Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-01-18

DrIvIag the FIrst spike In th
GreenVIIIe and DITmInghRm
Railway.
On Saturday afternoon, The 9th ult,
in response TO an invitation by the Off
cers Of the road, large assemblage OF
the citizens Of the town, both ladies
and gentlemen, met at the railrOsd
track TO witness the driving OF the fret
spike In the Greenville, Columbus and
Birming CHAM Railroad, and at the hour
Of o'clock were called to order By the
President of the Railroad Company,
W. g. Phelps, Esq, who, upon opening
the ceremonies and there being but lit
lie time 10 devote to remarks, briefly
addressed the company present express
Ing his deep qualification in witnessing
the commencement Of the work after
more than six years Of earnest effort by
himself and other friends of the road,
during which time il had passed
through 80 many vi2issitudes OF for.
tune aud consequent alienation Of
hope and dispair in the minds of
ito friends; and after commenting
upon the significance of the
oc3asioa as marking new era in the
history OF the town and county, and
adverling 10 the proposed extension of
the line 10 the Sunfower river on the
east and Rolling Fork on the south,
aud the necessity for combined effort
and support by the people at large 10
procure subsidy from the county for
that purpose, ventured the prediction
that this little town which on this oc.
casiOn has put on her long dress, will,
when these termini are reached, make
her " debut" among the cities Of Mis-
sis,ippi, with population greater than
either Of the others. MIR. Huntington,
/ the President OF the Construction Com
pany, was then called upon, and in re.
sponse said: al this road is TO end at
StoneVile, on Deer Greek, then we are
met here On very trivial occasion, but
If 1t is 20 be extended across this
county eastward to Sunhower county,
and southward down Deer Greek 10
ShaIkey county, then we have met
here on an occasion that will prove
10 be the greatest event in the history
of the city Of Greenville, for il we can
reach the county lines OF either Shar-
key or Suuhower, those counties stand
ready to give the road large aid to car
ry 1t forward. II is impossible for the
road to 60 farther than Sloneville with
out additional aid The city of Green
vile has given all she can 10 iron and
equip the road-bed TO that point. BY
this road, II fextended down Deer Greek,
the plauter will save thousands Of dol
lars in the annual loss Of stock and
wagons wrecked on the Fish Lake
road, and will derive large profits from
products now yielding but little; for
example, in cotton seed alone 4 planter
would realize SO per ton where be
now obtains but 20, making difference
In 2j0 tons OF 81 900 to him. Even if
Greenville could make a yearly pres
ent OF this magnitude to each planter
along The line OF the road, is II
right that she should? Cannot, will
not the people of Greenvile urge
upon the people Of the county the i'm
portauce to themselves to vote county
bonds in aid Of the road ? / Is the only
way II can be extended. Friends and
fellow-ciiizens, It rests with you wheth-
or the road shall end at Deer Greek or
be extended"
The hour had grown lA'e aud bu,
little time was left for remarks, when
the President announced that the Rail-
road Company had selected one Of The
very oldest citizens OF the county, from
whose wisdom aud foresight the town
derived ils very origin, aud whose en-
terDrise had contributed as much az
any other person TO its growth aud
prosperity, Mrs. II. B. Theobald, as the
iitcst person TO drive the first spike.
Being handed ha'chet for the pur-
pose, Mrs Theobald arose in her car
riage, and smidst solemn Stiffness,
with voice somewhat tremu,ou, with
age, gave u,,erauce in he
most impressive manner % the
following words, which sank into
the hearts Of hearers like parents
parting blessing to her children:
Ladies and genIlemen-l hank Won
for the honor OF driving the irst nail in
this road. ! witnessed The cutting OF
the iirss cane on this place, and have
seen the town rise and fall. now
sgain see it prosperous town and
happy. This day is the dawn OF new
era in i!s prosperity. Like the rare
bird, II 10 about TO rise from its ashes
into new life; may God bless The enter
prise, and make II q grand success"
Mrs. Theobald was then assisted from
her carriage and formally drove the
fret spike in the lrst railroad in the
Yszoo delta.
Tho whole matter was impromptu, az
The sub'contraclors gave bat an hours
notice Of their intention 10 commence
their work, but the affair nevertheless
passed of pleasantly to all.