The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-06-29
M 7. R.kM.R \.

AN 8ss ~ - NJ ~ ~
MEANWHILE, MISS, June ~, 80.
To the President and Directors Of the M, b &
N. Railroad.
GENTLEMEN
1t has become quite fashion Of late to
address open letters to prominent individ-
uals whenever the writer wishes TO call
special attention to any subject, and in Or
der that we may not be considered behind
the age we will call this an open letter.
Since writing to Judge Chrisman in APP
rii last have, as think, thoroughly con-
sidered the route indicated--its advantages
and its drawbacks-and have canvassed
with many of the most prominent citizens
OF the county, as well those interested in
what is called the air line route, as those
interested in the route indicated by me,
which, for distinction. we will call the val
ley route; and after the fullest and best in
vestigation that am capable Of giving the
subject, / am strengthened and confirmed in
my views in regard to the advantages that
the valley route has over any other, for
reasons that will endeavor to give in this
letter.
But before stating any reason, Twill brief
ly reply to some capital that those interest
ed in the air line are endeavoring to make
out OF my statement that "the valley route
is the nearest practicable route" and tri-
umphantly point to the county map to
show my mistake. 1t is true that the val
ley route DIVORCES from an air line but the
map also shows that the farthest point of
divergence is less than six miles, and this,
in distance OF forty miles, cannot fright
fully lengthen the distance of the route.
What l mean by the nearest practicable
route, is that the road can be built on this
route for great deal less money than it can
be on any other.
l now proceed to notice some of the 9TH
er advantages that this route has. First: 1t
passes through the most fertile lands in
South Mississippi, and is capable of sus-,
tanning denser population than any other
part of our great State. The soil is adapted
to the successful growth of a greater variety
OF field crops, fruits and vegetables than any
other part of the world that I have ever
seen. This is clearly demonstrated to even
a casual observer, by the great variety of
native growth to be found in the forests.
Often on one acre OF land may be. seen
hourishing every variety of forest trees
known in the South, besides underground
shrubbery and grasses IN almost endless va
rieties, showing the adaptiveness of the soil
to the successful cultivation of all kinds of
crops: This is fully proven by the actual
and successful cultivation of every variety
of field crops, fruits and vegetables known
in the south, with the lone exception of
wheat. Before the Confederate war, the
most of this valley was in high state of
cultivation and was one of the most beauti-
full and lovely valleys in the State. The
devastation of war has caused much of the
land to be thrown out. Population and Ia
Dor has naturally gravitated towards the
railroad, on the east, and the Mississippi
river on the west. These neglected lands are
being rapidly reinstated in their primeval
growth, but give us a railroad and it will
again blossom as the rose and soon present
one OF the loveliest valleys on the globe.
Second: Local freight and travel will be
more than double as much ON this route as
it will be on an air line An air line road
would get none of the custom from the Ho-
mochitto valley below Meadville, and only
get it from the north side of the river up to
the mouth of McCall's Creek. 1t could not
get much from the north side of the road
for the reason that it runs near and parallel
with the Natchez and Jackson road which
will divide the custom from that side. The
valley route will get all the custom from the
south side OF McCall's Greek, and all from
the Magee's Creek valley, which now goes
mostly to Summit, and all on the south side
OF the Homochitto to the Amite county
line that now goes to Liberty. In short, it
will get all the custom of the Homochitto
valley and its tributaries from Hazards
Ferry, on the southwest, to the Lincoln
county line on the northeast, a distance of
near fifty miles. 1t will not do to say that
the local freights of railroad are of no
value, when we consider the large sums that
go into the treasury of the c., St. L. & N.
| O. Railroad Co from the denote all alonr
its line every week.
Hoping that these suggestions will induce
You to examine this route before electing
which you will take, am,
Yours most truly,
X r WERR