The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-05-23
Mississippi Inland r. r.
Letter from the Hon. M. A. Metts.


LOUISVILLE, MISC, Apfii ~, 1879.
ED. INDEX: In your paper Of the
11th INST, | find an editorial, the
purport and object of which i,
doubtless to attract attention to
the great Importance of a railroad
through the center Of the State
leading to our gulf coast, calling
upon myself and others as to the
prospect of such a road being built
and the means of accomplishing an
object so greatly desired and Sc
much needed by our people. .a4
First, VIXEN the Legislature meets
next January, let charter be OBJ
tained for road running from the
northern boundary of the State to
or near Mississippi City. Iwould
suggest that the charter be, for a
road called the Mississippi Inland
railroad. Let that charter be Il
liberal one, and for a road entirely
separate and distinct from the
Ship Island, Ripley and Kentucky
railroad. The, corporation when
organized under said charter should
be entirely and altogether a new
company. Then, grant to said com.
pany when organized all the
lands, rights, privileges and fran
chises granted to Ship Island, Rip
ley and Kentucky Railroad by act
OF the Legislature approved Febu-
airy 2Sth 1878. See Sheet Acts
1878, page 224. 5a...f,..
Let the Legislature go further IN
aid of this great State enterprise,
and sell to said company at "a mere
nominal price the internal improve
ment lands of the State regardless
of where located. .-...tt so ,
And further, the Legislature
should memorialize congress, ask
ing that honoble body to renew
and extend the beneficentdonatiou
of lands made to the Gulf and Ship
Island railroad in 1856, to aid in
tHo oouoti uSJiOu VI uhlo OIlCl piioS
which is SO pregnant with grand
results to the entire people OF the
State. 49,. .... .u ...t..-... ...
But, sir, you say aliberal charter.
and all these lands as a mere bonus,
would not build the road. This |
admit. | would have the legisla-
ture go further and do still more
tor this grand work. The present
lease of the penitentiary conficts
expire on the 1st of June, 1880.
1t will be the duty of the next Leg
islature to make arrangements tor
the safe keeping, caring for and
utilizing the labor of the convictS.
Let the convict labor as far as
possible be directed into the chan.
mel of internal improvements. to
building of railroads, constructing
and repairing levees, instead of
being tarmed ont for the benefit of
the few, where their labor comes
in direct and daily conflict with
the honest labor of the country.
Let this be the rule, and then let
the members of the next Legisla-
ture all along this line of this con-
railroad ask that this
company when properly organized
have as many convicts as they can
employ for period of ten years,
)r until the road is completed; the
paying-the State small
compensation to indemnity the State
or expenses for the labor of said
Then let the counties
Trough which the road will pass,
aise sum; either by subscription
or stock, private donation, or by
axation sufficient to feed and
,uard the convicts whilst construct
ng the road through each respect
re county. And now if such leg.
Station us here briefly adverted to
an be had, why should it not be y
hen who will say that we may not
ct at no very distant day have a
abroad running through the whole
nth of our own noble State, con-
Getting the northern part thereof
it'll the seabOard, and a grand
It's rising upon our coast that ere
ing would be the pride and glory
/ the whole State.
Yes, with magnificent domain
, here contemplated, with labor ,
most without price or cost, with
people alive to their interest, and
lited, | say that it can and will be ,,
)ne.
Iwould be pleased to hear from :
| the distinguished gentlemen J
,med by you; and in addition l 7
ould be pleased to hear from my :
,ble young friend, Hon. Charley :
'ood !; also Hon. j. p. Garter OF =
~ coast. Well do | recSllect the !,
eat interest they manifested in a
,TS on this question. Now is the s
me to work. .
- y
Respectfully, I
p .. f- VI. A. METTs. ,