Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-09

AA9AN VI NNN eNHaAaA4 V N4e NA4Aa
State. Their efforts in this re-
spect are eOmmendable, and 1t ia
but natural that they should not
wish 10 zee the cotton products OF
the greater portion Of the State
absorbed by Memphis on the one
side, and by New Orleans on
the other. They know but too
well, and we oil know how North
CarOlina-One Of the old thirteen
States-has suffered under similar
circumstance by the port Of Nor
folk on the n side Of her, and by
ChaFleston on the other.
What Chicago is TO the Western
and N0rth-w estern States-With
her fine location near the broad ex.
panse Of Lake Michigan, and her
thousands Of miles Of railway, radi-
atlng al nearly every point of the
compass-Vicksburg, overlooking
the Father of Waters with the
given lines Of railway converging
upon her, may become to the South
ern and Southwestern States. In
the attainment Of such a high and
noble end, II must be regarded as q
matter Of prime importance, that
there should be constant, united,
and persistent efforts put forth, not
only by the citizens of Vicksburg,
but by all those whose immediate
sections of country are to DO bene-
fitted. The movement should not
be regarded as ephemeral, but
should challenge the candid inVesti-
CATION Of the most practical minds
Of the State. As the number Of
small farms will probably be iu-
creased under the new regime, with
q consequent dense population, the
necessity for q greater number Of
railroads will be increased In o pro-
pOrtionate ratio.
In this connection, we deem II 10
be not inappropriate nor out Of
place to suggest that we regard a
railway line from Vicksburg to
Northeast Mississippi rs one Of
supreme Importance, and that il
should tap the Mobile & Ohio Rail-
road at some central point In the
midst ofthe long belt of rich lime
lands of the Tombigbee valley, We
regard as none the less so. The
town of West Point flls the re-
quirement, and 1t Is for the very best
reasons, par eminence the point OF
junction. 1t is a sandy land depot,
and the only one throughout the
whole length of the rich lime lands
through which the Mobile q Ohio
Railroad passes. Having such a
soil, II IS certainly the most pleas.
ant aud suitable for the location OF
machine and repair shops. a station
house, the manufacture of bricks,
&c. II has fine freestOne water,
and there Is certainly no healthier
place to be found in the State. II
10 also a thriving town. Deducting
the time during the war, and 1t has
not attained the age Of twelve
years, and although so young
the population may be set down al
1900 souls. II has some 30 or 81
business houses, and there are con
tracts for the erection Of q large
number during the present year
1t may be remarked In passing tina
: our town is located on q narrow
T belt Of sandy land-varying II
width from one mile to one and {
I half miles-and cutting the prairie
I, lands IN twain from east TO west
D 1t Is also 4 large aud annually In
: creasing shipping point Of cotton
G The route indicated would necessa
rily pass diagonally aud CENTRAL.
through the best and most fertil
lands Of Oktibbeha, and direct
y through the town of StarkvillC
i thus securing the large cotton pro
l. ducts OF that fine county. Thes
g are no incOnsiderable items to an.
city seeking a railroad communica
ton with this highly favored pOr
ton Of the State.
r Great as are the advantages tina
p would accrue to the city of Vicks
burg by the completion and equip
i ment of the route indicated, the
would be immeasurably increase
l. by extending it on in the directiO
n of ElyiOn, in the midst Of the mas
a uifcent and inexhaustible coal an
" iron fields Of Alabama. With thi
= potent auxiliary in extending III
Ii area of her cotton facilities, sh
would at the same time become
II great coal aud iron depot for III
vast extent Of country north an
II east of her, but more especial
l. south and west. The probabilitit
o are that a decade OF years will NJ
10 elapse before Elyton will becoH
p the Pittsburg Of the South, whel
u, the din and uprOar arising from Il
. muItitudinOus factories and fOul
. dries will not cease day nor nigh
through week. aud months and r
nc volving years, aud as the area
I'd these agencies increase, 50 will i
s. crease, pdri passa, the magnitut
y OF the depot At Vicksburg. N,
this alone. With the road cot
pleted to ElytOn, il at once becom
ne a great lhorOuc hfare, approxim0
L. ing an air line from Vicksburg
II. New York.
ed AS an important preliminary ST
cs towards securing such desirable
CHI suits, It IS necessary that prom
RS action should be exerted by Wick
to burg and all important intermet
ate points to secure q liberal chs
10 ter from the present Legislature
H. the Alabama State line. In I
M furtherance Of this object we Q
in prepared to pledge the cordial {
~ operation of our citizens.
t. Respectfully,
.es A. E.. FAINT,
is j. s. CARvIN,
1d e. W. BRAMB,