ALABAMA.

Population in 1830, 309.527; in 1840, 590,756; in 1850, 771,671. Area in square miles, 50,722; inhabitants to square mile, 15.21.

Mobile and Ohio railroad.-The first of the great works of the character we have described is the Mobile and Ohio railroad, extending from Mobile, on the Gulf of Mexico, to the mouth of the Ohio river, a distance of 594 miles. From Mobile it will be extended down Mobile bay to a point where a depth of 20 feet of water is reached at low tide, making the whole length of line 609 miles. The route traversed is remarkably favorable. There are no grades in the direction of the heavy traffic exceeding 30 feet to the mile. The highest point of elevation above the gulf is only 505 feet. No bridges are required above 130 feet long. The estimated cost of the road, with a liberal outfit, is $10,000,000. Of the whole line, 33 miles are already in operation; but the work is in progress upon 279 more, and the balance will be immediately placed under contract. It is intended to have the whole line completed within three years from the present time. The company are fast securing ample means for its construction, which are materially strengthened by a recent liberal donation of land by the general government. That portion of the line through the State of Tennessee is provided for by the recent internal improvement act of that State. The work is under the most efficient management, and its completion within the shortest practicable period is unquestioned.

The importance of this work, both to the city of Mobile and the whole southern country, can hardly be over-estimated. By means of it the produce of the South may, with the greatest expedition, be brought alongside of ships drawing 20 feet water. The route traversed is nearly equidistant from the navigable waters of the Tombigbee river on the one hand, and the Mississippi on the other. It traverses a region deficient in any suitable means of transportation-one of the richest portions of the United States. Flanking, as it will, a very large portion of the best cotton lands in the country, it must secure to Mobile a large supply of this article, ordinarily sent to New Orleans. From the ease and cheapness with which the planter will be enabled to forward his staple to market, the road will stimulate the production of cotton to an extraordinary extent. It will also develop numerous other resources now lying dormant, and will give rise to a greater variety of pursuits, so essential to the best interests of the South. This work cannot fail to give extraordinary impulse to the growth of Mobile, and to secure to it a prominent rank among the principal commercial cities. Another great line of railroads commencing in Alabama, though at present resting upon the Alabama river at Selma, to be eventually carried to Mobile, is the Alabama and Tennessee River railroad. The line of this road extends from Selma to the Tennessee river at Gunter's Landing, a distance of 210 miles. The more immediate object of its construction is to accommodate the local traffic of the route traversed, although a large business is anticipated from the connexions hereafter to be formed.

It is proposed to extend this road from Jacksonville to Dalton, Georgia, to connect with the great line already described, traversing the entire country, and passing through northern Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and central and western Virginia, and to which the above road will form the southern trunk, and connect this great line with the Gulf of Mexico. The Alabama and Tennessee railroad will also form a link in another important chain of roads, extending from the gulf to the great lakes. From Gunter's Landing, its northern terminus, it will be carried forward to the Nashville and Chattanooga road at Winchester, by the Winchester and Alabama road, now in progress. From Winchester to Nashville the Nashville and Chattanooga road is now in operation. From Winchester two routes are proposedone by way of Nashville and Louisville, a portion of which is in operation, and the balance amply provided for; and the other by way of McMinnville and Sparta, Tennessee, and Danville and Lexington, Kentucky. From Winchester to McMinnville a road is in progress, as is one from Cincinnati to Danville, on the northern portion of the line. The link unprovided for is about 250 miles long. The Tennessee portion of this is embraced in the internal improvement act of that State, and vigorous measures are in progress to secure the means requisite to the work, both in Tennessee and Kentucky. When these connecting lines shall be completed, the Alabama and Tennessee road will sustain the relation of a common trunk to all.

The Alabama Central railroad, commencing in the State of Mississippi, and extending to Selma, is the appropriate extension, east, of the Mississippi Southern railroad, designed to traverse the State of Mississippi centrally from west to east. This line has been placed under contract from the State line to Selma. It is proposed to extend it still farther eastward, so as to form a connexion at Montgomery with the Montgomery and West Point road. By the completion of the above work and its connecting lines, a direct and continuous railroad would be formed, extending from the Atlantic ports of Charleston and Savannah to the Mississippi river at Vicksburg, and traversing, for a greater portion of the distance, a region of extraordinary productiveness. Its importance as a through-line of travel will be readily appreciated from an examination of the accompanying map. The whole of this great line, with the exception of the link from Selma to Montgomery, which will, for the present, be supplied by the Alabama river, is in progress. Another ine of very considerable magnitude is the proposed road from: Girard, a town upon the Chattahoochee river, opposite Columbus, to Mobile, under the title of the Girard railroad. A portion of the eastern division of this road is under contract. Its whole length is about 210 miles. It traverses, for a considerable part of its length, a rich planting region, only sparsely settled, for the want of suitable avenues. This line would form a very important extension of the Muscogee and the Georgia system of roads. Of its eventual construction there can be no doubt, though the means applicable to the work may not secure this result immediately. The line occupies a very important throughroute, and the project will be likely to receive the attention of other parties interested in its extension, so soon as they shall be released from their present duties, by the completion of the works upon which they ..are now occupied.

The Memphis and Charleston railroad. the line of which traverses the great Tennessee valley in Alabama from east to west, has already been briefly noticed. It commences at Memphis, the most important town upon the Mississippi between New Orleans and St. Louis, and passing through portions of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, forms a junction with the Nashville and Chattanooga road in the northeastern portion of the last named State. Its length is 281 miles; the whole line is under contract. Its estimated cost is about $3,000,000. Nearly the whole cost of the road is subscribed in stock; and, as ample means for construction are already provided, the work will be urged forward toward completion with all practicable despatch.

The above line includes two of the old railroad projects of 1837; the Lagrange, and the Tuscumbia and Decatur. The former of these was abandoned after its line was nearly graded; the latter was completed with a flat rail, and has for late years been worked by horses as the motive-power. The original object of the last named road was to serve as a portage around the "Muscle Shoals," which in low water are a complete obstruction to the navigation of the Tennessee river. Both of the above roads have been merged in the Memphis and Charleston road, and are now portions of it, and their direction coincides with that of the great line. Their adoption will diminish largely the cost of the latter.

The Memphis and Charleston road, as part of a great line connecting, by a very direct and favorable route, the leading southern Atlantic cities, Charleston and Savannah, with the Mississippi river, may be urged as of national importance, and must become the channel of a large trade and travel. Its western division will form a convenient outlet to the Mississippi river, for that portion of the Tennessee valley; and will save the long circuit at present made by way of the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers. For the eastern part of this great valley, it will afford a convenient outlet to the Atlantic ports. It will, when completed, form a part of the shortest practicable line of railroad between the Mississippi and the Atlantic-a fact in itself sufficient to establish its claims to public consideration. For the greater part of its length it traverses the "Tennessee valley," one of the most fertile districts in the United States. This road will add largely to the commercial importance of Charleston and Savannah, by securing to them a portion of a large trade now drawn off to the Mississippi for want of an eastern outlet.

The only considerable work in operation in Alabama, is the Montgomery and West Point railroad. This being one of the early projects of the South, was unfortunate in its original mode of construction, and has consequently been unproductive till within a few years. Under its present efficient management the road has been completely renovated; and now properly takes rank among the leading southern projects. It traverses a fertile and productive region, and has a large local business. It occupies an important position to the great throughline of travel between the North and the South. Travellers from Mobile and New Orleans can reach Montgomery by steamboat, at nearly all seasons of the year. From that point the line of travel is carried forward to the boundary line of Georgia, by the above railroad. From

West Point to the Georgia roads, the distance is less than 100 miles; and this link will shortly be supplied by the Atlanta and Lagrange railroad. The route of the Montgomery and West Point railroad is identical with that of a great line of travel, and is already in possession of a large through-business, which will be much increased by the progress of southern railroads. It may be here stated, that it is proposed to connect the last portion of this road with Columbus, so as to form a junction with the Muscogee railroad. Such an improvement would constitute the Montgomery and West Point road the trunk of two great eastern lines. It is also proposed to extend a line of railroad from Montgomery to Mobile. Although there can be no doubt of the ultimate realization of this last project, it is not yet sufficiently matured to demand further notice.

MISSISSIPPI.

Population in 1830, 136,621; in 1840, 375,651; in 1850, 600,555. Area in square miles, 47,156; inhabitants to square mile, 12.86.

The only important work in operation in Mississippi is the Southern railroad, extending from Vicksburg to Brandon, a distance of about sixty miles. This, like the Montgomery and West Point railroad, was one of the early projects of the South, and has experienced a similar history. By the original plan it was proposed to make this part of a line extending through the States of Mississippi and Alabama to Georgia, and, in connexion with the roads of that State, to the Atlantic. As was the case with so many southern roads, the scheme proved a failure. It is, however, reviving under circumstances that promise full success. As already seen, a greater part of the Alabama portion is either completed or in progress; and operations are about to be commenced upon the unfinished Mississippi section. When completed, this line will prove a work of great public utility. There is none in the country for which there is greater apparent necessity. The whole route traverses one of the richest planting districts in the south; and as the people on its line can readily furnish the necessary means, its early construction is not to be doubted.

Of the proposed lines in this State, the most important is the New Orleans, Jackson, and Northern, by means of which the city of New Orleans aims at opening a communication with the roads in progress in the southern and western States. The proposed northern terminus of this great work is Nashville, the capital of the State of Tennessee. The length of the road will be about five hundred miles. It is regarded with especial favor by the people of New Orleans, and is one of the great works by which that city proposes to restore to herself a trade which has in a measure been lost; to turn again the tide of western commerce in her favor; and to develop the immense resources of an extensive region of country, to the commerce of which she may justly lay claim. The magnitude of this project is well suited to the greatness of the objects sought to be accomplished. After a long period of supineness, the city of New Orleans is at last fully awakened; and as an evidence of the interest already excited, and an earnest of future efforts, she has subscribed $2,000,000 to the stock of the above

road, and is adopting the most vigorous and effective measures to secure its early construction. With the assistance offered by New Orleans, the people on the line of the road can readily furnish the balance necessary for the work. It traverses a region of great wealth and productiveness, the inhabitants of which are alive to the importance of the work, and stand ready to contribute freely whatever may be required of them. When the great interest that the city of New Orleans has at stake in the success of the above work, and the local means that can be brought to bear upon it, are considered, its early construction cannot be doubted. The route is remarkably favorable, and the road can be built, for a greater part of the distance, at the minimum cost of southern roads. The line of this road has not been definitely located, but will probably pursue a pretty direct course by way of Jackson and Aberdeen, Mississippi, and Florence, Alabama.

The next great line in the State is the Mississippi Central, extending from Canton in a northerly direction, and passing through Holly Springs to the State line of Tennessee. Thence it is proposed to extend it to Jackson, in the latter State, there to form a junction with the Mobile and Ohio road, and the proposed line from Louisville, Kentucky, to Memphis. At Canton it will unite with a road now in progress to Jackson, and, in connexion with this short link, will constitute the legitimate extension, northward, of the New Orleans and Jackson line. Although the work of construction has not yet commenced, ample means have already been provided by the counties, and the wealthy planters upon its line. The object of the road is to open an outlet for the rich cotton lands traversed by it, which are now deprived of all suitable means of sending their products to a market. Whenever railroads are constructed in the south, they diminish so largely the cost of transportation, and consequently increase the profits of the planter, that a necessity is imposed upon other districts to engage in their construction, as the means of competing successfully with those in possession of such works.

The above road, with its connecting links, will constitute an important line of through travel between New Orleans and the northern States.

Another road of considerable importance is proposed through the northern part of the State, commencing at Memphis, Tennessee, and passing through Holly Springs and the northern tier of counties to the Tennessee river. One of its leading objects is the accommodation of a very rich and productive planting district. The line of the Memphis and Charleston road will also traverse a small portion of the northeastern corner of the State.

LOUISIANA.

Population in 1830, 215,739; in 1840, 352,411; in 1850, 517,739. Area in square miles, 46,431; inhabitants to square mile, 11.15.

The State of Louisiana, having in the Mississippi river a convenient channel not only for the trade and travel of its own people, but for opening to them the interior commerce of the country, has neither attempted nor accomplished much in works of artificial improvement.