The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-04-07
vol. XXXIII--NO. Is
Fer the Clarion.

i E9f the AA1f1QD.
suggestioms for the Legislature
This i, perhaps, the most important epocl
in the history OF Mississippi IL Is the epocl
of Renaissance. The new Constitution hai
been adopted. which Wakes many radica
changes In onr polify. and the Legislature
10 now In session for the purpose Of adapt
ing -our laws 20 the new order of things
Many changes are actually necessary, but
it may be justly feared that these viii b.
more ultra than win be wise, or than Il de.
manded by our present statutes. Its bet
ter that our law makers shall move more
slowly but surely that what they shall dc
shall not have to be soon undone. One
thing they ought to certainly do-pass all
necessary laws for developing the material
interests of the State-encourage immigra-
ton, and levee the Mississippi river so as to
bring into cultivation all of the alluvial
lands upon its banks. Our whole State
should be connected with a net work OF
Railroads, because experience has proved,
! that they are the most economical in con-
veying our products to market 1t is also
of Importance. that we should build up a
commercial mart With our own borders.
A Railroad from some point upon our sea-
coast. connecting with the other roads, is of
vast Importance. At Ship Island, and also
ut Cat Island, there are harbcrs that would
| almost accommodate the navies Of the world.
Both of these harbors are safe and easily
approached from the sea, without detention
on cars, and without the necessity of tow
age.
Both of these harhors may be approached
by railroad, within very short distance,
say less than mile, by building the road
from the main land to Cat Island, at point
near Pass Christian. The distance is only a
little over five miles. A Railroad from Cam
ton or Jackson, to the sea coast would devel-
ope very valuable portion of our State
More than halt the distance is fine farming
lands, and the other half the best timber re-
gion now existing in the world. Our prime
val forests of pine. have nearly everywhere
been destroyed, or used up. Even while the
country is sparsely populated. where are we
to procure our supplies, when our pOpula-
Cion shall increase to fifty or sixty millions.
The consumption of lumber is increasing in
a greater ratio than our population, and it
will soon become a question where the sup
ply is to come from. A railroad from Bran
don to the sea-coast, with branch to enter
prise or Meridian, would develope not only
the best timber region, but the healthiest
region of country in the South, peculiarly
suited for small farmers. Such a road would
also pay. 1t would not only build up a
great commercial entrepOt upon our Sea-
cast, but it would furnish our prairie coun-
try with a supply of lumber at reasona-
HE nriQa and would no fha of hri :
ing into the State large foreign population,
from Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden,
the best farmers in the world. Let the char
ter of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad be
revived, and if Congress will renew the
grant of land which they once made it, cap
italists will take hold of it, and in three
years the work will be accomplished.
Pass Christian, March p, 1870. C.