NP, CJ 2/15/1862

From the Clarksville, Tenn. Jeffersonian
 
February 15, 1862
 
Another Railroad Scheme in Congress
   We learn that another railroad scheme has been proposed to the Military Committee of Congress for the completion, as "a military necessity," of the Memphis & Little Rock railroad, beginning on the west bank of the Mississippi river at Hopefield, immediately opposite the city of Memphis, and terminating at Little Rock, in the State of Arkansas.
   The proposition of the company is for an advance of half a million of dollars in Confederate bonds, which they propose to secure by an equal amount of their own bonds, and to redeem the advance within two years, giving such personal security therefor as may be approved by the Secretary of War. The condition of the advance is to be that the road shall be completed by the first of July next.
   It is claimed that this road is very important to the Confederate Government, in view of the vast saving, both in time and cost, of transportation of troops and munitions of war to Northern Arkansas and Missouri.
   The road is finished and in operation from the Mississippi river to the St. Francis, a distance of forty miles, including the bridge across the St. Francis river.
   From White river to Little Rock, on the Arkansas river, a distance of fifty-five miles, the road will be completed in a few days, and would have been completed earlier, but for the detention of the iron at New Orleans by the Confederate Receiver, upon the hypothesis that it was the property of alien enemies.
   On the middle division of the road, between the St. Francis and White rivers, a distance of forty-five miles, the heaviest pat of the grading is done, and a large quantity of cross ties, and iron for fifteen miles of the road are on hand, leaving a deficit in iron of two thousand five hundred tons, which, it is believed, can be obtained from other roads upon which the work has been suspended in consequence of the war
Richmond Examiner, 7th

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