Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-05-24
Can vIclEsbuFg Afford 10 LeG
This Opportunity Pass?

Vicksburg after the cutoff was made,
confidence in the future Of the city re-
ceIved q very severe shock. Rents in
the northern part Of the city declined,
and no new buildings were erected. No
change in this respect 10 noticeable yet.
While It is thought probable that the
southern part OF the city will be able
10 take care of ITSELF the future Of the
northern portion is anything but bright.
II is true that our energetic Represen-
tAtive has succeeded in getting a small
appropriation from Congress 10 pre-
serve our harbor it is true that we have
q right to look for aid in this direction
In the future but it is not true tha! this
aid will certainly do for Vicksburg all
that is required. She must do some
thing for herself. Cities are not made
by non.residents. Whether cities grow
and prosper and their inhabitants be-
come rich aud powerful depends very
much upon their own efforts.
Chicsgo is very little older than
Vicksburg, but If the whole of
Vlcksburg was sold out the proceeds
would hardly purchase one fftieth por-
tion Of Chicago. This is not owing
wholly to the fact that the inhabitants
of Chicago are more energetic aud
pushing than our own, but II 10 GER.
tainly attributable in part to that
fact. Chicago has railroads running
in every direction, and she has always
favored railway enterprises. Vicks-
burg has one railroad only, and she is
now presented the opportunity to Sc
cure another one, perhaps two more,
that will be operated solely in her In
terest, Can she afford 10 let this OPP
portunity pass? A thousand times, no
Ii the Deer Greek road is built II
will completely restore confidence In
the northern part Of the city. The
President Of the Company, in speaking
on this subject, used the following lam
gusge: "This road will take It's chances
with Vicksburg. l will put the depot
in the northern part Of the city, and
do not intend 10 ask the right Of way
through the city, for the whole
weight OF this enterprise shall
90 TO anchor the city. l an
not uneasy about shipping any
thing that II will be necessary for mi
to ship, and l am satisfied that al
freight to go over my road will find III
road 10 the depot in the northern par
of the city, just as cheaply as if the de-
pot should be put in the southern par
of the city" This is the right sort o
talk. The railroad will bene6: tn,
whole Of the city, for the southern par
Of the city will prosper just as muol
as the northern part, when confidence
in the future is fully re'estab'ished
Nothing will 60 farther towards full.
re.establlshing confidence and revivinl
trade in Vicksburg than the building
of the Deer Greek railroad. From th
very moment its construction begins
the good effect will be felt. II vii
give labor 10 hundreds in the city nov
out of employment. The Compan
propose, II the proposition is accepte,
by the city and Sharkey county, t
build the road as rapidly as ii can b
done, 90 as 10 be able 10 take o.
as much of the growing crop as posi-
bic. They propose to put GU
three contracts at once; One from her
TO a point half way 10 the Yaz)o, on
from the Yszoo back half way TO Vlck'
burg, and one from the Yazoo to lh
lower Hill plantation. This will Civ
every idle man in the city chance I
work.
After the road ia completed 1t wi
still give employment 10 quite a mum
Der here and In Sharkey count!
There will have 10 be conductors, sta
ton agents, engineers, brakesmeu, set
ton bands, etc, etc.
The only objection we have eve
heard urged to this road is, that it wi
add to the burthens OF the city. "
ask all just men, is this so3 Can an II
( vestment that will pay for itself te
times over in one year add 10 Il
burthens of the city? Does not Il
resolution adopted by the Rolling For
( meeting, to the effect that the road wi
e lessen rather than increase the burthel
: of Sharkey county, apply with equ
/, force to Vicksburg? 1t certainly doe
/ Let US suppose that the penny.wis
a pound.ioolish and dog in the mang
], classes combine and vote the propo;
n ton down, and thus defeat this gre
:. enternrise, What theng Have the