| From the Jacksonville (Ala.) Republican |
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| February 20, 1862 |
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| The Dalton & Jacksonville Railroad |
| We are glad to see, now that the first shock of the war
is over, that there is a recuperative force at work to carry on and
perfect our system of Internal Improvements. We have noticed of late
several new lettings, and are assured that rail road work is
going on in every part of the country. Certainly there is no reason why
it should not -- while there are many reasons that public work of all
kinds should be pressed forward at this time in particular. It is
acknowledged by all, that with our ports closed to easy export and
commerce abroad, that the cotton planting of the present season should
be small -- much less than usual. We must have work for our negroes,
and how, we would ask, can they be better employed than in preparing the
road-bed and superstructure of the various lines of railroad that have
been commenced throughout the country. |
| We noticed in a late paper the arrival of ten car loads
of negroes in Augusta from the coast, merely to get the away from the
coast. This is a wise movement on the part of their owners, who
would no doubt be glad to take stock in any feasible railroad to the
amount of the services of their negroes, because they have no work for
them to do at home. |
| We see that the work has been let for a Railroad
between Selma and Montgomery, to be completed in 18 months. By that time
the whole line of Roads will most likely be completed to Marshall,
Texas, some 200 miles West of Vicksburg and the Mississippi. These Roads
will pour a vast deal of freight and travel into Selma, which unless the
Dalton & Jacksonville Rail Road is completed, will be passed to
Montgomery, Macon and Atlanta, and thus lost to the Alabama and
Tennessee lines of Railway. |
| The cars are now running to within 9 miles of
Jacksonville, leaving only 100 miles (to Dalton) to be finished to make
the rail complete from Selma to Richmond. |
| Were the railway lines complete it would be from Selma
to Richmond by Atlanta and Wilmington 942 miles -- by way of Atlanta and
Knoxville 903 miles -- by way of Jacksonville and Dalton 804. These
comparisons show the importance of the road to the traveller and the
merchant -- and the Government might well be interested in the
construction of the Dalton & Jacksonville Rail Road, as it would save
both time and money in the transportation of troops and army supplies. |
| We understand that the Alabama and Tennessee Companies
will soon be in Convention to consider a plan for their combined effort
in the early completion of this Road. |
| North Ga. (Dalton) Times |
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