The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-04-12
Approved, March 4, 1882.

Approved, March 4, 1882.
A MEMORIAL to the Congress Of The United ftates IN
reference to waiver of forfeiture OF the grant IN ald Of
the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad
To the Senate and House Of RepreSelotattpes !
of the Congress Of the Oipite6 States az |
C0HgresS assembled:
Your memorialists would respectfully
show to your honorable body, that the
State of Mississippi has made repeated but
Intellectual efforts heretofore through It's
Legislature, in the form of Resolutions and
Memorials to Congress, to obtain revival
of the grant of public lands made by the
Government in 1856, to aid in the construc-
tion of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad.
That this liberal and valuable donation was
lost by no supineness or Indifference OF our
Deople but by the interruption Of all works
of internal improvement caused by the late
war: and since its close, to the pfostratlon
and poverty which it entailed. No enter
prise in our State has ever received more
repeated and cordial endorsement from our
Legislatures and people than THIS At It's
present session, our Legislature has granted
q new act of Incorporation with nDeral
provisions, thus again attesting the abiding
and earnest interest felt by our people III
this important work
If is almost superfuous to dwell on the
great benefits to our State when Would
result from the construction OF this road. 1t
would crafty long cherished aspiration
of all Mississippians to have, within our
own borders, a seaport town through Wnlch
the export and import trade OF the State
could be conducted 1t would speedily pop
ulate and develop the resources OF a large
section of our State hitherto isolated and
neglected for want Of facility OF access;
section of immense resources IN It's magnln-
cent pine forests; its bold, perennial streams,
which afford unlimited water power, and It's
genial. salubrious climate, making 1t the
appropriate seat of cotton and WOODEN man
nfaeture on a large scale. There is no por-
tion of our State so we'll adapted to sheep
husbandry, stock raising and farming on
small scale We are persuaded that It's
natural advantages would speedily attract
q hardy and thrifty population from the
West and North; and that the develop
ment Of its great natural resources Woula
add largely to the wealth OF our State ana
its annual revenues. So long since as 1860,
Prof. Eugene w Hilgard, of the University
of Mississippi, distinguished throughout
the country for his valuable contributions
TO science.1 SAYS: 1.-The most casual OBJ
server. as soon as personal inspection snail
have made him conscious of the reality,
cannot fail to be impressed with the immense
Importance of opening highway through
which Mississippi may communicate over
her own, with portion OF her territory
which posseses both a harbor common
snrate with the magnitude of her commercial
interests. and climate, not only healthful
and pleasant but capable, moreover, OF pro-
/ ducing many of the choicest fruits OF the
| tropics as well as the temperate zone. Along
/ with the cotton bales of north and central
! Mississippi the lumber and turpent1ne OF the
vast pine forests of the South, would find their
! way through this channel to the great nigh
way of nations. Nor would the ample graz
1 ING grounds which separate these forests
/ from the coast, long remain without land
mark. to guide the traveller. May the day
not be far distant when one uninterrupted
hand of iron shall link together the wheat
and cotton fields of the South and West,
with the liye-oak and orange groves OF the
coast of Mississippi"
# is not our State and its people alone,
who would reap advantages from the con-
struction of such road. The work Wouid
possess q semi-natlonal Importance III
affording to the grain growers OF the West
and Northwest, the shortest and cheapest
line of transportation to the seaboard foT
the export of their large annual surplus
1,roducfs: while at the same time 1t would
enable them to receive their supplies OF
sugar. coffee and other tropical products,
as well as foreign merchandise, az q SLgaa
reduction in cost of transportation. The
Legislature of Mississippi has just granted
! Charter to the Yazoo Valley and Missis
sinpi River Railroad, to extend from Jack
son via Yazoo City to Arkansas City, II
the State of Arkansas This franchise was
obtained BY the Chicago, st. Louis and New
orleans Railroad, which, with ample capital
purposes building this line without delay
The addition Of the remaining link iron
Jackson to PascagouIa, or other point q
our seaboard opposite Ship Island HarboT
will then connect the grain fields Of 50.
West and Northwest by almost an ar I'm
Of railway with the shipping Of the worls
at that port
We inust consider the most lmportan
nrartical question OF the resources ayallaDl
far the work. It is manifest the road canno
be built by corporate or individual suDscEp
lions in our own State. The well know
necuniary condition Of our people forbid
such hope. But re have good reason =
believe that If the former grant Of govern
menf lands can be revived. eubstanIla
basis Of credit will be created; and VII
fllis material aid assured. there Will PC 2
dificultv Is enlisfing northern and foTelg
capital Is insure the early completion an
eooiDment Of the road.
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