Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-22
BEsghssF PrssPsots Ter VIeks-
baFg.


Thoso who win reject % what bee
been done In this city within the last
few years, and what We have 8 reason.
abIe right 10 calculate will be accom-
plIshsd within The next year or two
must acknowledge that there is life in
the old land jet. In the years Of the
past when there was slavery IN the
South, little or no effort va put for.
ward to secure the means Of advance
msnt and progress. We cOntented our
selves with buying slaves and then using
them to the best advantage to enable
Us to buy more slaves. A person pos
sessed Of one or two families Of healthy
negroes, became rich by the natural In.
crease Of his slaves, II he managed to
keep out Of debt and to pay his taxes.
With the end of the war we entered
upon . new era. While we labored
under many Disadvantages, II cannot
be denied that We were possessed OF
many advantages. Slavery was 6 good
thing for those who were fortunate
enough to own slaves, but 1t cannot be
denied that Il was 8 bad thing for the
State. Illinois and Mississippi entered
the Union at almost the same time, yet
Illinois 10 to-day len times ss wealthy
and prosperous As Mississippi. Why
is this the case? II Is the result Of the
ensrvating ~iDfluences.'of the institution
Of slavery. This comparison could be
made between ell the Southern States
aud the Northern States, Slavery was
our Old Man Of the Sea. We are rid
Of him now, and the future is in our
hands. We will prosper as we make
efforts for prosperity. Weeannot pros.
per though, If We cit down and hug the
de!uSive phantom Of hope, aud do
nothing. We must reap our own
wheat or II will be wasted In the fields.
Vicksburg must set the example for
the whole Of this State. She has an
enviable location on the great Missis.
Sippl river ; she 10 near the rich valleys
Of the YSEoo, the TAllahatehie, the
Sunfower, Deer Creek, Big Black and
Bayou Pierre, and IL she does her duty
she win prosper in the future as fast as
did Chicago Of the great lakes Of the
North. She has, up TO recently,
been weighed down by an incu.
bus over which she had lit.
tie or no control. Her Government
was in the hands Of those who cared
little or nothing for her interests.
Since these we're oVerlhrown she has
made many steps on the road Of pro.
gress and she has but TO continue to
soon reap eli the advantages of her ex'
%ceilent situation. Although We havl
passed through & financial crisis tina
shook some Of the Oldest cities In thl
Union to their foundations, we bavu
continued 10 improve Q little. OuI
hanks were never in q better or strong,
or condition than they are to-day ; VI
hAye 3 wsllrorgahizsd, efficient Cotton
Exchange that is rapidly increasing
our cotton husiness; we have a Cotton
Compress that ls not excelled in III,
South ; ell the various steamboat line
that end their trips here are in q pros
porous condition /; and 10 advance rap
idly as a great commercial center "
hsve but to make q united effort 10 in
crease our means Of communicate
With the rich country nesr US. II lie DoV
very probable that we will soon hav
the Vicksburg and Ship Island Rlilroa
completed across the Big Black. Wht,
completed /. is hard 10 esiimAt
the advantage il will be 10 us. In I'D
dilion TO this, q strong effort will b
made this year to secure a turnpike ros,
across the Big Black valley, and
bridgS at BsldWin's Ferry. This vii
not cost much, aud it will be a vas
benefit.
a. the proper time, q direct proposi
ton will be made 10 the city and l.
Shsrkey county, to complete The Vicks
burg, Deer Creek and Memphis Rail
road to the northern boundary o
sbarkey county. This proposition, a
we are informed, will be made in tim
tor our citizens to vote on It in June
ct the regular municipal election
There will be 20 risk in 1t for the cit.
and ShArkey county. The COmpau.
who will make II, will propose TO bull
the road II ViOksburg will sgree to ali
them with SlOO,0 900 In 8 per cent. bond
after the road is completed to RollinI
Fork, and II Sharkey county will Agre
to aid them with $4,000 In 9 per cent
bonds. The proposition is simpl
,.oo0h for all 20 uuan,,Aanl u 7