The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-08-06
The Gulf and Ship Island r. r.


In another column viii be found letter
from the Hon NJ. A Nets, Of Winston coun-
~, on the subject of the Gulf and Ship Island
Railroad, which accoris with views long en-
tcrtaiued by us.
1t is a subject in which not only the people
along the prospo-ed line of the road, and resi-
dents Of the -ea--hore are interested, but it Is
SD Co the people OF the whole State OF Missis-
sippi. Since lSDt each succeeding Legista-
ture has, IN some manner, endcayorcd to en-
courage this enterprise and give TO the peo-
pie of the whole State highway to the sea-
shore. In 1886, the Congress OF the United
States donated certain public lands OF the gem
eral Government, within the borders OF this
State, 10 encourage the building OF this road.
About the same time or soon after 5000 dol
lars was appropriated from the State Trcasu-
rv, 20 assist in making survey, and an act
passed donating t. the proposed railroad all
the stock owned by the State of Mississippi
in the other railroads Of the State, which at
The time must have been one million Of dollars.
The war between the States came on, the re-
suits of which destroyed the ability Of the
railroads to pay their indebtedness the lands
lapscd to the Government, and the enterprise
was Tor the time abandoned. Soon after the
close OF the war another charter granted
to build q Railroad from Nicksburg to the
seu-horc and liberal grants were made by the
Legislature. company organized under
that charter and commenced work at ' IckS-
burg but from some cause unknown to us,
abandoned the work and so far as adj
vi-ed. went ont OF existence. In the last Leg
Iature the subject was revived and liberal
grants of lands were made, and franchises
given to the Ripley Railroad Company to con
struct Il Railroad 90 point on the Gull shore,
at or near Mississippi City. The friends Of
Gulf aud ship Island Road were misled. In
giving their support to the act Of ncorpora-
ton aud extension, 10y being told that there
was an understanding and contract between
d r4vI. tF..Tl.
and the lcsees Of the State Penteutiary by
which grading and tracklaying would be COM
rnencrd Immediately. Ii turned out however,
that there was not such understanding, the
work was never begun, and the enterprise
failed and the land grants were lost to
the company. The Legislature Of 1868
also adopted a memorial To Congress, asking
that body to renew and extend the donation
formerly made 10 the Gull and Ship Island
Railroad Ia the Ship Island, Ripley and Ken
lucky Railroad. The memorial was perhaps
presented to Congress, bat we doubt il 1t was
ever vigorously pressed in that body. This IS
a brief history OF am enterprise largely affect
ing the interests, not of a single locality, but
the whole State.
Its value and Importance has been recog-
nized bv the Legislature and leading public
men in all parts of the State. 1t has received
recognition, and aid recommended by the best
and most enlightened Governors OF the State.
1t has been and must continue to be, a cher
ished scheme by all who desire port
within the limits of the State.
The question that now arises, rs this the
proper time 10 make another attempt by Sc
curing State and other aid, to construct the
road? We believe it is. We believe that the
State will make the same liberal grants which
have heretofore been made, and in addition
give the labor of the Penitentiary cOnvicts, to
do the grading and furnish the crossties; and
Congress will grant the public lands OF the
United States, lying within the borders OF
Mississippi in aid OF the enterprise, II our
Representatives will work earnestly in that
direction.
To secure these things, the people send men
Of high intelligence to the Legislature, who
will pledge themselves to work earnestly and
definitely for the road and men who have the
ability to present the matter to the Legislature
in the strongest and best light. In the popular
phrase of the day, to make it an issue IN the
canvass. To nominate no man who Will not
promise to uae his best efforts to secure to the
road the aid mentioned
The precise point of a terminus on the
Gulf of Mexico is only matter of conse-
uuence In so far, ii ought TO be, that
which is nearest to deep water, which can only
be determined by a survey.
This article has grown longer than we IN
tended We propose in future numbers to
continue the subject.--Sea Shore Gazette.