Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-03
RUTLAND VT, THURSDAY MORNING. APRIL g. 1873.

railroad had been completed within the
limits of the entire State. The Arkansas
Central railway company had charter
to build, equip, and operate road from
Helena, on the Mississippi river, to Lit
tie Rock. the capital of the State, with
the branch to Pine Bluff, distance (in-
cluding the branch) of one hundred and
fifty miles, but no money or anything
else available to build, equip, or operate
with. Nothing whatever of practical
nature had been done, save partial pre-
liminary survey.
The political situation was anything
but encouraging-strife, turmoil, and
confusion-the people on the very verge
of civil war. The financial condition
was, if possible, even worse. The State
was without credit her funded bond
debt had "call' only at the stock
boards of the country, but no ''takers. T"
Not dollar could be realized, either by
sale or hypothecation. The State Board
of railroad commissioners had awarded
$4,000 per mile in bonds of the State
for the entire line of the Central, but as
the company had to make provision for
the interest, if it accepted and negotiated
them, this "award" at that time, as a
matter of fact, was equivalent to just
nothing at all. 1t was with these sur
roundings that Colonel Dorsey took hold
to bring ''order out of chaos" and
achieve success where disaster seemed
almost certain. His own resources were
promptly brought into action. He con-
tributed largely out of his private means,
and induced number of his financial
friends to follow his example.
He visited the moneyed centers of
this country and Europe, and by his
active, persevering energy and indomi-
table will the bonds of Arkansas have
now very positive value.
That his management of the Central"
has proved most complete and triumph
ant success, let the sixty miles already
completed, fully equipped, in fine order,
and doing profitable business, fully and
amply attest.
The other portion of the line is under
way, and will be completed within the
present year In the politics of Arkan-
sas, Colonel Dorsey has taken an active
and prominent part, and was always
against that class of ''carpet-baggers"
who had everything to make-nothing
to lose In the Republican State Con-
vention of 1872 he was a ruling spirit,
and accomplished more, perhaps, than
any other individual to secure the nomi-
nation of the present Governor, (BaX-
ter He insisted in that convention on
the nomination of men of integrity and
brains, as against incompetency and
brass, and his ''new departure" ideas
prevailed. 1t was On that issue the can
vass was made and the victory won.
Colonel Dorsey was q member of the
State Central Committee, and aided very
materially" to the success of the party.
He declined a unanimous nomination
for congress rendered him by the Re
publicans OF the 1st district.
His election to the Senate of the Unit
ed States is a complete triumph of his
''new departure" ideas, and the natural
outgrowth of the crop sown in the can
vass of 1872. He received the vote of
every Republican, and two-thirds of the
Democratic vote He took his seat
March 4, 1873, and his term will expire
March 4, 1879.