The Forrest City times., 1897-01-22

| suring the lender the recovery of the price, is certainly q more just and
 equitable system, and one more to the
 credit of our state and people than the
 one now existing. The tendency of
 such system. 1t occurs to me. will be
 to bring into the state all the money
 that may be needed for legitimate pur-
 poses, and at price which will leave
 some room for profits to those obtain.
 ing it.
 Building Railroads. One of the greatest needs of our
 state is more transportation facilities.
 We have mountains abounding in most
 valuable minerals, and forests filled
 with most valuable timbers, which are
 mere dead capital upon our hands and
 must remain so until means are pro-
 vided for reaching market for them.
 We have, moreover, as equally pro- ductive soil, salubrious climate. health- restoring waters, and generous, hos pitable, brave, law-abidng. liberty loving, Anglo-SaXon men and women
 as can be found anywhere on Gods
 footstool; and yet we have failed thus
 far to utilize the means at our dispos-
 al so as to receive the full benefit of
 these great advantages. We have
 waited all these past years for help from the outside, instead of using the means belonging to US to help our selves.
 The question of
 What to Do With the Convicts
 In our penitentiary, so as to make them self-supporting and at the same time not competing with the honest la
 Dor of our own people, has been one of our most difficult problems requiring solution. l have given much thought and some investigation to this subject, and can find no substantial objection to the plan adopted by some of the other southern states of utilizing this labor in building railroads to be owned
 by the state. It is not necessary for the state to operate these railroads after being built. if it be objectionable, as some contend, to do so. They can
 be leased under proper regulations, and be made a source of considerable i revenue to the state, and thereby less en the burdens of taxation. Two trunk lines, running in north and southland east and west direction, to be after wards supplemented by branch lines into the interior, would be of incalcu- lable benefit to our people. This can be done with small expense, without ! fixing any future pecuniary liability upon the state, and without any ueces- sity for creating additional public of fees. 1
 Recommend the Passage of an act for this purpose Such an act should put the duty of carrying out its provisions upon a board com posed of such executive state officers as you may deem advisable. making them for that purpose body polite, capable of sueing and being sued, and empowering them with authority to re- ceive donations of money, lands and other things of value, and to locate and construct the lines of railroad; but to first construct upon the line for the construction of which the largest do- nations of money shall be subscribed and paid The money In the state treasury amounting to the sum of S102 900, belonging to the swamp land and internal improvement funds, for
 which there is no other present use, might be loaned to the board for this purpose, to be afterwards repaid out of the earnings of the railroads when built. The board should have the use of at least 300 of the state convicts for the
 Purpose of Constructing the roads, proper provision being made
 for the management and control of such convicts while being thus used. It should also have power to borrow { money for the purpose of purchasing rails, etc, including rolling stock and all necessary appliances for operating the roads. and to execute and deliver bonds and mortgages and create liens upon the roads for the payment of such money, but with the express pro- vision in the act and stipulation in the
 bonds and mortgages that the state shall in no event whatever, be liable or responsible in any manner for the payment of such money or any part thereof. The board should also have authority to operate, or to lease, the roads when completed and ready for use, or as sections of them may be completed and ready for use. as may be deemed most advisable. Other neces- sary provisions for such an act will readily suggest themselves to you. Conclusion.
 There are, doubtless, other matters of legislation which will demand your attention. l have suggested such only as appear to me to be of grave impor- tance. In times like these, when we feel so sensitiyely "the paralyzing pressure of the shrinking metallic shroud' which has been put upon US so shamefully against our will, and which it is out Of our power to re- move, we must look to ourselves, to our own energies and to the resources which God has so mercifully placed at our disposal, as the only possible means of relief. It would be best, even in the most prosperous times, to use these means to the best advantage and for all they are worth; but now it is our imperative duty to do so. Let us lift our beloved state out of the ruts in which she has heretofore journeyed, and place her upon the highway of progress and prosperity where she of right belongs, and our children's chil- l dren will rise up to call us blessed I | sincerely trust that your deliberations l will be guided by Him from whom all l