The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-08-12

tdOpteu, Inc CITY OF LlULle ROCK having
been generally assumed as an initial point
N both routes This road is nearly com
pleted, 80 miles being in operation, with
,he absolute certainty of having the gap
IF 40 miles closed by February next.
The Cairo and Fulton Road bisects the
State diagonally, beginning in the north
eastern corner and terminating on Red
River, in the southwestern portion of the
State. The Company has large land
grant-about 10000 acres-but has not
yet begun operations. 1t is reported that
a wealthy English company has offered
$780, 900 for the franchise.
The Little Rock and Fort Smith Rail
road is on the line of the 35th parallel
route from Little Rock westward, has
about 100000 acres of land, donated by
the General Government, and traverses a
rich mineral and agricultural region It
passes through some extensive coal fields,
semi bituminous, and equal in quality to
the best Pittsburgh coal, and while its
own business will be large, it will be a
valuable feeder to the Memphis and Little
Rock Railroad. This may be judged from
the fact that the city of Memphis alone
consumes 10000 tons of coal annually,
paying at least $3.50 per ton more than
the rates at which it could be afforded if
mined and transported from the Upper
Arkansas, distance Of only $50 miles.
The Mississippi, Cuachita, and Red
River Railroad, starting from favorable
point on the Mississippi River, midway
between the mouth of the Arkansas and
the Louisiana line, traYerses the heart of
the cotton belt of the State In fact, from
the Mississippi River to the Ouachita
River, distance of 100 miles, the road
bed may be said to restupon pure alluvium
Tapping Red River just above the famous
raft, it will drain all that great valley, the
almost fabulous productive capacity of
which is known to you. 1t is also on the
direct line of the 32d parallel on Ell Paso
Pacific route ane its virtual extension east
ward to the Mississippi River. Ninety
five miles of the road are graded and it
has a land grant of about 100000 acres,
consisting almost wholly of cotton lands
of the best quality. The Little Rock,
Pine Bluff and New Orleans Railroad ex-
tends from Little Rock southWard to the
Louisiana line. From Pine Bluff south
ward two routes are proposed, one follow
ing the Arkansas River to near its mouth.
on which line 40 miles of road are already
graded, and thence along the Mississippi,
thereby becoming portion of the rail
way levee system, to opposite Vicksburg.
The other route proposed is an interior
line, terminating, however, at the same
point. Should the 35th parallel route to
the Pacific be adopted, this road will be
the most important branch of that great
highway, and over must pass the trade
and travel to and from the Gulf States
east of the Mississippi River. The con-
structiou of this road may be deemed as
sured by the land donations it will receive
and the aid secured to it under thee per
alton of general law providing for the
reclamation of overfowed lands The
leyee law referred to secures, under Ger.
tain conditions, to any railroad company
IN the State the entire cost of all Ievees,
bitches and drains it may construct, the
aggregate of cost to be equ1tably distri-
buted among and collected from the coun.
ties or districts which may by these works
be drained or protected from overflow.
Thus. through the wise provisions of this
law, while vast areas are made tillable
the embankment built as levee no longer
inert, becomes the road-bed of a great
highway. Briefly, then, it may be stated
that, with 20 miles of road now in opera
ton, with $50 miles ready for the rails
with ample means in the hands of the
companies for the superstructure and roll
ing stock, it is entirely safe to promise to
all travellers jounreying through our State
IL months from this time, the facilities of
25O miles of railway transportation nor
is it less certain in view of favoring phys
ical conditions which will make the con
struction of these great avenues exception
ally easy and economical, that before Julv
1st, 1871, 500 miles of railroad will be
fully completed. What Arkansas offers
to the immigrant in her cheap and fertile