The Russellville Democrat., 1876-06-15
The Dardanelle and Russell
 vile Railroad.
lIndependcnt Arkansian.

l our tOWH to RuSScilNl liit, tthu tiS ] great advantages we would ulti. mately gain, by having the rail. road to tan the river at this point establishing competing lines, and making Dardanelle a competing l point to the great benefit of ship pers, we havei gone to considera- ble troubleto investigate the prob ability, of building branch rail- way from 8 point opposite our 1 town to Russellville. We find that it can be done with all ease, and on telms exceedingly favorable. In our Investigations we find, that during the months of October, No vember and December last, that the following amounts of Darda- nelle freight were forwarded and received, on which our merchants paid transfer charges as stated:
 FORWARDED.
 3,esT bales of cotton, at 75 cents, $2,465.
 502 300 lbs wheat at lSc Co 100 9Jo.
 Total on cotton and wheat, $3,t7e. RECEIVED.
 595, ,436 lbs miscel. fr't, 1sc D 100. 1,0u.
 Total for three months, $i,44.
 If thls be the cost of wagon tranfer, with all it's attendant in- conveniences and worry, what would it be for twelve months? The three months enumerated, are very truly the months for the heaviest shipments, but, would not the other nine months double the three, proviced we had no ln- crease and sent off nothing by rail except cotton and wheat? If the nine remaining months will equal six, then we would have for them a cost for transfer amounting to $S, SS2 or a total for 12 months of $l3,323 paid out every year, by our merchants to get their hauling done from the dept to Dardnelle. Thls calculation makes no esti- mate of passenger travel, increas- ed facilities and better mail ar engagements, telegraph connect ions and all the conveniences that follow up a railroad. Our merchants can keep on paying these heavy bills for freights; :; they can still be annoyed year af ter year with lnconvenciences, and ten years be no nearer escape than now. We are opposed to any half way affair; we advocate no tramway or narrow guage. We want road the same width of the Little Rock and Fort Smith road :; we want the same cars that bring our freight up, or carry it of, to run to the rlver's brink, and save handling, as the handling adds to the cost, and increases the risk of damages and loss. We want it so our merchants and shippers can superintendent the loading and shipping right in the car, or out of the car, thata takes or brings it through. You ask: Can we get such road? We tell you that you can-ify you will have it! Will you have it? The cost to build this road, wouli be about as fol lows per mile: Grading $l,000; ties, $500; iron and fastenings, $4, ,000. If our merchants, busi- ness men and property holders will grade and tie the road the L. R. & Ft. $. railway company will iron and complete, and put on rolling stock, and guarantee your freights from the first at one half what you now pay, if not for less, thus you would save on transfer expenses $6,66l.50, and if the road was four miles in length you would be out $7, 200, so that one year, would only be $33S,50 lack $536, 50 of paying you back direct on two articles, sent of, and your freights in return, you still con tinuing to ship both by river and rail as heretofore. But suppose you do not want to pay out any thing and want somebody else to bulld the road and equip it com plete, and. give it to you free of cost, can that be done? Yes !! Who vii. do it? The railroad company will! If you will let them, they will have the locomo- tive whistling at the rivers brink 1 opposite our town, in time to car " off our this years crop, and bring you back your fall goods. Do you want the connection bad enough to accept it as q gift? you ask on what terms they will do this? We tell you, on exceeding, lA favorable terms, terms that will not add q dollar to your expenses the way you are now doing, but after one year, will reduce to half or less. Ii you will give the |. k. & Ft. s. Railroad company q guarantee that you will ship your freights on this road for one year, at the present cost to you, that is, pay them what you now pay to wagons. They will build the road and equip it at once, after one year you would be released from this contract, ship your freights by any line you choose and get us favorable terms as you could, they would reduce one half or more, | ltb1paaalNac pn fatpa N,Atv tA-n