The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-26

first named road. To Offset this We have
the parallel roads, the Illinois Central and
Natchez, jackson and Columbus which are
TO jackson what those roads are to Meri-
dian. The Vicksburg and Meridian Rail
road between the two cities may be left
out Of account. The country all along
the v. 4 NJ. west of Jackson, all
along the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley,
the Mississippi and Tennessee, the Canton
and Aberdeen and Nashville railroads, and
the Mississippi river or what may be re-
Rarded a. the same) the Memphis and New
Orleans railroads, must certainly recognize
Jackson as the more accessible of the
two points. II is true, we have been told,
Of the prospective railroads that will CEN
ter at Meridian, but this can easily be met
with similar roads coming into Jackson.
Meridian claims that she will have a road
from Grenada. We will have one quite az
soon from Columbus. Meridian is to have
one from Natchez. we will have one quite
as early from Mobile and also one
from Ship Island Meridian has two pros
pective railroads which will render it more
accessible 10 Mississippians, we have three.
Meridian has now, with reference TO our
State, four radiants; We have six, indeed
we might say eight adding the NJ. d L.
and c., A. a NJ with the advantage Of all
the navigable streams in the western part
Of the Shte, commencing with roads lead,
ing directly TO jackson.
To the following counties Meridian il
more accessible; Alcorn, Chickasaw, Clarke,
Covington, Greene, Hancock, Harrison,
Itawamba, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Kemper,
Lauderdale, Leo, Lowndes, Marion, Newton,
No1ubee, Perry, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tisho-
mingo, Union and Wayne; twenty-four in
all.
To these jackson is more accessible:
Adams, Amite, Alfalfa, Benton, Bolivar, Cal
houn, Carroll, Choctaw, Claiborne, Coaho-
ma, Copiah, DeSoto, Franklin, Grenada,
Kinds, Holmes, Issaquena, jefferson, La.
fayette, Lawrence Leake, Lehore, Lincoln,
Madison, Marshall, Montgomery, Pamela,
Pike, Quitman, Rankin, Sharkey, Simpson,
Sunhower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, War
rem, Washington, Webster, Wilkinson,
Yalobusha, and Yazoo; forty-two in all.
While Clay, Monroe, Neshoba, Oktibbeha,
Scott, Smith, Tippah, and Winston; eight
in all, are neutrally located, and may be
left out Of account.
Toseventy two Representatives and TWEEN
ty-three Senators,or ninety five members OF
the Legislature, Jackson is most convenient
to thirty-four and half Representatives
and twelve Senators or forty-six and half
members, Meridian is most convenient
while twelve and half Representatives
and three Senators, or fifteen and half
members, are neutrally located.
Having now, as we think, proved Jack
son TO be the railroad centre rs compared
with Meridian, and then of course of the
whole State, we wish to speak of other con-
alterations. First we shall mention the
effect upon property, Suppose for a mo-
ment that the Capital should be moved TO
Meridian, certainly it would greatly en-
hance the value of city property and the
general desirability of residence there.
Now suppose after ten years have elapsed,
and people have bought property and made
investments there more or less in conse-
quence of its being the State Capital, that
u proposition should be made TO make Kos
ciusko or some other city the Capital / am
of the opinion that the people of Meridian
would rise up in arms and cry out that to
take such step would be an exhibition of
bad faith, and their complaint would have
merit in it. If then this course would be
so unjust to tho people of Meridian, would
1t not be equally so now TO the people OF
JacksonS Let us see for moment the ef.
feet pecuniarily upon the two cities. The
city of Meridian individually, or collective.
ly, or in both capacities, offers to donate
suitable grounds and build ut her own ex
pense Capitol which shall be adiudged
equal in every respect to the present Capt.
| toll when new. This, il is estimated, will
cost at least 100000. Now, it is worth
100000 to Meridian to have the removal
ay, more, for she expects to be the gamer
not simply to regain her expenditure. II
it is worth 100000 or more to Meridian
is it not worth equally as much TO jackson
Then We would ask, can inducement enough
DO offered the Legislature to do so great an
injustice as transfer out of the pockets of oul
community to those of another so large &
sum of money? 1t is true that the rights of tht
citizens can hardly be called vested rights, il
they were, it would be q question of con
stitutionality, and there would be no neeC
for this appeal, There is, however, but one
thing that would excuse so great violence
to the people of this city and their prop
| erty. II the interest of the people of the
State demanded the change, even if il
would be greatly to their convenience, w
might understand its reasonableness. Ever
then we think it would be time enough t.
take action when the people Throughout
the State had expressed desire for the
change. The present Legislature was no
instructed upon this proposition and can
not vote intelhgently if they wish to refec
the sentiments of their constituents, anC
this, we think, is the object of most of the
members. We do not think the PROPOSE
ton will strike the House or the Senate a:
proper, or at all desirable to majority o.
the citizens of the State; but we areiquitt
sure that they will not undertake SO serious
and grave step directly. If anything a
all is done, it will be to submit the ques
ton to vote of the people, And it il
certainly not desirable to have. We be-
lieve the State is able to build her owr
Capitol, if she needs one. So great are the
interests at stake, so many are the people
whose convenience is to be consulted, sc
often are the Inconvenience to be repeated
year after year, that the main object SHOULD
be to do the best thing for these Interests
and to make the aggregate of trouble fol
the people in reaching the Capital as little
as possible. The amount needed to erec
the building becomes a small matter il
comparison, so small indeed that we hardly
believe it worthy of serious consideration
The first question to determine should
be, viii the present Capitol justify repairs
or is il necessary to build new one. Ever
if it should be deemed expedient to aban
don the old Capitol and build new one