Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1869-12-11
Little Rock, Fine BlufR and
vIekSbmRR Railroad.

railroad from Little Rock, Arkan-
sss, ViG Pine Bluff, would soon
reach our city, and give us that inn
petus which we so sorely need.
And We fondly termed this route
the Little Rock, Pine Bluff and
Vicksburg Railroad. Col. Sap
pington, of Arkansas, came here
and called our people together to
consult them as to their wishes re-
gardlng the building of this North.
western route, aud after carefully
explaining the matter and the steps
already taken aud yet to be taken,
submitted it 10 our people as
to tho action they would take and
the aid they would give the scheme.
But other pc;lts arc working for
this road. BY an article published
In the Hamburg, Ark, Times, and
rcpublished in the OuaChita, La,
Telegraph, We sec there 10 to be q
movement, If not already on foot, to
take this road away from Vicks-
burg and run 1t South liz miles
from Pine Bluff, in Arkansas, by
Monticello and Hamburg.
This article asserts that this
route is best because Of its eligi-
bility, the immense good to the
country, and tho smallness Of the
cost Of construction. It says the
route to VickSburg is impraCtlca-
bic, passes through an inaccessible
region Of country,of small beneGt.tO
tho public, and can only be built OF
immense cost. We will not pause
TO argue the truth of these state
ments. for that is not our present
purpose, Suffice it TO say that we
believe the Yicksburg route far
preferable for all parties in every
way. But it should be enough to
stimulate us 10 some action in fay
or ofthis road, that others are TAX
ing steps to draw this road away
from us, a result that would be
deplorable in the highest degree.
Now let us call attention to a
few facts in connection with this
road which are strongly in,its favor
This route, from Little Rock via
Pine Bluff aud Napoleon to this
city, is a link in a grand trunk line
to the Northwest. II connects
with the Mississippi, Red River and
Wacli!a Railroad, from Fulton
and Camden to Gaines Land
ing. 1t connects with route
from Fulton TO Cairo, and one
from Little Rock to Memphis. Go.
ing n6rthward aud westward II
branches off into the numerous lines
that crosS-bar the northwest, aud
becomes "a tributary Of lines in
all directions. BY this route the
heart Of the grain producing coun-
try would be tapped aud the cereals
Of the west would naturally follow
the first and nearest outlet to a de-
desirable market. That the road
would be Il paying Ope there can
be no doubt, as il afIOfds such on
attractive route to market that
the northwest alone would more
than support the road. And this,
taken in connection with the cotton
and shipments from Arkansas,
would insure this to be o valuable
and desirable investment. Nearly
8 100000 bales cotton would, in O
short time, be passed over this
route. The most of this cotton
would come 10 and via Vicksburg,
Twenty parishes in Louisiana and
counties in Arkansas would be pro.
tecied by this road and an immense
quantity of the richest lands ro-
deemed from waste and placed un-
der cultivation.
With proper enterprise and &C.
tiOn, why should not Vicksburg be.
come one Of ths foremost cotton
markets.
Thousands and thousands Ol
bales of cotton might be concCntra-
ted right here, and our city might
be the head quarters OF Northern
and European buyers. Undoubt-
edly these buyers would prefer to
purchase at first hands, il the
amount of cotton thrown upon the
market was sufficient to warrant
the establishment Of q purchasing
agency at this point. This, like all
else, depends upon the energy and
enterprise Of our citizens. Vicks-
burg Is nearer New York and the
European ports than New Orleans.
Cotton can be placed In New York
in ten days via Savannah Georgia
while from New Orleans via the
Keys it requires thirty.two days.
Thus nearly One-third of the time
is saved, and thus a capital can be
turned over" twice in shipping