Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-16
A NEW ENTERPRISE.
The Grenada. Houston and Eastern Railroad
Interesting Report Of the Engineer.

We examined the report of the prelimi
nary survey of the Grenada, Houston and
Eastern Railroad made by William 5
Moon, Esq, Civil Engineer, in which We
find some valuable information. The dis.
lance from Grenada to Okolona via Pitts
burg is 6S miles, to okOlona via Pittsburg
and Houston, $50 miles.
Several lines of survey were made and
submitted by the Engineer, but the all
line from Grenada to Houston, thence
east to OkOlOna, is recommended as the
best, for Typographical reasons, as follows
Easy grades, direct route, saving time
and distance. and also reducing the
draught pr~oportionally, and the cost OF
carrying freight and passengers, while
maximum loads can be transported with
speed and safety, and finally, the air line
is the cheapest. A number OF Well exc
cuted maps and complete estimates ac-
company the report Of the Engineer.
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad track at
Okolona depot is 81 feet higher than hlgh
water mark of the Nalobusha river at
Grenada, which viii give a constant grade
Of 4S6 feet per mile.
The proposed line passes through a n
cotton country on the river,
and in the " fatwoods.' The uplands of
Calhoun and Y~alobusha counties are also
fne cotton growing lands.
The following geological description OF
the route is Interesting: The soil Of the
second bottom, or hummOck land, of the
Yalobusha river is a yellowlsh gray
loan, four TO five feet in depth, of great
fertility, and extends as far as Flat
wOod,' while the uplands of Calhoun
and YRlObusha counties bordering the
above belt show a gray, ashy silt, with
faruginous matter resembling h light
soil of sFlatwoods," which is composed
- .1--,T-a avl .-#o,aa fn tho rattan
limestone region at Houston. In the
eastern part of Yalobusha, and through
Calhoun county, there is an abundance of
Ignite fit for fuel. Large growth of post
oak, black Jack, red oak and pine abound
along the route. An abundance Of rotten
limestone, of the volcanic tertiary, ut to
be used as mortar for building purposes,
is found between Houston and OkolOna.
This substance can easily be reached and
~carbonized. Some sulphite of iron was
found on the line of survey, in the shape
of nOdules. The marls OF this section are
composed of grayish clay, and contain
potash, soda, magnesia, alumina, iron
pyrites and carbOnic acid. A territory
comprising an area Of 1000 square
miles, embracing a population of
s. 600 white and black, principally en-
gagedin agricultural pursuits, lies along
the proposed route.
The work on this road will be com
menced in April next, which, when
finished, will open up this fine cotton
growing region via the Mississippi and
Tennessee railroad to Memphis. We
were pleased to see this evidence of en-
ergy and prosperity evinced by our
neighbors in Mississippi, especially so
when the great work will aid and assist
in building up the commercial prosper
ity of Memphis. The enterprise has the
best wish of all classes of citizens in our
city. We are under obligations to Mr..
Moon for his kindness in explaining the
importance Of the proposed road to the
prosperity of Memphis, and also for the
examination of his maps and specihca-
tions.