New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-21
MOBILE AND Northwestern RAILROAD
Enthusiastic Meeting of Citizens
MOBILE AMAZING FROM LETaAR1Y

The Mobile papers of yesterday bring us
detailed reports OF meeting held IN that
city Thursday night. to take into consider
alton the Importance and advantage. OF
the projected railroad from Mobile 20 Heie-
na. Arkansas.
We copy from the Register
General l.. w. Lawler was called 70 the
chair, who briefly explained the Importance
of the meeting. Mr. Walter Burgess was
then nominated Secretary.
General Lawler suggested that as Col
OnCl w. ID. Mann was familiar with the
enterprise. he be requested to address the
meeting.
Colonel W. D. Mann then took the stand.
He said that about two years ago he first
thought Of the project. and last summer
called some citizens together and suggested
the enterprise to them. He then explained
the laws Of trade and commerce as illus
tratel in the trade Of Chicago, Toledo.
Buffalo and other cities. The efforts OF
Savannah to control cotton belonging to
Mobile was pointed out. and the former
railroad efforts OF Mobile were discussed
He then briefly pointed out the route OF the
proposed road. and then discussed the ad-
vantages of the route.
The first hundred miles Is an unbrOhcn
fores: of pine which is valuable as part OF
the great yellow pine belt. and the timber
will make business for the road, as 1t has Ill
Michigan and elsewhere. Twentvthree
Thousand bales of cotton can be reached
ninety miles from Mobile. just above Jack
son the IazoOvalley commences. the richest
cotton co'ytryin the world. and 1t produces
300, 900 bales, and still but a small portion OF
the valley is cultivated. The difficulties OF
getting the cotton to market are great. and
include much haUlin. and precariOus trans
pOrtatiOn by boat.
The trade Of the Yazoo valley now goes
to New Orleans. There is no reason why
Mobile may not get it though. just as Chi
caso has competed. with st. Louis for the
upper Mississippi and Missouri trade. The
railroad til energy of Chicago was then illus
trated Mobile Is twenty-four miles nearer
jackson than New Orleans, and from JACK
| sou all North Mississippi is opened to Mobile.
| The effect Of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad
| upon Mobile was then dwelt upon.
| An effort to get the trade of jackson and
| beyond should be made. and Mobile having
! built her road can control at least lJo.No
! bales Of cotton from the faZOo valley: and
| not .e-s than 80, 900 between here and jack
son. The distance to jackson is l6S miles.
! to Yazoo 300: Helena, Arkansas, so. This
! /. ne main trunk; the branch to Napoleon
| 60 miles. The Mobile and Northwestern
railroad viii connect at jackson with the
Southern Pacific railroad, and Mrbie Is the
| natural t;de-water terminus OF the grea;
transcontineDtai railway. tAa Pacific rail
| road.
Til. trade o: Northern Louisiana and
Texas would be tributary 70 Mobile. Mo
| bile could also compete for the Memphis and
| Paducah trade over the Mississippi Central
| road. A road is competed from Pine Biu1
20 Little Rock. and thence to Fort Smitl
under rapid construction; and with ouI road
| 70 Napoleon. Mobile taps the Arkansas
trade. A. Helena road has been projected
70 Kansas City. Another road I" Pilo
| Knob, thence 20 st. Louis Is under way
And the Iron Mountain and Helena road
| gives Us an air line to St Louis
Tho Mobile and Northwestern railroad
| connects us with Arkansas. Kansas and
| Missouri. and brings Mobile their trade
which belongs to il. The advantages con
nections and routes were then cxpla!ned
The road can be constructed chcaply-
there ia but little grading to be done
Mississippi. can do nothing Of herself bu'
the county authorities can vote help. ant
take stock and issue their bonds. Count,
aid is preferable to State aid. The Countie.
on the rolte of the road all favor the build
ing OF the road. and have so declared them
selves Two million dollars OF county bond
OF Mississippi may be expected. The pr
yite subscriptions will be equally liberal IL
land donations and money.
Amillion of acres can be gotte.i as dona
ton, and million dollars subscriptoa can b'
had The road will cost SS0OO,000 Witt
$2,5OO, 900 in Mississippi and $500. 600 tal.el
| here, the bonds OF the road can be issued
and the remainder raised. In the way 0
through routes, the Southern Pacific. ant
the st. Louis and New Orleans Air Line
have to avail themselves Of this road.
The Importance Of the road to Mobile wa
then pointed out. and the necessity of tn
proper steps being taken to build it dwell
upon.
! The subject was also advocated by Coione
D. c. Anderson. General l.. w. LawleI
Rev Dr.. Fulton and Thomas Henry. ESQ.