The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-05-15

From the New York Times.


There has been in progress for some time
an important struggle for the possession or
control of certain railroads IN the South.
The parties TO the contest are, on the one
side, Gen. VIM. Malone. President of the
Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad, ex-
tending from Norfolk TO Bristol, 404 miles,
all in the State OF Virginia, and on the
other a corporation known as the Southern
Security Company, in which it IS said the
Pennsylvania Central holds a controlling
influence. This contest commenced years
ago in the State of Virginia, and, while be-
ing steadily maintained there. it has also
extended over the rest of the Southern
States. Its latest scene has been enacted in
the Courts of North Carolina. Upon the
soil of Virginia Gen. Malone has almost
invariably gained the advantages; but fur
Their South he has not been successful.
The Security Company have succeeded in
buying and leasing the lines with which he
connects from Bristol southwark; but
while thus placing him in an awkward po-
sition they are in almost an equal starr ght
themselves. They control the railroad from
Memphis to Bristol, but they have no out
let northward except over Gen. Mahone's
road. In these facts is the key to the de
sire of the Security Company for free
railroad law in Virginia, aud to their desire
to possess the Western North Carolina Rail-
road. That road, almost without debt, and
with 10 miles finished, could easily be
made basis for building the other sixty
miles. which would give them line con-
Meeting near Knoxville with their Tonnes
see road. Thus they would have lines of
railroad in their interest or under their
control. from York River and Richmond to
Memphis and Little Rock, and down into
the heart of Georgia, Alabama, and Missis-
| sippi On the other hand, falling in this
scheme, the free railroad law would enable
them to build a road connecting the lines
| they now own in Virginia with their pres
ent terminus at Bristol.
| It may be thought by some that this
somewhat resembles q tempest in tea pot.
but a careful review of the field viii show
| the far-sightedness of the Pennsylvania
| Central. 1t has been demonstrated, and
| perhaps credit is due to Gen. Malone for
| the discovery. that cotton can be carried by
rail in continuous trains. without breakin 9
| bulk, from Memphis, Jackson, Miss. Mont
| gomerv. Ala. or other equidistant points, TO
New York, via Norfolk, for 81 per hundred
pounds at profit; and such is the desire TO
/ realize rapidly on the crop, that during the
Fall and Winter the freight capacity of the
| roads and steamers is taxed to its utmost
/ Thus a business which comm with the
carving of u few thousand bales ran M
| last year to over 125.000. A bale of COM
pressed cotton takes up but little more
room than two three bushel sacks of wheat
| and Is more easily handled. The first pays
S. for a bale of 500 pounds for travelling
| Loo miles, the latter % 40 for going 1000
The Southern Security Company now hold
one continuous line nearly completed. tc
Atlanta, but there they are stopped, and
Atlanta is not q cotton region. They desire
q further extension. and they see that bus
mess which has become thus great in a few
| years may be made TO largely increase In
| the future.