The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-01-28


n. o. Ledger
During the session of the Mississippi Leg
/ islature, in 1e69-7O, some prominent and
influential parties in Mobile, In connection
with Governor James L. Alcorn and Others
of Mississippi, procured charter from the
Legislature, creating the..Aiobile and North
western Railroad; a road which was design
ed to run from Powell City, opposite Helena,
/ Arkansas. TO Mobile Alabama The route,
| for the entire length of the road was survey
ed. and the work Of grading was immedi-
ateIy inaugurated Appropriations were
pushed with considerable yigor; the Peo-
pie living on the line of the proposed road
/ were appealed to, TO contribute Literally to-
wards the enterprise public meetings were
1 held in every county from Powell City to
/ Mobile TO aid and encourage the scheme
/ the " hole country was in a blaze of enthu-
siasm, and hundreds Of thousands OF dollars
were voted and donated 10 push the work on
I to completion. Those were flush times; the
contagious spirit of enterprise spread all
over the land, injecting many planters who
previously had opposed every movement
{ looking towards the development Of the
State, but who now came forward and not
only voted for liberal subsidies in aid of
the road, but contributed largely of their
land and means In order to assist the enter
prise and push the good work forward.
Colonel Mann of Mobile, distinguished
| Confederate officer Of the late war, who pos
sessed the cofidence of the Southern people
was chosen president Of the company. The
Colonel was not only a brave, heightened,
chiYalrous gentleman, but an orator is well,
and when in his canvass of the counties
along the line of his proposed road, he play
ed with the musical tones of his voice TO
his appreciative audiences, and depicted the
granduer of his scheme and the wealth and
prosperity which was TO flow in from it, the
planters shouted with TapturOus applause,
and the Colonel was deluged with shekals
and county bonds. The road was graded to
jamestown in Coahoma county; a meeting
Of the company was held; the bonds and
greenbacks were counted and found 10 be
abundant, and it was decided that Colonel
Mann should proceed 10 New York and
there negotiate for the purchase OF the rails
locomotives and rolling stock for the road.
Gathering the bonds and greenbacks togeth-
er the Colonel stuffed them in his carpet
bag, and bidding farewell TO his friends took
his departure for the city OF Gotham. On
his arrival there the Colonel lost no time in
negotiating for the sale Of the county bonds
in his possession, after which he discovered
that in railroad matters as in everything else,
there were middle-men, and he determined
to sail for Europe and purchase his material
On reaching England, much to the surprise
of the Colonel, iron had advanced several
"poiuts," and after spending Il few days iii
the British metropolis he crossed the chan
mel to France.
Grand and extensive preparations were
then in progress for the opening of the in
dustrial exhibition at Vienna. Thousands
of Americans were making preparations to
attend the great show, and yet no European
- l. e.
lish line of sleeping cars for the accommo-
dation of our countrymen in their journey
between Paris and Vienna. The money III
the possession of the Colonel had been voted
and appropriated for railroad purposes, an d
what difference could it make to the people
of the YazOo Valley and the others living on
the line of the Mobile and Northwestern
Railroad" whether their money was invested
in Mississippi or Europe so long as 1t was put
where it would do the most good" and con-
tribute to the comfort and convenience Of
our citizens? In the establishment Of Jine
of sleepers between these two great cities
the Colonel thought he saw an enterprise I
worthy of his genius, and he lost no time in /
putting the scheme into successful operation. /
II was grand success, and whilst it added I
largely to the amount which the too confid- +
ing people of our neighboring State had do I
mated, not of course to be expended in the I
way 1t was UndlIy usGu, 1t yet cOutIlDuleu
greatly to the luxurious comforts of our
whose inclinations or business
;alled them to that portion Of Europe. Let
ers of inquiry to the Colonel in regard to
he dividends were treated with silent con-
empt, and the people had begun to
egard the "Mobile and Northwestern" as a
elusion and snare, which had been con
eived only to defraud honest people out Of
heir land and money, when here, recently, I
hey were agreeably surprised to learn that
he road, under the auspices of Mr.. Lyons,
prominent and wealthy citizen of Helena,
.rkansas, was being pushed rapidly south, {
t his own expense 1t has already reached {
the head of navigation oh the
unfower river, which is some forty miles
)utheast of the Mississippi river.
OF the country and its resource through |
hich this road will run, together with the
ivantages which New Orleans is to derive
ON its early completion, we shall have
)mething more to say in future issues.