, 1870-06-10
LOUISIANA.
The New orleans, jackson II Great
Northern Railroad.
The Contest for its Possession.

The Contest for it's Possession.
TIE Beauregard and McCombs Claims
fFRoN oUR sPgIAL CORRESPONDENT
new OrLEASs, June 2
Few matters, indeed, have attracted as much
general interest in Louisiana IS that at prea-
ent centazed IN the contest foT the future coz
troll of the New Orleans. Jackson Il Great
Northern Railroad. Nor is the interest by any
mexns confined 70 Louisiana- It extends
through the entire length OF Mississippi, aud
even into the very heart Of Tennessee as well.
While nouinally mere contest for possession
Of the New Orleans l. Jackson Railroad, it in
wolves, at the sanae time, to much extent, the
very vitality Of the great "Oentral" road Of
Mississippi.
Looking upon the map, ono observes con-
tinuoua and uubrokon line Of rail from Jack
son, Tennessee, through the entire length
Of Mississippi, and acrosB the State Of
Louiaiana, to the city Of New Orleans The
natural Inference would be that the entire
nent, or, at least, that its various parts were
so controlled As to subsesve common pu1-
pose. So far from this being the case, how
ever. We have two distinct roads in open and
pndisguiaed conflict with each other First We
have tho Mississippi Central" extending
from Jackson, Tennessee, to Canton, Missis-
aippi. Next We have the "New Orleans, Jack
sou & Great Notthe1n," extending to New
Orleans. As branch to the main trunk line
We have the Mississippi i Tennessee Road"
extending from Memphis to Grenads, dis
We believe, was originally intended to run 10
Mcridian, the junction Of the Mobile L Ohio
and Meridian & Selma Railroads, thus
forming through connection between Mem
piis and the Gulf State roada. Owing
to the var, or other causes, the latter part
Of the road remains unbuilt, and we believe
the charter has lapsed to the State: The I'm
isbed portion, however, from Memphis to
Grenada, has somehow escaped the general
fate Of Southern roads, and to-day, under the
management Of Superintendent A. s. Liver
more, is, without doubt, the safest road in
teen TO form no unimportAnt link Of tho main
trunk road.
Uppn this main lins through sleeping
coaches from Louisville. and through freight,
are run to New Orleans. With this exception,
however, there is little appearance Of my IN
+
jackson or Grand junction. the crossing OF
the Memphis and Cha1leston, arc obliged TO
transfer at Canton, while thoso from Memphis
change at Grenada as we'll. It is thus
seen that both the Mississippi Central aud
Mississippi i Tennessee Roads are mere
tributaries to the New Orleans Il jackson.
Save for it's connection with the latter, in fact,
the Central may truly be said to have neither
beginning nor an end, in that it begins and
euds nowhere.
The afisaissippi Central, some time since,
passed into tho handa OF MeCombs Co, as
leHseea. Since coming into possession, much
complaint has been nade against McCo1nbs,
that ho allowed the road to run down, for tho
purpose Of purchasing its stock at merely
nominal figures. AL this, however, I take to
be tue mere senseless fabrications of the
enemies Of the road. To bo suro, there have
been many terrible accidents attended with .
11eadfn} loss OF life, For these, however, as
ltake it, neither McCombs nor the management
OF tho Tvad arc in any manner responsible,
TIM road, like all other Southern roads. YVES
GteralIv destroyed and made bankrupt by the
war. Uniiko many others, it has uo material
along its line with which to rebuild. The acc-
ton Of road where the accidents occurred is
one continued succession Of short, sharp bills
and guIleys, which a1e CROSSED by tEestles.
Tic difference between other Mississippi roads
and this portion Of the Central, therefore, has
been thAt whereas the trains On the former
ran Oh quite as frequently, they simply ran
into All ordinary ditch, while thoso on tho Ccu-
t1al went tumbling down hill, and, Of course,
did sonaa damage. But the Central, however,
Las been materially improyed,I hare reason to
know, and the heavy trains OF cedar Lies passing
northward for use in the rebuilding we'll attest
That it luns, in tho main, the finest rolling
stock OF any road in Mississippi il point upon
which the travelling public are agreed. That
II is 10 day az safe AB the ma ajority Of Southern
1oada, from numerous trips over tue same I
can well Lclieye. Having possession OF tho
! Central, AIcCombs ID now cndeavorinG to OBJ
. tam control Of tho New Orleans Il Jackson as
well, That he will make desperate fight for
1 its posaesalon is certain. Upon it. III fnct, de-
pends the future OF the Central Rond.
! The New OfleAcs. Jackson l. Great North
ern, as chartered, extends from Now Orleans
| to Canton, its present terminus, and from
thence bears OF to tho eastward and north.
ward, crossing the Mobile Il oh1o at OF neal
! itiver and tho city OF Nashville. At Aberdeen
| also It connects with IN Alabama line extend
ing to Decatur, thus forming an Eastern
Central Complete Ills limo. and ,yor
Ut once dcptive tho Central of tho wholt
Of its Eastern trade and travel. II
Thus becomes a Nero north and south line, be-
tninating at ike insignificant seven by, nine
| yillago In Tennessee. On the other hand
| McCombs is in possession OF the New Orleani
j Jackson the extension eastward. OF couise
remains unbuilt, the road is consolidated witt
the Central. and We have An nnbzokea Line be
tween New Orleans and the North.
AS rumor has it, too, McCombs is a mere
representative Of that gigantic corporation
the PeunsyiTznia Central. How trua it ma,
be, depouont saith not, but as reported. the pro
e1amine is II follows: The Central has latel,
obtained possession OF certain charters from
Indianapolis to Vincennes, Psducah and Cai1o
| The Ohio is to be hridged at Paducah. a roaL
il then to be built On au air line from Paducal
10 jackson, with > consolidation Of the EeT
| Orleans Il jackson and Mississippi Central
| With these links we have an unbroken nnt
continuous line, under. the one management
| frcm New Orleans to indianapolis. With the
| New Orleans i Jackson Road in possession
the necessary chango Of gauge, tho road
tnpth Of the Ohio being Ill OF the dye~foo'
track. Az the roads. however, require to ts
entirely rebuilt, tho matter Of change o.
gauge il not 50 much OF an undertaking as il
might At first sight appear, especially as ths
is comparatively Worn out.
That Inducements like these held out to thu
people along the line have done
much to c1ente an impression r, il
certain they may be of fulfilment is for timt
|
stations in Louisiana, found pnblic: opinion
to be much divided. While the older ane
| you]d-be aristocratic element, as wclt ns thost
stiu "ha1pipg on mr. daughter" are favorable
to the Deauregarl interest, and bitterly op
noacd to allowing the road to pass into the
hands Of the Yankees, the moro hbersl, mt
especially the business portion OF the comnu
mtg, favor McComba. So, too, IT appears II
be In New Orleans. Those who have sacret
faith II, the divinity OF the old order Of thiaGs
who see buGbear in every important more
and especially those who at heart have m IN
herent hatred for ANYTHING and everything
connected with Yankee, favor General Beau
regard. Those WHO recognize this as an ag
OF progress, who believe in new order 0
things, cast aside theit prejudices and look t.
the future, arc in favor Of McCombs. Th
mercantile c1asseB, too, so far as I have beer
able to ascertain, favor q change, not, ns i
seems, from any particular dissatisfactiol
With General Eeauregard, but from a belle
that change will wo1ksan Improvement in tn
condition Of the road and marked reduction
in its tariffs, which are claimed as PRACTICAL
probibitory in their character.
The movement of 3lcCombs Tor possesslo
Of the road OF course began with tho pu1chas
Of lis stock. Upon the validity of this pul
chase, an well. in fact, as the validity Of til
stock itself as transferable stock Of the Stat
OF Louisiana, hinges the whole Of the contest
Ar it appear, upon the face at least, McCouh
has purchased the stock OF tho city OF Now o.
lenns, consisting of. 80, 600 shares, as also tha
| Of the State Of Louisiana of 35,3C0 shaIef
| and IL virtually owner OF the road. Hayin
no disposition to deal with the merits OF d
merits Of either Of the contestants in th
case, ptefer to give their respective claim
as have it direct from the parties interested
, a VISIT TO GENERAL HEATHEdARD-
Contrary to prcconceved impressions,
!. found in General Beau1sgatd o very sociabls
agreeable gentleman; free to afford any an
! ali information; and seemingly desirous
, claim nothing but falr eren-handed Justice i
, | the matter. The General claimB to have 4
personal feeling in tie premises; deprecate
. the seeming effort IL give tho contest a polit