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KDIYED AND PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY
W!K. B. IIARRISOX.
CITY PRINTER.
Kail Road Convention.
Macon, August 1, 1849.
Acoordinglo previous notice of the City
Council of Macon, a Convention assem
bled at the City Hall, for the purpose of
taking into consideration the propriety of
constructing a Railroad from this place to
some point on the Georgia Railroad.
The meeting was organized by calling
Col. Joseph Dat, a Delegate from the
County of Jones, to the Chair, assisted
by S. A. Bailey, of Muscogee, and T. G.
Hoi.t, of Macon, as Vice Presidents.
Messrs. A. R. Freeman, and Thomas
Hardeman, Jr., were requested to act as
Secretaries.
The following gentlemen presented
their names as Delegates to said Conven
tion, viz:
From the City of Charleston :
Col. James Gadsden, Win. Gregg,
17on. Ker Boyce, John H. Honor,
Dr. Wm. Hume, G. H. Trenholm,
Dr. A. E. Gadsden, Wm. B. Pringle,
Messrs. Wm. Middleton, G. H. Ingraham,
Daniel Heyward, John E. Carcw,
Edward Sebring, Edwin P. Starr,
J. G. O. Wilkinson.
From the Muscogee Railroad .
Messrs. J. 11. Howard, S. A. Bailey,
R. B. Alexander, D. McDougald,
Seaborn Jones, W. B. Halstead,
P. A. Clayton, H. Hall,
J. B. Brooks.
From Hancock County :
Messrs. N. C. Sayre, T. H. Audus,
R. S. Hardwick, D. W. Lewis,
Thomas M. Turner.
From the City of Augusta, :
Messrs. A. J. Miller, Thos. Barret,
J. G McWhorter, F. C. Arms,
Wm. R. McLaws, A. J. Nowland,
F. Blodget, Jr. T. R. Rhodes,
C. E. Grenville, W. A. Walton,
F. T. Willis, M. P. Stovall,
James Gardner, Jr.
From Putnam County:
Messrs. Nathan Bass, J. Farrar,
Joel Branham, J. Wright, Jr.
J. B. Trippe, Robert Bledsoe,
J. R. Hudson, E. Reid,
M. Dennis, Samuel White,
I. Harvey, S. Pearson,
W. T. Young, H. Bridges,
Thomas Bowdin.
From Jones County :
Messrs Joseph Day, Joseph Winship,
J W Slirnpihiro, Petef Glow er,
J. M.Gray, Benj. Barron,
S. F. Slattcr, R. V. Hardeman,
B> N. Snwth, R.T. Lytile,
Asbury Kingman, D. E. Blount,
James Goddard.
From Baldwin County :
Messrs. I. L. Harris, W. S. Rockwell,
11. V. Johnson, B. T. Bethuno,
A. H. Kenan, D. C. Campbell.
From Milltdgtvill « 4' Gordon Railroad :
Messrs. S. Grantland, R. M.Ortne,
R. L. Hunter, Isaac Newell,
Dr. W. A. Jarratt, J. H. Brown.
From the City of Macon :
Messrs. G. M. Logan, Jas. M. Green,
B. F. Ross, Robert Collins,
J. B. Ayres, W. G. Little,
J. \V. Babcock, Charles Campbell,
Win. Collins, Charles Cotton,.
Win. Dibble, T. G. Holt,
T. S. Skinholser, Sam'lJ. Ray,
©. G. Sparks, Win. A. Ross,
W. B. Parker, Jas. Kea,
A.P. Powers, Jas. Denton,
L. N. Whittle, 8. T. Bailey,
Robt't S. Lanier, Washington Poe,
M. S. Graybill, I. C. Plant,
Reroy Napier, A. R. McLaughlin,
J. J. Gresham, P. S. Holt,
John L. Jones, Thos. Wood,
W. B. Johnston, Win. Cowles,
S. T. Chapman, Wm. T. Lightfoot,
James Dban, Thos. B Gorman,
Z. T. Conner, Thos Hardeman, Sr
J. J. Flanders, W. H. Anderson,
J. M. Field, H. J. Lamar,
N. Ousley, T. R. Bloom,
R. A. L. Atkinson, N. H. Beall,
J. B. Lamar, Wm. Scott,
J. H. R. Washington, M. M. Mason.
Mr. Jones, a Delegate from Muscogee,
moved “That the Convention, in all their
ballotings, vote by Delegation.”
Mr. Gardner, a Delegate from the
County of Richmond, moved to amend the
same, by stiiking out “Delegation,” and
inserting in its stead the words “per
capita
Whereupon Mr. Bailey, of Bibb, call
ed for the Yeas and Nays, which are a6
follows :
Charleston. — Nays —Ker Boyce, J. E.
Carew, James Gadsden, A. E. Gadsden,
W. Gregg, D. Heywood, J. H. Honor,
W. Hume, G. H. Ingraham, W. Middle
ton, W. B. Pringle, E, Sebring, E. P.
Starr, G. A. Trenholm.—l4.
Muscogee Railroad.—Nays—R.B.Alex
ander, S. A. Bailey, J. B. Brooks, P. A.
Clayton, H. Hall, W. B. Halstead, J. H.
Howard, Seaborn Jones, D. McDougald.
—9i
Hancock County. —Nays —T.H. Audus,
R. S. Hardwick, D. W. Lewis, N. C.
Sayre, TANARUS, M. Turner.—s.
Avgusta. — Yeas —F. C. Arms, T. Bar
ret, F. Blodget, Jr. ; J. Gardner, Jr.; C.
E. Grenville, W. R. McLaws, A. J. Mil
ler, J. G. McWhorter, A. J. Nowland, T.
R. Rhodes, M. P. Stovall, W. A. Walton.
—l2.
Nay—F. T. Willis—l.
Putnam County — Yeas —N. Bass, Joel
Bianham, R. Bledsoe, T. Bowden, H.
Bridges, M. Dennis, E. Harvey, J. R.
Hudson, S. Pearson, E. Reid, J. B.Trippe,
Sam'l White, J. Wright, Jr.; William T.
Young.—l 4.
Jones County. — Yeas —B. Barron, D.E.
Blount, R. V. Hardeman, A. Kingman, R.
T. Lvttle, D. N. Smith, S. F. Slatter, J.
W. Shropshire.—S.
Nays —P. Clower, J. Winship.— 2.
Baldwin County — Nays —B.T.Bethune,
D. C. Campbell, I. L. Harris, H.V. John
son, A. H. Kenan, W. S. Rockwell.—G.
Milledgeville Sj Gordon Railroad —Nays
—J. H. Brown, S. Grantland, R. L. Hun
ter, W. A. Jarratt, I. Newell, R. M.Orme.
—6.
City of Macon. — Yeas —R. A. L. At
kinson, W. H. Anderson, J. W. Babcock,
S. T. Bailey, T. R. Bloom, W. Collins, S.
T. Chapman, C. Campbell, C. Cotton, Z.
T. Conner, W. Cowles, J. Dean, J. M.
Field, M. S. Graybill, J. M. Green, J. J.
Gresham, T. G. Holt, P. S. Holt, T. Har
deman, Sr.; W. B. Johnston, J. B. La
mar, R. S. Lanier, G. M. Logan, A. li. Mc-
Laughlin, L. Napier, N. Ousley, W. B.
Parker, I. C. Plant, W. Poe, A. P. Pow
ers, J. Rea, S. J. Ray, 13. F. Ross, W.
Scott, J. H. R. Washington, L. N. Whittle,
T. W00d.—37.
Mr. S. T. Chapman,from the Delegation
from Macon, presented the following :
The Delegates from the County of Bibb
beg leave to present to the Convention the
subjoined statement explanatory of the
views and wishes of the people of Macon
in regard to the projected Railroad from
that city to some eligible point on the
Georgia Road :
The State of Georgiahas expended from
her public treasury, and through the muni
ficence of private individuals, nearly thir
teen, millions of dollars for purposes of In
ternal Improvement, and will soon have in
successful operation over seven hundred
miles of Railroad. These expenditures
have been made under a system which
was adopted by a Convention which
assembled in Macon in the year 1836.
That system contemplated mainly a con
nection between the South Allantic Ports
and the great Valley of the Mississippi.—
It has been prosecuted vigorously and un
remittingly, alike by the State and her citi
zens ; and while the great enterprise is
yet on the eve of completion, we witness
its happy effects upon the landed and in
dustrial interests of the State, as well as its
especial influence in yielding prosperity
and wealth to the cities of Savannah and
Charleston.
So far as Georgia is concerned, the
great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic
with the West may he regarded as having
been triumphantly accomplished. Ten
nessee has taken up the work, and is urg
ing it forward with such vigor that, in a
few years, we will have a continuous iron
way from the Atlantic to the banks of the
Upper Mississippi. Another route is in
contemplation, by way of Rome, Ga., to
Memphis, Tenn.; and a third, stretching
into East Tennessee and Western Virgin
ia, is already in process of construction.
While Georgia has been earnestly en
gaged in this greatenterprise, other States
have been equally active in their efforts to
construct a groat transverse thoroughfare
from the extreme North to the extreme
South. An almost continuous Road has
been constructed from Portland, in Maine,
to Wilmington, in North Carolina, and
the citizens of that region are, with a spi
rit of becoming enterprise, actively engag
ed in grading a track from Wilmington to
Manchester upon the Columbia Branch of
the South Carolina Road. This will com
plete an almost continuous and direct Rail
Road communication as far as the Eastern
boundary of Georgia. It has, therefore,
become necessary that the State should be
crossed from East to West. The public
interest and public convenience demand it
—the progressive spirit of the age demands
it—the interests of nearly all the Railroad
Companies of Carolina, Alabama and
Georgia demand it. Candid, sagacious
and liberal-minded men, stand ready to
sacrifice their private prejudices and pri
vate interests for the general good.
The object of our Citizens and City Au
thorities, in callingthis Convention and in
viting gentlemen from abroad to partici
pate in its proceedings, was and is, to pre
sent certain considerations, showing that
the contemplated crossing should be made
through the city of Macon—that such a
Road, if properly located, would pay a
handsome return to the Stockholders, and
develope valuable resources—that it would
be an important feeder to the other Rail
Roads, and add materially to the wealth
and prosperity of those commercial marts
which may aid in its construction.
The two Railroads which terminate in
Macon, during the last year transacted a
business worth about eight hundred thous
and dollars The receipts of Cotton, in
the warehouses and in transitu, at Macon,
during eleven months ending on the 31st
ult., amount to nearly 165,000 bales. It
is confidently believed that, when the
South-Western Road is put into operation,
even to the Flint River (by October,lßso) it
will add 50,000 bales to the annual re
ceipts of this place. .1 he iropresion seems
now to be universal that the Columbus
Road will unite with the South-Western
either at Flint River or Fort Valley.
This will add from GO to 70,000 bales
more to the annual receipts of Macon. It
is apparent therefore, that, in a few years,
Macon will be the largest inland cotton
market of the South, having an annual re
ceipt of from 250,000 to 300,000 bales.
This will not be deemed an extravagant
calculation, especially if we consider the
inexhaustible i’cilility of the soil in the
South West, and the immense extent of
country yet to he brought into cultivation.
With such an immense amount of cotton
concentrated at Macon, hercarrying trade
will become immensely valuable, and an
opportunity to compete for it, on equal
terms, w ill be equally sought after by all
capitalists and merchants of enlarged and
liberalized views. Nor will her return
trade be less an object of attraction. The
concentration of so large an amount of
cotton will naturally accumulate capital
at this jxrint, and stimulate extensive pur
chases of grain, bacon, dry-goods, groce
ries, plantation supplies, &c. See.
Here, then, is a rich prize—one which
cannot fail to invite a spirited competition
among the rival monied and mercantile in
terests of the South. Savannah has, thus
far, enjoyed a partial monopoly of this
trade ; and, while we have no disposition
either to undervalue her enterprise or dis
regard her prosperity, we feel that our
own personal and pecuniary interests
prompt us to invite a fair and honorable
competition from another quarter. We
feel that we are the more justified in pur
suing this course from the fact that, du
ring a portion of the last business year,
the motive-power upon the Central Road
was wholly inadequate to the prompt trans
action of all the business which offered ;
and from the further fact, that, notwith
standing this inability to transact ihe busi
ness at Macon, the Board of Directors
persisted in a system of unjust discrimina
tion in freights, against the Macon mer
chants, for the purpose of attracting busi
ness from points beyond. This was the
more to be deprecated because it tended
to build up rival towns, which had contri
buted nothing towards the construction of
the Central Road, and to injure the peo
ple of Macon, who had actually, in their
corporate capacity, incurred a debt of
$250,000 to aid in the completion of that
work. In addition to this, the people of
Macon afforded no inconsiderable assist
ance to the enterprise by means of private
subscriptions, and have borne faithfully
the burthens of an onerous taxation forthe
last twelve years. l'hese evidences of
fraternal regard, on the part of Macon,
ought to entitle her merchants and people
lo the favorable regard of the Central
Company, or, at least, to have secured
to them equal privileges and advantages
with the merchants of those towns which
contributed nothing towards the construc
tion of the Central Road.
Macon, then, has the trade ; but having
exhausted her means in the construction
of other works, she is not now in posses
sion of funds sufficient to justify her in at
tempting, alone, the opening of a direct
communication with the Georgia Road
and witli the cities of Augusta and Charles
ton. She has consequently thought it pro
per to invite the assemblage, at this point,
of delegates from different sections, for
the purpose of conference and delibera
tion. Though poor, she is willing to in
cur her full share of the expense of the
undertaking. Confident that she enjoys
unparalleled advantages of position, she is
nevertheless willing that others should
share liberally in the benefits to he derived
from the enterprise.
'l'he proposed Road will form an im
portant link in the great iron chain des
tined soon to connect the North Atlantic
Cities with New Orleans. Its completion
will liqvg n direct influence in urging for
ward the Southwestern Road to its pro
posed terminus at Pensacola. That this
route will become the great thoroughfare
oftravel will he apparent from the follow
ing statement of distances, viz :
From Augusta to Atlanta, 171 miles.
“ Atlanta to Montgomery, 168 “
“ Mont’ry to Mobile,(river)327 “
“ Mobile to N. Orleans, 159 “
825 “
From Augusta to Macon, 145 miles.
“ Macon to Pensacola, 280 “
“ Pensacola to N. Orleans, 190 “
615 “
The difference in favor of the Macon and
Pensacola route, therefore, is 210 miles.
It follows that the Southwestern route
would not only have the preference over
any other inland route, but that it would
successfully compete even with the Mis
sissippi River for the travel of the entire
Gulf region, embracing Central and West
Florida, South Alabama, Mississippi and
Louisiana, as well as Texas and Mexico.
This travel, when concentrated at Macon,
must necessarily be entirely lost to the
Georgia Road, unless directed across the
country by some such route as is proposed.
The unparalleled success of the Savannah
Steamers, in competing for through travel,
even at present, should warn Augusta
and Charleston of their impending fate,
provided they neglect to guard against
the influences of the South-Western Road
when completed.
Nor is this all. It now seems to be
generally conceded that the Columbus
Company will join the South-Western at
Fort Valley or at some point further West.
This will leave only a few miles to be con
structed from Columbus, West, in order
to complete the line of Railroad from Ma
con to Montgomery, Alabama. Travel
lers, as a general thing, will always give a
prefe fence to those lineswhich passthrough
the largest cities and the most productive
cotton region.—Nor will the travel upon
this route be an insignificant item. A
Railroad is already in operation from Vick
burg, by way of Jackson to Brandon, Mis
sissippi,and vigorous efforts are now being
made to extend it to Montgomery, Ala
bama. This road will traverse the most
wealthy and densely populated sections
of Mississippi and Alabama. It will also
attract no inconsiderable amount of trav
el from Upper Texas and Arkansas. It
w illbeagrand thoroughfare for emigrants,
as well as businessmen, and will of course
contribute something towards the support
of the Columbus Road, as well as the pro
posed line from Macon towards Augusta.
Should this system of roads he perfect
ed, as it undoubtedly will in a few years,
Macon will be connected by Railroad
with Savannah, Charleston, Augusta,
Athens, Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis,
Vicksburg, Montgomery, Columbus, and
Pensacola. She will, in fact, he the com
mon point to which nearly all the great
Southern improvements will tend. To
use perhaps an extravagant expression
she will become the great turning-table of
the South. With the amount of cotton
which we have estimated her to receive,
and the amount of travel which she will
necessarily enjoy, we cannot doubt that
her increase in population, prosperity and
trade, will be such as to enable her to con
tribute largely towards the support of a
direct Road to Augusta and Charleston.
Having said thus much in general terms,
we now propose to speak more particular
ly in regard to the proposed enterprise.—
Several routes have been spoken of. We
append the following schedule of distances
Macon to Madison, : : 55 miles.
Madison to Augusta, : : 103 *•
Macon to Augusta, : 158 “
Macon to Union Point, : 65 “
Union Point to Augusta, : 76 “
Macon to Augusta, : : 111 “
Macon to Oconee Bridge, 55 “
Oconee Bridge to Augusta, 90 “
Macon to Augusta, : 145 “
Macon to Warrenton, : 75 “
Warrenton to Augusta, : 51 “
i °
Macon to Augusta, : : 126 “
Os these routes, the two which seem to
meet with most favor are those from Ma
con to Warrenton and from Macon to Oco
nee Bridge. The first route would extend
by way of Milledgeville and Sparta, and
the second through Jones and Putnam
counties. As between these routes, the
people of Macon, without a dissenting
voice would prefer the latter. To adopt
the Milledgeville route would render it
necessary to use the Central Road to Gor
don, and the Georgia Road from Warren
ton to Augusta. This would involve a
complicat ion of interests which would lead
to interminable difficulties and disputes.
Besides, the use of the Central Road would
be wholly incompatible with the purposes
of the people of Macon, which prompt to
the construction of an independent rival
route. To use the Central Iload, there
fore, at all, would be to place ourselves at
the mercy of that Company, and to defeat
our object entirely. To render this route
available, then, it would be necessary to
construct a road direct from Macon to Mil
ledgeville. This would involve such a
heavy additional costas to defeat the en
tire enterprise. Besides, we could ex
pect but little assistance from the planters
residing along a part of the line.
On the contrary, the route through Jones
and Putnam would be more easily and
speedily constructed—would cost a much
less sum of money—would not conflict
with any other interest—and, withal,pass
es through a wealthy, prosperous region,
settled by liberal planters, who would con
tribute substantial aid towards its con
struction. Besides, for this route a most
liberal charter has already been granted
by the Legislature, under which an organ
ization could be at once effected. This
Delegation, therefore, has not the slight
est hesitation in recommending the adop
tion of the existing charter and the imme
diate formation of a company, for the con
struction of a road direct to Madison, or
to the nearest and most eligible point on
the Georgia Road.
Such a road would be about fifty-five
miles in length, and would cost, including
everything, not far from six hundred
thousand dollars. It would connect the
Eastern part of the State with the Wes
tern, and the North-Eastern with the
South-Western, as well as with the Sea
board. It would lead directely to a union
of three great inland cities, Augusta, Ma
con and Columbus. It would serve as a
feeder both to the South-Western and
Georgia Roads ; nor would it conflict, to
any serious extent, with any of the other
great improvements of the State.
In order to give a more precise idea of
the cost of these routes, we append the
following estimates. It is not here pre
tended that they do more than approxim
ate to the truth ; they may, however, serve
to aid the member of the Convention in
arriving at correct conclusions :
WARRENTON ROUTE—7S MILES.
30 miles Grading, at $4,500 $135,000
5 “ “ “ 7,000 350,000
25 “ “ “ 2,000 50,000
15 “ “ “ 3,000 45,000
65 $265,000
Bridges and Masonry, $75,000
75 miles Superstructure, 85,000
75 “ Iron, with Turn-outs, 300,000—5460,000
$725,000
7 Locomotives, &c., $49,000
Cars, &c., 25,000
Buildings and Tools, 10,000
Supervision and right of way 26,000 —$110,000
Cost of Road Equipments, $835,000
Note. — The Milledgeville Recorder estimates
the distance from Macon to Warrenton at 81
miles, and from Warrenton to Augusta 50 miles
—making the entire distance 131 miles *
OCONEE BRIDGE ROUTE—SS MILES.
10 miles Grading, at $5,000 $-">0,000
20 “ “ “ 3,500 70,000
25 “ “ “ 2,000 50,000
Bridges aud Masonry, say 60,000
$230,000
55 miles Superstructure, $65,000
55 “ Iron, with Turn-outs &c. 220,000
5 Locomotives, &c., 35,000
Cars, 20,000
Buildings and Tonis, 10,000
Supervision and right of way, 20,000-$370,000
Cost of Road and Equipments, $600,000
The route from Macon to Madison
would cost some $600,000, while that
from Macon io Union Point would cost
nearly $700,000.
It is believed that the Road from
Macon to the Oconee Bridge would he
more advantageous to the Georgia Com
pany, especially as it would give them the
advantages of the travel and freight over
fully one-half of their Road, while, by the
Warrenton route, they would enjoy them
for less than one-third of the entire dis
tance. —Neither can it he doubted that
this Road would pay a reasonable profit
upon the investment. Taking the aver
age number of passengers by the three
principal Roads in the State as the basis
of our calculation, we think it is not extrav
agant to suppose that this Road will carry
an average of forty-five passengers per
day, at $2 each, and 75,000 hales of cotton
per annum, at 50 cents each. We then
have the following earnings :
45 Passengers, at $2 each, 365 days, $32,850
75,000 bales of Cotton, at 50 cents each, 37,500
Back Freights, 35,000
Grain, Produce, Stock, Manufactured
Goods, &c. : : : 15,000
Mail, : - : : 5,000
Total Earnings, : : : $ 1^5,350
Cost of Motive-power, Expenses,
Wear and Tear of Road, Sal
aries, &c. &c. : ; ; 75,000
Nett Earnings, : : : $50,350
This is over eight per cent, on the ori
ginal cost of $600,000. The calculation
is based upon the supposition that the
road will he worked as an independent
concern ; whereas, it may not he improper
to suggest, that a considerable amount
might be saved by working it in connection
with the Georgia Road, aud under one set
of officers.
In view, then, of the advantages result
ing from the proposed Road to the City
of Macon—to the planting interests along
the route —to the Georgia Railroad Com
pany—the City of Augusta and the great
commercial and Railroad interests of Car
olina, we cannot hut feel confident that the
necessary means will he raised for its con
struction.
1. It will give to Macon a choice of
markets, and forever secure her against
unjust discriminations upon freights. By
making this the point of competition for
freights, it will concentrate here the cot
tons which of late years have found their
way to other markets. It will place her
upon the gieat throughfares of travel,
both North and South, East and West,
and in the very focus of enterprise and
trade. If the present Railroad system is
completed, in a few years the Groceries
from the West Indies, the Dry Goods
from England, and the produce and Man
ufactures and Cotton Bagging, from the
interior and Great West, will all meet in
Macon ; and there is no reason why our
business should not be doubled and quad
rupled by their purchase and exchange.
2. This road will give to the planters
of Jones, Putman, Jasper, and parts of
Baldwin and Morgan, a choice of markets
for their produce, as well as the means of
trnncnnrt i nrr if tliitljor CTCHtIv rCxl'ilUcd
O J iCUULUU
prices. It will, therefore, enhance the
value of every acre of land, and every ne
gro which they own. The planters, then,
ought to take hold of it with energy.
They can work out their stock and make
a better interest at it than they now do
in raising cotton, even at the present en
hanced prices.
3. The Georgia and Carolina Roads
will both be benefitted. It will carry to
them freights and travel, the profits from
which, alone, in five years, would pay for
the construction of one-half of the road.
It will add to the trade and prosperity of
both Augusta and Charleston, and open to
them a hack country of unparalelled
wealth and fertility ; the trade of which,
they can never reach or command, unless
the road in question is constructed.
With these views, thus hurriedly and
disconnectedly expressed, the Macon
Delegation beg leave to submit the whole
subject to the action of the Convention,
invoking as they do, its active and substan
tial co-operation in the proposed underta
king.
Respectfully submitted, &c. r
On motion of J. J. Gresham, this com
munication was referred to a Committee
of Three from each Delegation, selected
by the Delegates themselves, to report to
this Convention, at 5 o’clock this afternoon.
The following Committees were select
ed, viz :
From Charleston —James Gadsden, G.
H. Trenholm, E. P. Starr.
From Hancock County —T. M. Turner,
T. H. Audus, N. C. Sayre.
From Augusta —J. G. McWhorter, F.
C. Arms, A. J. Miller.
From Jones County —D. N. Smith, B.
Barron, A. Kingman.
From Muscogee County —J. 11. Howard,
D. McDougald, Seaborn Jones.
From Bibb County —W. Toe, A. P.
Powers, S. T. Chapman.
From Baldwin County —A. H. Kenan,
R. L. Hunter, D. C. Campbell.
From Putnam County —Robert Bledsoe,
S. Fearspn, N. Bass,
5 O’CLOCK, p. J\l l
The Convention met according to ad
journment.
The Chairman of the Committee made
the following Report:
Resolved, That the nearest and most
practicable route from Macon to August
through Milledgeville, is the most eligible'
and beneficial route of a Railroad from
Macon to Augusta, and will conduce most
to the interest of the sections of the State
concerned.
After some discussion the report of the
Committee was received, and the Com.
miltee discharged.
Mr. Bass, of Putnam, offered the follow
ing as a substitute for the report of the
Committee :
Resolved, That this Convention recom
mend to the parties interested, the con
struction of a Railroad from Macon to
some point on the Georgia Railroad, West
of the Oconee river—that the President
appoint a Committee of , to take
all initiatory and necessary steps to pro
cure subscriptions and obtain a charter
fiom the next Legislature.
After some discussion, ihe Convention
adjourned until 9 o’clock, A. M., To-mor
row.
Thursday Morning, Aug. 2, 1849.
The Convention assembled at 9 o’clock.
Mr. Poe, a Delegate from Bibb, offered
the following preamble and resolution :
For the purpose of settling all conflict
ing views in relation to the route of the
contemplated Railroad, and placing the
matter upon the basis upon which it will
eventually have to stand,
Resolved, That a Committee of three
be appointed in each of the counties of
Muscogee, Bibb, Baldwin, Hancock, War
ren and Richmond, and in the City of
Charleston, who shall immediately open
books of subscription for a Railroad to be
constructed from the City of Macon, via
Milledgeville and Sparta, to the Town of
Warrenton ;
And that a like Committee be also ap
pointed in the counties of Muscogee, Bibb,
Jones, Pu'nam, Morgan and Richmond,
and in the City of Charleston, who shall
open books of subscription for a Railroad
to be constructed from the City of Macon,
via Clinton and Eatonton, to the Georgia
Road in the county of Morgan, and that
said Committees be requested to report
the amount of their subscription to an ad
journed meeting of this Convention, at
the City of Augusta on the fourth Wednes
day in September, that the friends of the
respective routes may then take such fur
ther action on the subject as may be
deemed necessary.
On motion of Mr. Kenan, a Delegate
from Baldwin, the preamble was stricken
out, and the resolution amended to read
as follows :
Resolved, That a Committee of three
be appointed in each of the counties of
Muscogee, Bibb, Jones, Putnam, Morgan
and Richmond, and in the City of Charles
ton, who shall open books of subscription
for a Railroad to be constructed from the
City of Macon, via Clinton and Eatonton,
to the Georgia Railroad in the county of
Morgan, and that said Committees be re
quested to report the amount of their sub
scripiions to an adjourned meeting of this
Convention, at the City of Augusta on the
fourth Wednesday in September.
Carried.
Mr. Whittle, a Delegate from Bibb,
offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the different delegations
from Muscogee, Jones, Putnam, Augusta,
and the City of Charleston, he each re
quested to appoint three Commissioners
to open hooks of subscription for stock in
the proposed Railroad from Macon to
Madison, or some point on the Georgia
Railroad West of the Oconee River, and
that said Delegations assemble this after
noon at 4 o’clock to receive the report and
take such further action as may he deemed
necessary.
Carried.
Four O'clock, P. M.
The Convention assembled.
The names of Commissioners appoint
ed under the resolution of Mr. Whittle,
were as follows :
Charleston —J. E. Carew, J. 11. Honor,
E. P. Starr.
Augusta —J. P. King, P. Stovall, W.
M. D’Antignac.
Jones—R. V. Hardeman, James God
dard, Charles Hutchins.
Putnam —A. S. Reid, N. Bass, S. A.
W ales.
Bibb —T. Hardeman, Sr. j G. M. Logan,
L. N. Whittle.
On motion, the counties ofMorgan and
Jasper were invited to appoint commis
sioners to open books of subscription for
the proposed Railroad.
Resolved, That the Commissioners of
the several counties interested in the con
struction of this Road be recommended at
their discretion to call Public Meetings at
an early day in their several counties, for
the purpose of exciting an interest in tha
enterprise.
On motion of Mr. Washington, a Del
egate from Bibb,
Resolved, That the thanks of this Con
vention be tendered to the President and
Vice Presidents and to the Secretaries of
the Convention for the dignified, impar
tial and faithful manner in which they
have honored tts with their services.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this
Convention be published in the City I’ a "
pers and at Augusta and Charleston.
JOSEPH DAY, Piesident.
S. A. BAILEY, V. Pres’t.
T. G. HOLT, V. Pies’t.
A. R. Freeman, } Secretaries.
Thos. Hardeman, Jr. J