The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-11-10


PEARL RIVER BRIDGE.-We observe
that the people East of Pearl River who
have heretofore made jackson their
market place, are holding meetings and
concerning measures for relieving them
selves of the tax on their produce and
transportation levied to keep up the toll
bridge.
We are not astonished. By an ar
rangement with the Vicksburg and Me-
ridian Railroad, cotton can be shipped to
New Orleans as cheap from Brandon or
at any intermediate point between Bran
don and jackson, via. Vicksburg, as
from jackson direct by Railroad. And
from Byram, which is also accessible to
many of the former customers of Jack
son, the cost of transportation is less.
The effort of the people East of the
river now is to induce the Vicksburg &
Meridian Road to afford the necessary
facilities for shipping cotton and storing
goods at some eligible point between
Brandon and Jackson, which has never
heretofore been seriously attempted in
view of the convenience to jackson.
Before the war, the bridge was owned by
the corporation of the town and the tolls
derived from it were fixed so low they
were scarcely felt. The profit to the
community consisted in the inducements
which it created for the trade East OF
Pearl River, and which it commanded
largely before the destruction ofthe bridge
and its rebuilding by private enterprise.
Of course no individual, or single firm,
can be expected to keep up free bridge
mt an outlay of ST., 900, and the cost Of
keeping it in repair, for the benefit of the
public. No blame therefore can attach
TO the Messrs. Green. They built the
bridge when others were unable, or un
willing to do it, and are entitled to the
profits which they are realizing. But the
blame does attach to the corporate auth
critics who threw away the opportunity
of the city to purchase the bridge with
the proceeds of a tax which through Their
folly and Encouragement will be applied
to the benefit of other parties or commu,
mites, and to objects in which the people
Of jackson are not in the remotest degree
interested. Instead of return for this
tax in the form of this valuable bridge
property, they will not only receive moth.
ing. but they have inflicted lasting inju-
~ upon the trade and prosperity of the
town.
We have been informed that Modest
Musgrove who claims to be citizen OF
Clarke county but is temporarily quar-
tered here in the Office of Auditor OF
Public Accounts, and was thrust into the
Board of Aldermen by Alcorn to run the
concern over the heads of old bona fde
citizens in defiance of decency- talked
his word as " civil engineer Cd that
the cost of repairing the bridge would
amount to $1,000. We were then salts
fed that this was vagary of the ''engin-
:" and our suspicious have been con-
frmed on ascertaining that the Messrs.
Green have put the bridge and the turn
pike beyond, in an excellent condition
for $467--nearly one-ffth less than his
carpet-bag Modesty estimated.
p. S. After the foregoing was put in
type, we received the following informa
ton through the Brandon Republican:
THE JACK ON Toll BkIDGE. The citizens
of West Rankin held meeting at the GOur
ley Place. on Tuesday last. 70 consider the
best means Of avoiding the payment of the
oppressive tolls charged by the Jackson
Bridge Companv.and we learn from friend
who was present that they deter mined To
peFftiOn the r lilroad company for depoT
and switch where the WestviIle road crosses
the railroad, and then. If 1t l. granted, they
will establish a store there and make thai
their trading point. Ii not. they will estab
lish free ferry over the river above Jack
SON. The people of jackson are certainly
very blind TO their interests.