The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-02-20
Ship E.IaRd, Ripley and Kentucky
Railroad.

for many years. But for the war, this
great work, in all probability, would have
been completed long since.
In 1854, the Gulf and Ship Island
Railroad was chartered, and the House
Of Representatives of the Mississippi
Legislature adopted resolution favor
ing direct taxation to raise means 10
build this road. The Senate of the same
year adopted memorial to Congress,
asking for the donation of 5000 900
acres of land, within the State, belonging
to the United States, TO aid the Gulf and
Ship Island Railroad, and their prayer
was granted by Congress.
On the lth of December, 1854, Pow
hatten Robinson submitted his report Of
the survey Of this road to Governor Nc
Rae, who transmitted it to the LegisIa
ture in his message of January 7, 1856,
and in glowing terms commended it and
other railroad enterprise of that period
to the favorable consideration Of the Leg
islaturc We will be excused for quoting
here an extract from Governor McRae's
message referring to railroads :
Il viii not speak Of the incalculable value
OF these roads when complctcd. II all do not
see and feel it. no suggestion of mine co uld
make it manifest. The time has passed
when tie value OF weli-directed railroad
improvements is to be calculated. Axioms
are propositions admitted. SO i the value
Of railroad improvements. The
brilliant prosperity whicl they will give TO
our State. the most s1ngujne has not con-
ceived, and wonder herself viii be aston
ished at the magnificent results"
Several of the railroads so warmly
commended by Governor McRae have
since been completed, and their results
are apparent. though the civil revolu-
ton through which we have passed, the
destruction of one of the chief sources
of our property, and the upheaval of
commerce and society generally, have
prevented the brilliant results so conf
IDENTIFY and truthfully pointed out by him.
These causes prevent anything like a fair
comparison Of the effect on the property
Of the State before and after their com
pletion. II the war had not come, and
brought with it abolition and wholesale
ravage, we might have instituted such
comparison and been startled at its grand
results. As ii is, we must estimate the
value Of these roads from other stand
points besides those of comparison.
And when we glance along their lines
and consider the number and status of the
growing and thriving towns built up
through their agency, and the stimulant
which they have given to the utilization
of our exhaustless timber, the mark cts
which they opened for our semi-tropical
fruits, the creation of manufactures and
other solid interests, it is not eAtravagant
to say that they have directly and indi-
rectly, developed property enough for
the State to draw revenue from sufficient
to pay the whole cost of their construc-
ton and equipment
The route for the Gulf and ShipIsland
Railroad, surveyed by Powhattan Rob
inson, was what Is known as the Pearl
River Valley Route, leading from Jack
son to Mississippi City, and crossing
Pearl river seven miles below jackson,
and then running with the valley of the
Pearl below Columbia in Marion county,
about ninety-seven miles from jackson.
Thence passing up the basin of Pope's
mill creek, falling upon the heal waters
OF Bolo Chitto crossing the main ridge,
and descending the valley of Wolf
river, =" which, says Mr. Robin
son, 9 is SO admirably adapted to
our purpose that it almost seems
to have been designed by nature
as the route for railroad to the Gulf
Coast" His estimate for the cost Of this
line, with its equipments, 1873 miles was,
in round numbers, $4,000, 900, and this
is his conclusion of its value: "Might
we not says he in concluding his rep rt,
reasonably expect that with the advan-
tage offered by port on the Gulf, the
real estate of the city which would ne
cessariIy spring up, would amount in the
course Of not many years to $50, 100000.
This appears to me to be low estimate,
without calculating the immense appre
citation in the value of real estate which
must ensue throughout the entire linn
it's "Ten millions might be well in
vested by the State to secure such re
suit"
At the called session of the Legislature
of 1858, Gov. Melville in his message
to the Legislature referred to the Gulf
and Ship Island Railroad as "The Great
State Work, which already has rever
interest in all the investments
heretofore made by the State in the diff
ferent railroads." Thus showing that
railroad to the Gulf was the paramount
aim, the grand enterprise for the State,
to which all others were subordinated
and subsidiary. Gov. Melville, Gov.
McRae. and the Legislature of 1852 "a
90 ST '5S all united in extending aid to
all the various railroad enterprises of
that period, with the ultimate intention
and declared purpose of turning the
States stock in these roads to the con
struction of the Ship Island Railroad.
From the inception of the railroad fever
in Mississippi, the Ship Island road has
been regarded as the road for the
State. The State aided other roads
but with view of turning her en-
tire stock to the Ship Island. This was
and has been her paramount scheme from
the start. Gov. Melville urged the
Legislature to levy tax to aid in the