The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-07
MTSSISSIPPIINLAND RAILROAD
LETTER FROM M. A. METTs.

Louisville Index.
LOUISVILLE Mss April 22d, 1879.
ED. INDEx: In your paper of the 18th inst,
| find an editorial, the purport and object OF
which is doubtless to attract attention to the
great Importance of a railroad through the
confer OF the State leading TO our gulf coast,
calling upon myself and others as to the pros
pect Of such a road being built and the means
OF accomplishing an object greatl, desired
and so much needed by our people.
First, when the Legislature meets next Jan
uary, let charter be obtained for a road rum
ming from the northern boundary of the State
at near Mississippi City. l would suggest
that the charter be for a road called the Mis-
sissippi Inland Railroad. Let that charter be
liberal one, and for road entirely separate
and distinct from the Ship Island, Ripley Il
Kentucky Railroad. The corporation when
organized under said charter should be entire
ly and altogether a new company.-Then,
grant to said company when organized all the
lands, rights, privileges and franchises granted
to ship Island, Ripley and Kentucky Railroad
by act OF the Legislature approved FEBRUARY
2Sth, 1873. See Sheet Acts 1878 page 224
Let the Legislature go farther in aid of this
great State enterprise, and sell to said compa-
ny at a mere nominal price the internal i'm
provement lands OF the State regardless OF
where located.
And further, the Legislature should memo
flallZS congress. asking Ilat nOuoEdbiG DOtlN
to renew and extend the beneficent donation of
lands made to the Gull d Ship Island Rail
road in 1856 to aid in the construction OF this
enterprise which is SO pregnant with grand re-
suits to the entire people OF the State
But, sir, you say a liberal charter and all
these lands as a mere bonus would not build
the road This / admit. l would have the
Legislature go further and do still more for
this grand work. The present lease of the
penitentiary convicts viii expire on the 1st OF
June. 1880 1t will be the duty of the next
Legislature to make arrangements for the safe
keeping, caring for and utilizing the labor OF
the convicts. Let the convict labor as far as
possible be directed into the chanel of internal
improvements to building o. railroads, con-
structing and repairing levees, instead OF be-
ing farmed out 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 Legislature all along the line of this con-
templated railroad ask that this company
when properly organized have as many con-
viets they employ Tor period OF ten
years. or until the road is completed; the
company paving the State a small compensa-
ton to indemnify the State for expenses for the
labor of said convicts Then let the counties
through which the road will pass, raise sum
either by subscription for stock, private do
nation or by taxation sufficient to feed and
guard the convicts whilst constructing the road
through each respective county. ana now II
such legislation as here briefly adverted to
can be had, and why should it not be? Then
who viii say that we may not vet at no very
distant day have railroad running through
the whole length OF our noble State, connect
ing the northern part thereof with the seaboard,
and grand city rising upon our coast that
ere long would be the pride and glory of the
whole State.
Yes, with a magnificent domain as here con-
templated, with labor almost without price or
cost, with a people alive to their interest, and
united, | say that ii can and viii be done.
| would be pleased TO hear from all the dis
tinguished gentlemen named by you; and in
addition l would be pleased to hear from my
noble young friend, Hon. Charley Wood also
Hon. j. p. Carter of the coast. Well do /
recollect the great interest they manifested in
1873, on this question Now is the time to
work