Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1877-12-21
LethargIe HIekabnrg.

ing laid, an engine is running on a Dor.
ton Of tho track, and much more Of the
road-bed is ready for the iron. At 6
meeting held in Greenvllle the sum Of
fifty thousand dollars was voted to this
road With but one dissenting voice.
After the road shall have been com.
pleted to Deer Greek, all acquainted
with the topography Of that level coun.
try, know 1t lie but a small matter to
extend 1t down the Creek as far az the
Company choose. It is only a matter
ofa little ditch on each side of the
road'bed and the cross.ties, and the
track Is ready for the iron. The Com.
pany propose to extend this road to
Rolling Fork, aud for all we know 10
The contrary, to a point near the mouth
Of Deer Creek on the Yazoo river. But
suppose that they shall stop It at Roll.
ing Fork. The southern terminus will
then be so near this city that q cannon
fired at the depot could be heard
here. This road will rob V~icksburg of
her very richest trade.
The Natchez, Jackson, and Column
bus Railroad, iS slowly, but surely
being constructed through the section
Of country just east Of the Big Black
river. II now extends about six miles
this side Of Fayette, aud in q few
monthO 1t will be completed 10 the rich
Bayou Pierre country. When both
these roads are completed, Vicksburg
will feel tho effects 60 terribly that che
will wonder that she stood all the day
idle, while others reached out their
hands and grasped trade that ought to
come 10 her.
The Vicksburg aud Memphis road ls
possessed Of valuable franchises. The
citizens of Sharkey aud Washington
counties will gladly cooperate with
Vicksburg to connect themselves with
Us by a railroad, but we are doing
nothing. II 10 no exaggeratIou to say
that If Vicksburg had q narrow
gauge road tapping the Big Black
and Bayou Pierre country. and
one tapping the Deer Greek country,
that every foot Of real estate In this
city would double in value. Such Q
road tapping Deer Greek would bring
US just double the cotton, yep, four
times as much cotton as we now get
from that section. That means four
times as much trade. Such a road
crossing Big Black and ending in the
valley OF the Bayou Pierre, would
bring US equally as much trade.
We are discussing this question only
as it bears directly on the interest OF
the citizens Of those sections, aud on the
interest of Vicksburg. We do not up.
peal to the spirit Of progress and all
that we appeal to the interest OF those
who will be benefited.
Is 1t practicable to build these
We cay 1t Is. But, say
the growlers and do.nothings, we
have voted large sums to these roads
aud have not received one dol.
lars worth of benefit. This is so,
but it does not shake our confidence
in our ability to secure both these lines
of road If we 90 at It with q will. We
want for Vicksburg tap roads, We
don't care 10 have long, costly roads
that will build up other points. Such
as will fully asnwCr our purpose
can be constructed for five thousand
dollars a mile, A narrow gauge road
was built In Virginia recently that only
cost 1888 a mile, and it Is now pay
Ing a yearly dividend Of Is per cent.
The Natchez road is being built for
a mile. The little road between
Grand Gulf aud Port Gibson pays an
immense annual dividend. The mar.
row gauges spoken of above would
also pay well. Now, can these roads
be built without Vicksburg TAX
ing any risk If the attempt 10
build Ia made and fails? We are
informed by men we believe able to
build them, that they can. In other
words, we understand parties are ready
TO build these roads, If Vicksburg and
the counties interested will guarantee
to do certain things after the roads
shall have been completed. This
should satisfy our most cautious cili-
zeu.. If Vicksburg will guarantee TO
give $4,000 on the completion OF the
road TO Rolling Fork, and Sharkey
county will agree to do the same, the
Deer Greek road can be built within q
year, aEd II can be extended farther in.
to the interior on the same terms. If