American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-03-08
SATURDAY, MARCH 8. 1873

Mr.. EDITOR 1t would seem to
be superfluOus task for any one to
endeavOr to impress upon welliI-
formed minds the Importance Of
railroads to a country, especial,
such an one as ours. Yet, knwevpI
clear a conception some individuals
have of duty, or the importan nee of
action, they require an incentive.
and in matters of public moment we
have no more effective medium than
the press. the grand motive power
Of nations. 1t in from an earnest
desire for the veal Of our common
country, that we are induced to call
attention to an enterprise being be
gun in our midst. if, perchance, we,
by our mite, may contribute to the
success Of the undertaking. We
sllude to the Canton and Yaz,r'
City Railroad, for which our worthy
tOwnsman, Mr.. V. Werner. has "a
charter; and right here permit us
to say that tie mere fact of
Mr.. Werner's name being connected
with the scheme is an augury OF
success. The advantage accruing
to Canton, aud the country through
which it will pass, are too manifold
to be recited i'm a short newspaper
article; we will. however, endeavor
to point out some of them. In the
first place, it will bring to the city
OF Canton a greatly enhanced trade,
which is now diverted to other
points, besides a vast increase from
the tide of immigration that will
inevitably follow. 1t would bring
operatives here to spend money
1t wonld increase the value of city
properiy-it would be the nucleus
for grand extension from Mobile
to Helena. Who ever knew of a
town where many railroads con-
verged that did not grow7 1t would
be one Of the means i'm the no dis
tant future which is 10 make Can
ton one of the greatest, as well as
the lOvIiest, Of inland towns. As
accessibility renders a place desira-
ble, 1t would naturally attract popu-
lation.- Where property has a per-
manent value capital is directed.
Was a bale Of cotton ever sold in
Canton prior to the building of the
New Orleans roadi How will it
affect the country through which
it passes? The Phoenix will rise
from its ashes-knds will be in
creased in value, immigration will
come and country towns will spring
up. There is no surerlawof sequences
than that immigration and pros
perity follow in the wake Of rail
roads. We regard the projected
routes of railroads through our
country as the surest and spee.llest
means of resuscitating our inpecu-
nious condition. This route, espec-
tally, opens up communication d.
rect with one of the richest domains.
on the American continent. In
viewing the practical bearing of
the question of railroads, the query
arises, should they be built by in
dividuala, corporations, OF by tax
alton and subscription Many per-
sons hold that they should be built
only by private capital. This is all
very we'll. provided it can be done
but is it not the experience of other
Localities, az we'll as our own, that so
long as such views are entertained
We do not have any roads? Is it
not the part of wisdom that the
people should render every possible
aid in the matter2 We think that
1T is due to Mr.. Werner that Canton
10 selected as the terminus of the
road, and it certainly should be the
duty of Canton and vicinity to be
no laggards when the golden fruit
is ripe, aud ready to fall upon
them.
PROGRESS.