The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-02-20


Harbor by railroad with those parts OF on
State which yield the great staple OF ohl
com % rec. and with her magnif1cent TIM
Der region. The Importance OF TINS connec
ZION is the more apparent now that the
prospect Of the early com pleFlon al the Hines
of railroads in progress through the State,
assures us that we will be able by that con-
uection to avail ourselves of the whole vast
railresd system o; the United States in de-
veloping the capacity of the har0or a a
shipping point.
A capacIous and securely sheltered har-
Dor exists on our sea coast, having depth
OF water sufficient To float he heaviest tom
mage employed in the commerce OF the Cult.
The entrance - it from the sea IS free from
obs Scles. and the approach To il from the
main land presents no difficulties which
| cannot be easily surmounted. To render
| this harbor available aud thus Insure the
commercial independence OF the State, Is the
| duty of her Government, and should De the
| pride of her citizens. It Is measure OF vast
public importance. il not of absOulute pub
| lie necessity, and should com and the
| serious attention of those charged with the
administration of the State Government.
| 1t was doubtless proper at the "uts-t To en-
/ dPaVor to enlist private and individual en-
| -erpriSe, as auxiliary to the construction ot
| the railroad leading to the harbor: but " hen
| it becomes manifest that the first great step
| toward its developments, maxi q IL the
| depot for great thorcughiare for com
|
aid from the State, it is the plain duty OF
| her Government. by some decisive action.
| to give the assurance that the required aid
will be granted"
Thus we see the high estimate placed
upon this grand State enterprise, by
| those who have gone before us and who
have given the subject thought and
thorough investigation, In the develop
ment Of the railroad system of the State,
embracing the Mobile and Ohio, the
New Orleans, jackson and Great North
ern, the Mississippi Central, the South
ern, now the Vicksburg and Meridian
Railroad, the Mississippi and Tennessee
and the Memphis and Charleston, the
Gulf and Ship Island Railroad always
occupied the post of honor and OF
prime consideration. The compilation
of these lines adds to its i'm
portance and feasibility. Indeed il
seems to be demanded to complete the
railroad system necessary to the full de
veIopment of our great resources.
Shall we abandon this pet scheme OF
| our State? Not if we are still animated
by the spirit of enterprise and State
pride. Not If we would open the road
to mine of wealth now inaccessible
Not if we consider the wants of the pop
ulation upon a large belt running through
the center of our State. We have our
whole eastern and western borders traced
out with splendid lines of railway. We are
girded together by an iron band from
the east to the west. All we need now
to give all cur people the benefits and
conveniences of railroads, is a line run
ming through the center Of the State,
and terminating at the harbor upon our
sea-coast. The Ship Island, Ripley and
Kentucky railroad is intended to supply
this need. \ bill is now before the Leg
islature providing for a Charter and aid
for this road.
Can the road be built, and how? We
contend that it can and with very little
burden to the State. There are now
over one thousand convicts in the Penis
Tertiary, with the prospect of constant
increase. The State has leased out these
convicts to private individuals, and the
Penitentiary has been thus made source
of revenue to the State instead of con-
tinued dead expense. The leasing policy
has been proved to be wise and advan
tageous, and there is no disposition to
discontinue it. Let the present Legisla-
ture yoke the Penitentiary to this rail
road. Let them charter the road, sell
the State land along its line to the com
pany for nominal sum, ask the general
Government for the 800, 900 acres of
land which it has in the State, and which
it once donated to the Gulf and Ship Is
land railroad and then let them extend
the lease of the present lessees of the
Penitentiary a sufficient length of time
to complete the work and contract with
them for the building and equipment of
the entire line leading from Ship Island
to MiddIetown, Tenn.
a narrow guage road can be built and
equipped over this line at an average cost
of $1,000 per mile by this arrangement
According to Powhattan Robinson's esti-
mate 158 miles of the route surveyed by
him would cost $1,000, 900. The line
here proposed, twice the length, and
opening up perhaps three times the DOR
mant resources of the State, can be built
for half the money.
The plan Of building this road mainly
by convict labor would be very popu-
bulk of this labor from active competi-
tson with our mechanics, farmers and fac
tories. In the minds of many of our
people the employment of convicts to any
large extent upon our farms tends to de-
grade the business of agriculture, the
proudest calling of our people. While
we may not share this sentiment, still it
is well to consider it, and if our Legisla-
tnre can open up profitable field for the
work of these convicts without coming in
antagonism with the pride or prejudice
of any of the free citizens of theeState,
they will do very sensible and timely
thing. But here is great work which
ought to be done, and promises more re-
turn than any and all others, and here is
the labor to do it. The present lessees
of the PenitentiarY are energetic, public
spirited and driving men. The State
might be searched from one end to the
other in vain for two more suitable mel
to manage this vast interest or to push
fnrward an nntnrnriSa Like fhia rn;lronL