New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-15
The New Orleans and Northeastern Rail-


rOads
From the Jackson Pilot
The following letter, directed to citizen
of this place, we publish by request:
WASHINGTON. February 3, 1872.
DEAR SIR-Your public spirit and private
interest have led you to sympathize warmly
with the efforts being made for the CON
stru9tion of the New Orleans and North
eastern railway. I follow up, therefore,
your attention to the fact that the fate OF
the road is now lett in the hands of the
Legislature of Mississippi.
With hundred and fifty miles of the
route unable to yield dollar to the treas
ury of the New Orleans and Northeastern,
the construction of the road is clearly i'm
possible, save through external support;
and the external support absolutely neces-
sary to the success of the project must be
given on a scale the most generous and
broad.
The country to be trav ersed by the New
Orleans and Northeastern belongs almost
solely to the federal government. Its set
Element having proved impossible for the
last half century it will remain impossible
| for the next half century, unless promoted
| by the construction of the New Orleans and
| Northeastern. And this fact points to one
head Of the externa! support necessary tor
| the wOrk-a liberal grant of lands from the
federal government. And to obtain this
the company seeks the adoption 10y the Leg
islature of Mississippi of a memorial to Con
| gress, asking that the grant be made. Such
| a memorial will, l have reason to nope, De
adopted before long by the Legislatures OF
Louisiana, of Alabama. of Georgia, and
| perhaps of Tennessee.
But some of the lands along the line of
i the road are held by the State of Mississippi.
To fill out the vast deficit incident to the
| poverty of the route, General Longstreet
and the board of directors feel it important
that the company receive such lands OF the
State at a nominal price, where they can
not be conveyed otherwise, as may be held
| under tax title or in any other way, within
| ten miles on either side of the route. The
company seeks legislation to this effect.
To make it possible for the company to
use the lands granted by Congress and the
| State, they must be exempted from taxa
| ton. This can be done constitutionally,
| by authorizing the application of all taxes
of the company for, say thirty years, to
| the payment of interest in the cOmpany's
| bonds. The company could not afford to
| carry" the lands unless this exemption be
| granted and the employment of the lands
| as basis OF credit would be impossible if
| the creditors were to find themselves on
| foreclosure of their mortgage face to face
| with the payment of large annuity of
| taxation on an estate not readily CONVEX
tible The company look for legislation
| releasing them from this difficulty.
Even the $4,000 mile granted to the
New Orleans and Northeastern, in the act
of 1871, will leave very large margi Of
difficulty in filling out the poverty of the
route. As the law stands, the company,
compelled to await legislation, can not see
its way for the completion of its road within
the limits of time set i'll the act. And, there
fore, does it become an absolute necessity
of the success OF the New Orleans and
Northeastern that the Legislature grant an
extension Of these limits by, at all events,
two years. The president and board of di-
rectors seek this legislation.
The benefit of the New Orleans and
Northeastern railway to the State of Mis-
sissippi l need not urge upon your attention.
In opening up section of the State now al
most desert, it will bring in a population
which will convert the pine and pastures of
that section into large additions to the pub
lie wealth. But l NAV take leave to invite
your consideration to the fact that this
road is not only creator Of new wealth,
but also a very positive expediency for ex-
citing wealth. And point this out in order
to show the very great breadth Of interest
which the subject presents in the Legisla-
tUre.
Hancock, Marion, Perry. Covington.
Jones, Wayne. Jasper Clarke, Lauderdale.
are all interested in the New Orleans and
Northeastern railway, in its capacity of
creator. But all the counties north of
Clarke on the eastern border are interested
in it to the very great extent of an asser-
ton of their commercial freedom from the
exactions incident to their enjoyment of
but one market. From COrinth to Quit
man the planting interests Of the country,
and the mercantile interests OF the towns
Will receive from the construction of the
New Orleans and Northeastern railway
the immense advantages of "a choice of
routes and a choice of markets. At the
mercy of these interests and tie way
charges>Of the Mobile and Ohio, the con
struction of the New Orleans and North
eastern will temper that mercy in the only
way Of reaching it-by competition. In
their hands, as their interests now are. OF
the scanty capital and less liberal spirit of
a small seaport. they VIII be placed by the
construction of the New Orleans and
Northeastern railway in the hands of the
ample capital and more liberal spirit of the
great seaport of the South.
The counties to be traversed by the pro
posed road are ALL OF course, interested in
1t deeply. But they are not a whit more
positively concerned in its construction
than the counties which use the Mobile and
Ono road north OF Wayne. AND thus may
it be hoped that the representatives of the
agricultural and the trading interests of
the tier of counties on each side of the Mo-
bile and Ohio will stand in the Legislature
a solid support of the representatives of
the counties more directly concerned, in
the request that the New Orleans and
Northeastern receive the favors absolutely
essential to its construction.
Praying You to urge these views upon
your friends. AIN, dear sir, very sincerely
yours, MiSSISSIPPIAN.
FOrHey's Resignati0n.
The suhjoined letter was handed to the