The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-29
Gulf and Shin Island Railroad.


There are two bills now peuding before
the Legislature which, II passed, we
have every reason TO believe will insure
the early construction Of this road with
which the interests and aspirations Of our
people have been identified for so many
years. The Grst of these provides for
the transfer OF the convict labor 10 this
road on terms involving no pecuniary
loss to the State; and the second is a
bill granting the company the privi'
lege Of purchasing certain swamp and
overhowed lands at moderate price.
The transfer Of the penitentiary Ia.
Dor TO this road, would accomplish
the double purpose Of remodying
the evils complained Of under the pres
cnt system, By securing the employment
Of the prisoners in the bealthiest portion
Of the State, and under regulations
insurug humane and uniform treat
ment; whilst II would, at the same time
furnish supply Of labor, which would
place beyond contingency the early con
struction of the road.
The aid contemplated in these bills Is
very small compared to the benefits our
whole people would derive from the
road and the outlet to the sea that il
would give US. But the friends Of the
enterprise have assurances from reliable
Northern capitalists, that with the leg.
islation now asked, they are prepared
to furnish all tn" money needed, and to
push the road to early completion.
The Gulf and Ship Island road has
been TIE favorite enterprise and cher
ishcd hope of our people for genera
tion. 1t is a scheme appealing strongly
TO our State pride, and the natur
al desire of our people for com
merciH independence Almost every
former session Of the Legislature has by
memorial to Congress for a revival oil
the land grant, or other measure, attest
ed the earnest and abiding interest Of
our people in this scheme. AS all hop,
Of reyiving the grant of lands made il
1856 by the general government mus,
now be abandoned, and we are left, il
a great measure, to our own resources
the measures now pending must com
mend themselves to the approval of tn,
Legislature as the only available re
sources left us for the mode, and thu
only feasible plan to accomplish it
We trust, therefore, the present Legis
lature may enjoy the distinction Of put
ting this enterprise fully under way ant
secure to our people the great benefits
it promises them.
We have not seen either Of the bills
butthink we have indicated their gen
eral object In 1882 the Legislature
granted liberal charter to the "Gull
aud Ship Island Railroad Company" u
run "from point on the shore of Mis-
sissippi Sound in this State, and in a
northern direction to point at or near
Jackson etc, If the bills now pending
do not contemplate the extension of the
road to the Tennessee line, they should
be amended so rs to give ample guaran
tees for the construction Of the road the
entire length of the State, A road run
ming on I'M air line from Jackson to Rip
'ey or Pontotoc and thence to Corinth or
other point on the Memphis and Charles
ton Railroad, would run through Rankin
Leake, Attala, Choctaw, Webster, Gal
houn, Chickasaw, Pontotoc, Union and
Alcurn counties, and would insure con
nections with the Memp lis and Charles
ton Railroad and Mobile and Ohio n,
Corinth With the Illinois Central on
the West, the Mobile and Ohio on the
East, and the Gulf and Ship Island
running diagonaly in the centre, and
with the other roads running east and
west, every portion of the State would
hova III ,,n,loI -, ;Ir,,J r,,;l;t;on