflow 1
which cannot be done in the PROSTATE condition
Of the county,
The committee tbereupon propose that Con.
gress be memorialized to aid in finishing each of
main stem or International Pacific road. "We are
charged" they add, " with the duty of bringing
this question before the people interested. :.
That this important subject many receive the at
the citizens of the different States, at their res.
pective capitals. will hold public meetings, aud
express such sentiments as to them may seem |
meet; that they will ask the cooperation of the
citizens OF every county in said States that at the
meeting of Congress they send delegates who will
aid in accomplishing the object In view. We shall
'eDd this communication TO every senator from
he Southern States. respectfully requesting those
who concur with US to advise us of the fact. Taat
We may be advised Of what is DONE we will be
greatly obliged by being supplied with copies of
such resolutions memorials and editorials as may
be published"
This demonstration of one of the greatest COM
nercial cities Of the Mississippi will no doubt
1ring ready response from every Southern
State. The international road has the features
0 make it the great national line, conferriug
blessings alike on the North, the South, and the
Vest That the Southern people, ia their present
,rostrate condition, should ask for help in the
oan OF the national credit, in building or com.
,leting those projected links which would unite
be entire railway system of the South with this
reat International thorougbfare is natural and
ttsOndDit. 10 Duhu the InternaIouaI ranrUdu |
self the credit of the government-in other
Fords, the loan OF government bonds-is asked
nly to the amount Of $4,000 COO. Six or eight
Millions more will probably complete the three
onnectiug liDks-that Is, from Memphis Vicks.
urg and New Orleans-with the main STEM max
ng at most but a total grant in aid amounting to
a fUa M rf n 4.