| From the Southern Republic (Opelika, Al.) |
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| March 16, 1861 |
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| Public Lands in Alabama |
| We mentioned in our last issue that a disposition had
been shown in our State Convention to grant a portion of the public
lands belonging to the State to aid in the construction of a Rail Road
to connect the navigable waters of the Alabama and Tennessee Rivers.
Since then we notice that an ordinance is being proposed to give lands
to sundry Rail Roads, we do not know which Roads are included in this,
but inferring from previous proceedings we suppose that it refers to
certain Roads in the State that have received no land. This would be
proper; and in this connection we would mention the Opelika & Talladega
Rail Road as a very proper recipient of such aid. This Road has never
applied for any aid from the State, nor received any. Even the small
pittance on a small loan of a small portion of the two and three per
cent. bond was denied her while the State was dispensing her favors to
other Roads but the Company has nevertheless persevered in their
enterprise and has today placed the enterprise upon a re?? basis. This
Road penetrates the Granit, Slate and Soapstone regions of Coosa, the
marble and lime beds of Talladega, and in its proposed extens on iron
from Childersburg direct to Tuscumbia, the immense Coal fields and Iron
beds of central Alabama. We contend that this Road will develop more
mineral wealth than any Road in the State, and more, that portion of the
line between Tuscumbia and the North & South Alabama Central Road, comes
nearer filling the bill in regard to connecting the waters of the
Alabama and Tennessee Rivers than any Road projected. It will give the
nearest route by rail from Florence its head of navigation on the
Tennessee river, by the N. E. & S. W. Alabama Rail Road to Tuscaloosa on
the Black Warrior and by the Alabama Central R. R. to Montgomery on the
Alabama river. It is the only Road now projected that will open this
country to East Alabama, and will give a cheaper and more expeditious
transit to all provisions bought by this portion of the State from the
Northwest; the saving in this item alone would be no small revenue to
East Alabama. |
| The people are bound to have it built and are now
struggling to that effect, and we do contend that the Road is justly
entitled to a reasonable amount of aid from the State, and to this end
we respectfully submit its claims to the consideration of the
Convention. |
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