The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-02-29
From the Louisville Banner.l
Pearl River Valley Railroad.

We were gratified to see in THE CLARION
of the End inst, letter from Raymond
Reid, Esq, of Carthage, prominet lawyer
and citizen of Leake county, advocating
the construction of a railroad from Jackson,
Miss, TO Columbus, along the Valley of
Pearl river.
This is the first proposition publicly made
through the medium of the press, to con-
struct this road, although the project has
been publicly discussed in this county. and
has met with the hearty approval of our
whole people. There is no route in the
whole State that is so inviting to public en-
terprise as the one proposed. The distance
from Artesia (already connected with Co
lumbus by a fine Branch ROad.) to Jackson
by the old Robinson Road, is 1872 miles, but
this distance will be greatly reduced by
taking the line of Pearl Valley instead OF
the route of the Robinson Road. AS Mr..
Reid justly remarks, an airline from Arte-
STA to Jackson. will run along the entire
Valley of the Pearl until it apprC aches with
in few miles of Louisville, and from
thence to Artesia the engineers will find an
easy grade by taking advantage of the
head waters of the Pearl, which has it's
source in the county of Winston.
Nature, with her own hand, has laid out
railroad track in the Valley of the Pearl.
From jackson to the mouth of Tallehaga
creek in this county, there would be little
work necessary to be done, except bridging
the small streams. as the second bottom of
work unnecessary.
The route would pierce a new and virgin
country, with a primeval forest almost I'M
touched by the wOOdman's axe, Astounding
in the finest timber in the State, and 4 rich
and luxuriant soil. 1t would traverse a
country unexhausted by cultivation, with
scarcely deserted farm on the whole route.
The bluffs along the margin of the Valley,
abound in fine quarries of rock suitable for
the erection of tunnels, culverts, and for the
groundwork of Depot and Station build
ings. The country through which the road
will pass, is Inhabited by hardy. sober and
industrious population, who will aid in its
construction by all the means in their
power, either by subscription or taxation;
This new scheme ELECTS the warm apprO-
baton of our people, who will respond
promptly and warmly to every effort made
for the accomplishment of the success of
the enterprise.
Ii the friends of the scheme will meet us
in a mass meeting either at Columbus or ut
any other point, we pledge them our word
that Winston county will do her whole
duty.
If this road il ever constructed. it will
be the great trunk from the Mississippi
river to the Northern States. 1t can be
continued from Columbus to the Tennessee
line for a million of dollars less than by
| thu Aberdeen route, as il will have the adj
vantage of the LuXapalilla Valley to pierce
| the Alabama Mountains. 1t will connect
| with the Branch road at Artesia. now in
| fine running order, fourteen miles in length
crossing the Tomb gbee on fine railroad
bridge. 1t will pierce the coal and iron re-
| gion of Alabama, and open up to Mississippi
and Louisiana mines of untold, ineXhausta-
| BILE wealth. 1t will afford the means OF
/ transportation to a large portion of the
State, hitherto deprived of all railroad ia
cilities, and develop new resources of trade
| and agriculture.