Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-13


Whosoever shall study the map Of the
continent for the purpose Of discovering
The great commercial and trade centers-
made 30 by geographical advantage
must almost, at glance, be struck by the
favoriug circumstances Of situation that
have eolabined 10 make Memphis, if
properlv taken advantage Of a great
emporium. scarcely second to non in
the Mississippi Valley. Already, at the
beginningof the Civil War Of 1861 much
had been done by intelligent enterprise
10 lay the broad, steadfast foundations
for a degree OF commercial and indus
trial greatness commensurate with the
benefcent provisions Of nature.
TheMemphis and Charleston railroad
completed, adequately stocked and
equipped, efficiently administered-gave
us direct communication with the Fede-
eral capital throughV irginia,a and with the
sesboard-thrOugh Georgia-at Charles
ton. The Memphis and Ohio railroad
was in full operation-almOst an air line
to Louisville, and thenceto Cincinnati,
afording also, by its intersection with
the Mobile and Ohio railroad at Hum
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS with ST. Louis;
and the Mississippi and Tennessee rail-
road supplied a similar venue fof travel
and traffic with New Orleans.
At the same time, with only a hiatus
Of forty-fve miles, there was railroad
communication with the heart Of the
trans-Nississippi country at Little Rock
a large portion Of that chasm being
nearly ready for the superstructure Of
ties and rails.
Little Rock is not the proposed ter
minus Of this road by any means, but
Van Buren-F0rt Smith-with anticipa-
ton Of ultimately connecting there with,
Sc we think, by far the most practicable
route for q great continental railroad to
the Pacific, slongthe 35th degree o. north
latitude; and cfth The immediate opening
Of a trade with Non Merico-5y l0agOH
trains-aC0Tth from eight ten millions
Of dollars annually.
The advantages Of the route from Fort
Smith along the line Of the thirty-ffth
parallel Of latitude 70 New Mexico, for
transportation Of freight by wagons, over
that now used from the Missouri river
are manifold, and ought 20 b. over-rul-
ing, a. We propose 70 show.
]. Leading along hevalley Of the Can
adian river Uia Anton Chico and Albu-
querque-the route explored and traced
by Lieut.. WHrPPLE, Z. S. At is by
several hundred miles the shortest.
o It is the only route that avoids
the extremes Of heat and cold. During
two years Of meteorological observation,
we are assuredby Dr. SHUMAED, that the
greatest snowfall was n Of haJ an
inch.
3. It is the best watered rOute-in fact,
a. the explorations show, the only one
that afords an abundance Of good water
during the entire year. All other routes
fail in this respect
/. Its the best timbered route-the
timber extending further westward along
the s5th parallel, than elsewhere.
S. There are fewer abrupt ascents and
descents upon this line than upon any
other.
Q. Grass ia more abundant on Il than
upon she northern routes, and supplies
good grazing during almost tue whole
wear. Trains leaving Fort Smith during
the last week OF March, or first Of April,
viii alvays be sure Of good grass.
7. This highway penetrates New Mex
leo a. Albuquerque, the center Of the
Territory and population Of the country,
and not At its northern Of southern e1-
fremity. as Is the case with the two
routes now travelled, namely: the one 70
Santa Fe, and that ola. El Paso.
6. A very large portion Of this route
traverses a good agricultural country,
capable Of supporting a numerous popu-
lation.
While these are conditions that in time
uust have their irresistible weight ia
leading to the construction Of a railroad
along tie HDe Of the thiry-fhh parallel
~ California. meanwhile they should be 4
made available for a wagon route, and
an active competition with St. Louis for
4 Lucrative trade on lew Mexico. Insuch
a competition-with the railroad finished
10 Fort Smith-the victory would be in
sured 10 Memphis, for Nature has strewn
n Northern route thick with impeii-
rents Of the most embarrassing OBJ
str,ctive character: such as inadequacy
- GOOD water, the rough, broken char
.cfer of 4 portion Of The region it passes
tb-onyb. and the heavy SHOWS that fan
- 49, ~ ak months Of the year, and
aceumulate in the passes fun sixty feet
deep. .,
..etorn terminus Of the railroad that
49, he bulk upon the line Of the Soth
nsrsrel. the first sure step toward which
Vii he the opening Of a railway hence
- Fort smith. such a step would lheN-
st.bly secure to this city the trade o.
Mexico. worth, as before sta'ea'
os.rlv ten millions Of dollars az present
:, would likewise give US the traae q
Arkansas, snd in the END g