Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-17

WHAT NEW ORLEANS PAPER rHIsKa or


WHAT A NEW ORLEANS PAPER THIHKa OF
HIN.
The New Orleans Herald In an article on
the railroads of that section OF the country,
says: Next came the Jackson or Great
Northern Railroad. In this, too. the state
had very large Interests, represented by
bonds. upon which both governments have
been and are now paying heavy interest.
This road continued Tor several years after
the war IN weak and languiHhing condi-
tion. This was not due to the ineompetency
or inetiicieney OF the Directory, but to the
general poverty Of the people and the lack
by and by there came 10 our city one OF
those great railroad men Of the Month who
WAS master Of the whole comprehensive
science Of railroad management on large
scale. This was Henry 5. McComb, n, re-
mArkAble man indeed we may say one Of
the leading men OF our age and country. A
tanner by trade, born Ia the town Of Will
mington, Delaware he had managed BY his
wonderful energy, sagaeiiy, power Of will
and fertility Of resources 10 advance him
self to the position of great capitalist, a
most successful administrator aud manager
Of large public works, and a formidable
champion m every contest IN which he
might engage. MeComb had acquired
prepOnderAnt interest In the Mississippi
Central. lie was drawn inseusibly into II
by loans and advances 10 that very dilapi-
dated concern. II was on his handa. What
! could he do with IT. II began no where
and ended no where To make IL available
IL WAS ueedful he should own the Jackson
Road, which connected the Mississippi Cen
/ trial with New Orleans.
But the largest owners of stock 10 the
| Jackson Railroad were the State of Louis
| isnR and the city Of New Orleans, and Me
Comb found II necessary to buy these stocks
There WAS violent opposition TO this sale
| The dog-iu-the- manger policy was quite
/ fierce and dehant. Somebody will come
| along after while and make this road
| profitable, and thereby save our stOcksW
| But McComb was not that man. sell me
| the stock" he said, "snd l will make this
a great road-what Il ought TO be.n II was
! evidently wise conclusion, though heroely
| inveighed against at the time, which ae-
eepted this proposition: The city and State
sold their stock TO MeUomb for mere song,
but for more than II would have been worth
| II the city had held on 70 II. And MeCOmb
has fulhlled all his pledges He has ex.
1 pended many millions on the road and ita
equipment,in extensions, and in application
/ Of every new improvement which modern
railroad science has suggested. Where the
money came from IL no concern Of ours.
II certainly was not taken from the pockets
Of our people. The road, in It's present
any perton who passed over ~ four years
| ago. All that fearful cribwork through the
swsmpa and over the trembling prAirien
which once 40 greatly disturbed The nerves
OF travelerh, has been converted into solid
earthwork. several feet above overhoWl
from erevasaea. and 10 now 40 good and solid
a road 40 any on this continent.
All along the road there are like improve
ments, ensuring safety and permAheney,
whilst the number Of locomotives and ears
has been quadrupled. We can not In the
compass OF this article note even the more
prem uent Of the changes and improve.
I meutn that hAVe been made on this road
I since n fell under the management OF MI
! McComb, Enormous ~ they hsYe been,
they all sink into insigniheaBoe BY the side
ofthe great design which this gentleman 10
now engaged In prosecuting with certainty
! Of success. ~ ls Ia the extension OF this
with = view 70 connection With the Central
I Illinois,
MdUomb IL a man who never fails 10 any
Undertaking, and to his reHolute snd enef.
getie nature the cOnsum nation Of this 20
| vastly important connection for this city
I Will he one OF the easiest and most practlea.
BILE he ever attempted. II lacks only few
/ months Of realization,