The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-27
Removal or No Removals

EDIToRs CLARION: The suggestion anu
invitation made a few weeks since by the
citizens of Meridian, and regarded at hrst
as piece of pleasantly, has grown TO some
what serious proportions. Certain enterprls-
ing men of our Eastern Metropolis nave
aroused the public spirit of the business
men. who few days since assembled ana
appointed a committee to come over and
present a. proposition to the Legislature
A bill had already been introduced IN the
House by DIR. Montgomery, of Oktbbeha,
looking to the contamination OF the desT-
ed end, namely, the removal OF the Capltal
from jackson to Meridian
We are not surprised that our Eastern
friends desire such change, and. indeed,
feel constrained to applaud their public
spirit. Meridian is, undoubtedly, wide
awake and growing place, and her citizens
stand the peers of any in the State in their
several spheres.
As citizens of jackson. it is but natural
that wesshould look with little appreciation
upon any proposition that looks to
taking away from us SO import
ant and material part of our
CITY and so great a factor in our prosperity,
to say Nothing of the associations that olus-
ter around the old building where so many
successive Legislatures have met, SO many
stormy and exciting conventions have been
held. the old structure that is linked with, and
forms a part of, our State history, before
the war, during the four years struggle for
separate and perfect State and personal
liberty: since the war through the dark
period of reconstruction and political revo-
luton, and finally through the first part Of
a period of good government and prosperi-
ty which we hope will continue under the
same party auspices, and whose center shall
still be the old dome on the first hills of
Pearl River.
In discussing the question, however, we
shall endeayor to lay aside our predilic-
tions and treat it from disinterested
standpoint.
First. We believe no objections are
urged to jackson either in itself or as
compared with Meridian. Nor do we
believe any could be pointed out that
would not lie with equal weight
against Meridi m or any city of equal size
in the State. In this day of railroads the
geographical center is hardly matter of
important consideration, but, if it should
be taken, jackson has decidedly the advan-
tage over her sisteFicits. The center of the
State is near the Alfalfa and Leake county
line, about forty or City miles from Jack
son, and about ninety from Meridian. II
accessibility, taking into consideration our
present modes of travel, is to decide, sure
IL Jackson is most accessible to the larger
part of the State. To the counties along
the III. d o. Railroad below Artesia, and
along the N. o. & N. E., Meridian would be
most accessible and possibly all along the
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 VicksbnrR and Meridian Rail-
road between the two cities may be left
out of account. The country all along
the v. & II. 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-
parled as the san1e) the Memphis and New
Orleans railroads, mnst certainly recognize
jackson IS the more accessible Of the
two points. It is true, We have been told,
Of the prospective railroads that will GEN.
ter at Meridian, but this can easily be met
with similar roads coming into Jackson
Meridian claims that she will have arDad
from Grenada. We will have one quite Is
soon from Columbus. Meridian is to have
one from Eatchez. We viii have one quite
as early from Mobile and also one
from Ship Island. Meridian has two pros
pectiye railroads which will render Il more
accessible to Mississippians, We have three.
Meridian has now, with reference 70 our
State. four rsdiants; We have six, indeed
We might say eight lsdding the u. A y.
and G.. A. q NJ with ne advantage Of all
the navigable streams IL fhe western part
Of the State, commencing with roads lead.
ing directly to jackson.
To the following counties Meridian is
more accessible: AlcOrn, Chiekasaw, Clarke,
CoUngton, Greene Hancock Harrison,
Itawamha. Jackson Jasper, Jones, Ksmper,
LaudeEdale. Leo, LOWndea; Marion, Newton,
Noxubee, Perry Fontotao, Frantias. Tisho.
mfngo, Onion and WayneS tusntg.tour u
ali.
To these Jackson is more accessible:
Adams, Amits, Attala, Benton. Bolivar, Cali
houn, Carroll. C1octaw, Ciaiborne. Coaho
ma, Gop;ah, DsSoto, Franklin, Grenada,
Hinda, HOlm6z. Issaquena, Jefferson, La
fayetts, Lawrence 1lsaka. 1iaaorR, lincoln
Madison, Marshall. Montgomery, Fanele,
PIKE. ouitman, Rankin. sharksy, Einpson,
81 ger. Tallahatchie, Aats, 1n1s.., a.
rep, fsaingfq Webster, Wilkinson,
TaisbasIf'ss. 90 aseoy Tst.o e 81.
While 0lay, Monroe. 2ai g
sanlt snstk TIppah. and Ninstons slgnk
ii n. srs aeatpallT Ioess ana nay bea
left pnk ok ansu
rs esvenfY tive Rep Eea spa t4Dnt
y-thres Ssnat0fs.of nine dEs bsEs a.
TIE e9izlzsure. jackson g lllost oelsps zi,ntI
Is ffirt1.f0nr and half Rspf nlstiyes
a1d t9efSe Esaaf1rs O. foEt7-aiz end half
1se1n5pss, effdlaR IS most cenzenicnt.
While 9sEza ena a8 elatiEta
nd f6ras tQES, * n en9 half
nibrkss pee lcN
Hasfn0 4, naW tnk 4enk.
son O. - lsiltce1 cgntl1 eon1 ed
Fflh Msxidi1r. and Zen q ~
|.5le stats. - 0l1I q ss1z e cf en-