New Orleans Republican., 1873-03-25
Great Southern Railway.
From the st. Louis Republican.

The difficulties experienced by merchants
IN obtaining transportation for freights
destined for the South, during the continu-
ance of the ice blockade last winter, furnish
sufficient evidence to demonstrate the ne
cessity of increasing facilities for carriage
OF goods in that direction. With the ne
cesslty for the construction of another great
tcunk line of railway to the South concedeu'
the only points to be considered are: " mere
shall the road be located what VIII u
cost! With what system OK road sHoq4u IL
form a connecticut The freight bIOchddt
last winter revealed the deficiency Ia car
rying facilities, and provoked dlscu7S-oh.
1t was generally agreed that any ne" foau
to the South should be located on the "eSS
bank Of the Mississippi. and that IL sAou!u
extend at least, as fax south as HlchMan'
Kenrucky. The first consideration in favor
of this location is the Importance Of sa'lng
distance between given points. 1t is thought
that by this route fifteen or twenty per cent
in the mileage OF transportation between
st. Louis and Belmont or Hickman Will be
saved.
It will be seen by statement Of Mr..
Marsh KassOn, published IN another col
umn of this issue. that the proposed Great
Southern railway will form the most direct
route to a point below all obstruction to
river navigation, and will constitute an
important part of an almost airline route
to Memphis. New Orleans and Mobile, and
that tho estimated saving in distance to
Belmont and Hickman is more than twenty
per cent. Il is proposed that this road,
starting from the Union depot in this city,
shall run westward until the open country
back of the city is gained, then turning
south. the line Of the road will be about
three miles from the river until it reaches
a point where the Iron Mountain road
Il hn
will run along the course Of the river to
st. Marys, by way Of the ancient village OF
st. Genevieve. thence, as near as may be,
on an airline, to the city of Cape Girar-
deau. From the last named place the road
will run in direct line through the Coun-
ties of Cape Girardeau, Scott and Mi5sis-
sippi, to Belmont. with a branch to point
opposite Hickman, Kentucky.
The estimated distance between st. Louis
and Belmont, by the proposed road, is 100
miles, which is thirty six miles less than by
the Iron Mountain road. To Hickman. the
point of its farthest extension. the distance
is only l75 miles.
A valuable consideration to be taken
into account. in davising plans for the
prosecution Of this important undertaking,
is the character of the country which is to
be opened to development by this route.
After leaving st. Louis county the line OF
this road Will pass through nine counties.
which had an aggregate population in 1870 Of
81, 208 inhabitants. The taxable wealth OF
these counties at that time was $l6,834,S66
Such resources already existing, with a
large prospective increase, are not to be
cOntemned. At St. Marys connection would
be established with the Iron Mountain and
st. Marys railway: at Cape Girarde~u.
with tho Illinois, Missouri and Texas; at
Columbus, Kentucky, with the Mobile and
Ohio, and at Hickman with the Nash
vile and Northwestern railroad.
This enterprise, for the reasons assigned.
commands itself to the favorable consldera-
ton of the business men and capitalists of
st. Louis