Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-11-23
Old FogHIam.

Vicksburg is almost surrounded by
little river, only eighty yards vide,
but she has not q single bridge across
II. Even the roads 10 this river are
nearly impossible. What trade she
gets from across Big Black comes here
because it can get nowhere else just
so soon as the Natchez people extend
their railroad little farther, this trade
will bc lost forever. At this time II
costs as much for the planter 10 bring
bale Of cotton to this market from
beyond Big Black, as it does 10 trans
port il from here 10 Europe.
We pay hundreds, yes thousands Of
dollars annually, to keep people in Jail,
who could make US at least two good
roads from here to Big Black Ct little
or no expense. There is more money
spent in Vicksburg for whisky 10 one
week ,han il would cost 10 put q good
bridge across Big Black river at Bald
wins ferry. We have never had rail-
road projected that would have done
the city more good than three good dirt
roads TO Big Black would do
We have squsndered thousands oI
dollars on the Vicksburg, Ship Is.
land and Pensacola Railroad, aud
the Vicksburg and Memphis Railroad,
but ifothers have reaped the benefit
the city has not. The money is gone
we hsve no railroads, and our citizens
are so disheartened that they do not
even take measures 10 have good dirt
roads. Twenty thousand dollars would
build Two good bridges across Big
Black, and we verify believe the addi
tional trade received in one year would
pay this amount. Yet nothing is done
Our citizens seem TO be suffering from
q chronic attack Of old fogyism.
II Is the Fall OF tie year Our citi
zens are aware Of this fact because tht
whisky tastes better, and the old fogier
grow! a little louder But the thing
that come 10 other places come rot (
us. We have no fairs, no race track
no anything, except an over-crop o
old fogies. If you ask one of then
why not have fair, he will tell yol
'ihe people here can't be induced TO &C
in concert to do anything" Then h,
belches, gulphs down his free luncl
and takes another drink. The city
running to seed; we have reduce,
picayunishuess TO science Their
hasn't been a fine horse here for ;hirt
years, and there is little OF no fin
stock Of any kind in the county. som
few OF our planters, be it said 10 .hci
credit, are making some efforts 20 rails
stock and 70 farm their lands o.
sound principles; but the msjori
ty Of them are utterly careles
as 10 efforts TO improve their lands, 0
to increase their live stock. We hav
recently seen 1t announced ,ha. Clsi
borne county is organizing q Fair AS
sociation. Yszlo county has yer
successful one, but Vicksburg seems I
care for nothing. The old fogies ar
sitting down on her, Ii we had sue
cesaful Fair Association, we would a
so have good race track. If we ba
the latter and would offer good purse
we could every Fall have the city file
with people who would come her
from every direction TO attend ,h
races. There is no disputing the fIt
that this would be very beneficial I
ViOksburg in a hundred different way
We merely throw out these suggel
tions because the people ought TO kno'
what is iDjuring the city and count,
but we beg to inform the old fogit
that we don't think any of them wi
be adopted until many Of the oil
GROWERS have had successful funeral
4