The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-04-11
Atlantic and Great West
ern Canal.
Proclamation by the Cow
erAOr.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Arr ANITA GA Anril z. 1874.

ExECuTIvE DEPARTMENT,
ATLANTA, GA, April7 1873.
To THE PEorLE OF GEORGIA;
The question Of cheap transportation claims
the attention of the country. The agricultural
West, owing To inadequate means tor moving
her immense stores of provisions, and the heavy
charges .xacted for freight thereon, finds her.
self. in a great measure, without "a market for
her surplus products. These remain worthless
and wasting on her hands because when ship
, ned 10 thu East or Sou,h, much the largest Dor
lion Of the value paid by the consumer IL expen-
died OF their transportation.
From the same cause, in the Eastern and
Northern States. the high price demanded tor
food increases the cost OF labor and, consequent
W.. the cost OF production This forces the man
ufacturing interests Of that section. to demand
of Congress Legislative protection To enable it 10
compete successfully with foreign products in
our home market
Nor is its effect upon the Southern States less
,lsplnrabe Our great interest--that OF cotton
suffers Internationally with the rest, and from
the same cause Furnishing. as the South does,
the only reliable article Of expert she finds her
wealth annually diminishing.
The reason for this state of things is very
well known. aud il has for years past, claimed
the earnest attention Of the thinking men OF
the country lnab attcLltluu HAS OcCotAiS
lied az the necessity increases, and the pressure
| becomes more seriously felt by the masses. Al
the present time, the increased menus of trans
portat0n ia fast becoming the one all absorbing
question of the country, and the one that will
he m0st earnestly pressed upon tn. attention Of
Congress Indeed, so great is the necessity
fell by those sections of West remote from tn.
! spaboar that |; has been grayely proposed that
ongress shall take control OF the entire rail-
road system Of the country, andAendeavnr by
| legislative fiat TO regulate this matter. Wheth-
er this would result in good or increase Of the
| rvil-wheiher Congressional management
would lessen the cost OF operating these roads,
Al Ms to meet public exp"ctation-are grave
questions which will not discuss here. l only
refer To them TO show that great, real necess-
~ underlies this movements necessity 40
pressing that it does not scruple to resort TO
means 30 extraordinary.
That water affords the cheapest means Of
| transportation il well known and acknow.-
edged The difficulty has been to find f.asi-
, BILE line for canal across the mountain raage
which divides the waters of the Mississippi
Valley aud the Atlantic. This long souqht-tor
route has heen found, AS recent surveys fully
| demonstrate, in the proposed Atlantic and Great
Western Canal. aud !. passes through the State
If Georgia This work will furnish the cheap
| Transportation 40 much needed by the whole
| country omen a home market for our va
| ried products more attractive than that which
The West now finds abroad, and in my judg-
menf will cure the trouble complained OF with
out r.surtiug to the extraordinary expstient
above referred TO-
Uniting, az it will do two great systems Of
navigation its Importance TO the whols country
lis 20 evident that it requires no hiscus SION
That it will greatly increase the production OF
cotton is firmly believed; that il viii furnish
home market Of vast value To the food produc
ing section, requires no demonstration; and
that it will give u.s. 1T the South, what we most
n-ed-direet trade with foreign landa--immi-
q. alton to fill and build ny our waste places.
and all increase Of capital for the development
of our mineral resources. is susceptible OF the
clear.st proof. The route has been surveyed
and found emnenty f.asible. The verdict Of
| the country oronouiices il a work OF national
| importance and necessity, and what now re-
mains to be done is to devise the best and surest
means f,r it's speedy accomplishment.
| To this end, az the Executive Ut Georgia,
deem it my duty to take the initiative have
| invited the Governors and other prominent ciii.
| zens Of many of the States, to meet in Atlanta
en- the 10Th OF May next, that we may consult
upon this important matter. ! need your aid and
csntsei. also: and therefore cordially invite
the Mayor Ut each city III the State tn be pres
EN- and each incorporated town 10 send sucl
Delegates rs may bert represent its interests. tt
advise and counsel with us on that OCCASION.
| JAMES NJ. SMITH.