Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-13
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Eds. Appeal: A meeting Of the cit
sens Of Helena, Of Phillips and the ad-
joining counties, was held at the Circuit
Clerks Office in this city, on Saturday
last 1t was attended by the solid busi-
ness men Of our city, together with many
highly respected gentlemen from the ad-
jacent counties, and was marked with an
earnestness and unanimity highly favor
able to the object in hand, which object
e an extension Of the building Of the
Iron Mountain Railroad from it, present
terminus st Pilot Knob TO Helena, thereby
connecting our thriving and beautiful
city with the city OF st. Louis. Speeches
were msde, committees appointed, and
appropriate resolutions adopted, all de-
mOnstrating the zeal and earnestness Of
our people in this matter, and their de-
termination to leave nothing undOne to
build this road. We would respectfully y
state that we are app-ised Of the interest
which Memphis takes in this road, and
we beg to disclaim anything like rival
ship or collision with the interests OF
your city. We are advocates Of the most
friendly and islrelatiOns betweenHel-
ena and the Bluff City, and we propose to
show that the line Of road we desire TO
see built viii advance the interests of
Memphis as much as il viii those Of
Helena, while the road can be built
slOng the route indicated, for at least
one half which il would cost 10 build ID
on any other route. The Memphis and
Little Rock RailrOsd requires but little
labor 70 be brought % completion, and
soon wi1 arrive OF that point through
the interpOsitiOn Of the General Gov
eminent. Let your city then, unite
with Us in building this extension Of the
Iron Mountain Road to Madison, in st.
Francis county, thus intersecting the
Memphis and Little Rock Railroad at
that point, and bringing Memphis in
direct railroad communication with st.
Louis The route We indicate is that
pointed out by the Senate Committee on
Public Lands, who have recently re-
ported a bill "granting lands 10 the
State Of Missouri for the purpose Of aid
ing in the continuation Of an extension
OF the Iron Mountain Railroad from its
present terminus at Pilot Knob, 10 q
point at the southern boundary line Of
the State Of Arkansas, al or near
the city OF Helena on the Mississippi
river The grant is Of every alternate
section Of land, designated by numbers
for ten sections in width on each side Of
said road The distance from Pilot
Knob to Madison, Ark, is about one
hundred and sixty miles, thence 10
Helena about forty miles, making a
total Of about two hundred miles through
a country which nature seems to have
already graded for a railroad. Through
out the whole route there are no hills OF
mountains. and but three streams 70
cross, aud one Of these q very incOnsid- .
erAble one indeed. Longuielle river in
Phillips, Cash river in Green, aud Black
river in Randolph counties, Ark, are the
only streams that would require TO be .
bridged in the entire route. The pro- (
posed line rams directly along Crawley
Ridge, a high smooth table land, a
natural highway, passing from the Mis-
souri, line through Randolph, Green,
Craighead, Poinsett, Cross, st. Francis
and Phillips counties, one Of the most
productive and at the same time
most beautiful agricultural regions
IN America, with not 3 foot Of
poor soil in the entire distance. I
The towns Of PocahOntas, GAINESVILLE,
JonesbOro, Harrisburg Cleburne and
Madison, would have a new life infused
into them by the building Of this road,
and their prosperity would only add 10
the wealth and greatness Of Memphis.
The solemn determination Of our people I
ls to build this great public work; 10 re-
EpOnd to the liberal and patriotic spirit Of
the Senate Committee on Public Lands
Ia acts as well as words, and We ask the
city Of Memphis, in whose prosperity
and civic progress we feel deep interest,
70 aid Us in a matter 50 closely connected
with her own welfare. This road, upon
. rough estimate, can be built for at least
a
would paw q dividend three years after
its completion, for it would become one /
Of the great leading arteries Of southern
and southwestern trade. As Helena Is I
the only point on the western bank Of
the Mississippi river south Of Commerce, I
No, where the highlands jut upon the I
river, and as the Mississippi river at
Helena, and thence TO New Orleans, Is /.
never fncOmmoded with ice floats, nor F.
navigation at any stage Of low water i'm {
peded By sand bars, this would seem to I
Be the natural and proper terminus Of the I
road proposed. The county Of Phillips .
aud city OF Helena are willing to impose /
an adequate tax upon themselves toward /
the contamination Of this desideTatum, /
and we have no shadow Of doubt that 4
the citizens Of Missouri and Arkansas I
nom Pilot Knob down to Madison, VIII I
leave uoL1lHB uANolr On tA4p+i part to- I
ward the successful issue Of q work prom 4
islng 50 much good 10 the whole country. !
The river continues to rise. Trade is /
brisk.
The weather il mild, and March, for /
once, Is unlike himself; but he viii give I
Us specimens Of his rude and boisterous /
nature before he makes way for the 1
EhOWery days Of April.
We have had no mails from Memphis /
10 several days.
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