The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-08
SHIP ISLAND RAILROAD
SAVED BY THE EFFORTS OF SEN
ATOR WALTHALL,
And After Repeated Efforts to For
felt It's Land Grant With Those
OF Many other Roads.
roonvrspoSpryoE or THE APPEAL. /

lcoRREsPoSDENcE or THE APPEAL
WASHINGTON, July 5.-After a short
debate in the House last Friday bill
nj momentous Importance, not only TO
Mississippi but to all adjoining States,
was passed by the very decided vote
of 1874 yeas to 90 nays. 1t came up in
the form of privileged report from
the Committee on the Public Lands
on the amendments of the Senate to
House bill No. 392, declaring for
feited certain grants TO aid ia the con-
struction of railroads." These grants,
40 far as the South was concerned,
were made in lS56-57 II the Memphis
and Charleston, the Iron Mountain
(Arkansas), EIyton and Boards Bluff
(Alabama), New Orleans to the State
Line, the Tuscaloosa and Mobile rail-
road, the Jackson and State Line rail-
road, the Savannah railroad, and the
Gulf and Ship Island railroad. Tie
several grants embraced something
over 100000 acres Of the public do
main. base on the conditions that the
roads must be completed in ten years.
The war and the Conditions subse-
ouent." as the lawyers would cay,
made It impossible for at least Elk OF
the projected enterprises TO comply
with the conditions precedent, etc.
Some time in the latter part OF last
January the Lands Committee OF the
House reported bill with an amend.
ment excepting the laid OF railroad
from Brandon TO the Gulf OF Mexico,
commonly known as the Ship Island
railroad" Mr.. Van Eaton, assisted
by Barksdale and others OF the Missis-
sippi delegation, made sturdy fight
TO pass the amendment, but it was OF
no use, az the House seemed at that
time " be in a humor TO forfeit al
most Vnything pertaining to a rail-
road. The great strikes were pending
and q large majority in the House
sesM % feel ioiebodings OF the COM
ipGW They feared it might be-
CD cyclone and sweep away their
home fences, even to the bottom rail.
This was particularly the case with
all the Western and Northwestern
members, and the opportunity to
killtwo birds with one stone-thst is,
10 make themselves solid with the
strikers" by appearing 10 be IN oppo.
sition 70 all railroad monopolies, and
nj the same time TO give the
South kick for the very
pleasursble enjoyment OF the
extremists OF their constituents
apparently presented 100. many
strong points for renoimnation to be
lost at that time. They did not lose it,
and Van Eaton and the Ship Island
amendment had to succumb to the
more DO Terful influences OF demagogy.
There was however another bill, Of
ieTed by Mr.. Van Eaton, pending be-
fore the committee, simply proposing
to grant an extension OF time to the
Gulf and Ship Island railroad. But its
chances of final success were consd-
cred extremely doubtful by even its
most sanguine friends,
But on the 10Th instant the matter
assumed q new phase altogether, and
the prospects Of the Ship Island rail-
road went way up in the probabilities
OF the near future. Senator Walthsll,
who has been gaining strength and in
huence every day since his advent in
the Senate as the successor OF Secre'
tary Lamar shortly after his elevation
TO the head of the Interior Depart.
ment, introduced the Exception I"
amendment IN the Senate by an able
and carefully prepared report from
the Senate Lands Committee, Of
which he is q member. Such was
his prestige in that body, achiev.
ed mainly through his wise
and conservative votes and short
speeches ON the railroad and land
grant issues, that his report
setting forth the real merits and claims
OF the Ship Island road was passed
without division-unanimously, in
iact-and went Immediately to the
House, where II was passed last Fri
NAV ~ the large majority as above
sstated. The debate in the House,
which was sharp, raS2y and incieiye,
taken in connection wnS tne vote,
clearly indicates that the fna, success
OF the bill extending time TO the emp
leland road TO earn its land grant oil
Nbout half million acres of the pub
lie domain in Mississippi is assured.
In that debate MIR. Payson, chairman
Of the House Land Committee, said :
~ may say, Mr.. Speaker, in as far
as II Is proper to refer to the proceed
ings in the other enl OF the Capitol,
that the Senate undetermined that this
grant shall not be forfeited, and the
question is presented now, as was
presented in January, when the bill
was under consideration whether We
shall avail ourselves of the right we
have Of declaring a forfeiture as TO these
seven roads, which will restore to the
public domain about 100000 acres
OF the public lands, leaving this other
road, the Gulf and Snip Island road,
to be the subject Of separate, indie.
pendent proposition which is pending
before the committee"
So it ecems that the lorg cherished
aspirations OF Mlssissippians TO have
within Their own borders seaport
town is on the point Of realization,
For the last three or four years the
management OF the Ship Island en-
terprise have been maniully strug
Cling TO get it ON footing, and give il
credit which would finally insure III
completion. They have worked faith
fully and made many sacrifices to thi,
end against discoursgemenls and ad
verse circumstances which woulC
havel appalled, .ess lesolute men
Through the aid OF the half million
acres Of the splendidly timbered lane
they are now very certain to get-a
Mr.. Payson says the Senate is deter
mined they shall get 1.-THE road will
be completed beyond a doubt within
the next year or two. The lands EN-
brace alternate sections along thero, I
of 40 miles, and have more thai
treble the value they had in 1856
when the grant was fist secured
But this determination of the Ser
ate is mainly due to the splendi
standing and strong in1uenc
OF Mississippi's new sena,o
Gen. Wathall, ably and efIicientl
supported as he is by Senator Georg,
whose great legal abilities have bee
made so conspicuous Of late in all d,
bates involving points Of constitution!
law. In fact Senator George has show
such profound information au
strength Cf legal aGumen that eve