Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-03
LEDGER.
HOW ARE WE GETTING ON !


How are we getting on, sir, de-
manded Mr. Pickwick of his attorney in
n cause before the meeting Of the Court.
All, very we'll indeed, my dear sir,
replied that functionary The truth was,
nothing was being done, How are we
getting on with the Little Rock railroad Z
Does any one know If any one does,
can we not manage to get the facts be-
fore the public at an early day. We do
not mean to imply that nothing is being
done. We may be getting on very
handsomely, but the public wish TO see
some stir, and hustle, and bnng--some
hurrying to.and-fro, and mounting
in hot haste all along the line, Mr..
BRlYKLEY Is n good man, and wise in all
matters Of business, and is probably the
best, for various reasons, that could be
selected for President He is n
man of great fortune, great credit
and great energy SO great
fortune occupies, necessarily, the
greater portion Of his time 1t is too
much for the people TO require him TO
neglect his private affairs for the public
benefit His name is strength, conf
dence aud credit for the enterprise, and
these elements are highly necessary at
this time. But is not something else
quite as Important Is not an undevi-
ating attention TO the progress of The
work indispensable TO its early compile
ton? Is not personal attention to
details both in respect TO economy and
progress, highly desrable2 Every man
who ever built n house or anything else
that cost money and required dispatch,
must answer atirmatively.
This Little Rock road has risen into
the very first Importance within the last
four months, and has changed from its
former character of convenience to
that OF necessity. II is Just as
necessary us the future OF this city is a
matter to be protected. Every man who
possesses property here, should not only
feel the liveliest concern for the road,
but should contribute every spare dollar
he can raise to assist in its prompt com
pletion In doing so, he would be pro-
tectiug his own fortune from decay. The
way 10 do this, is not TO build houses
upon his land, or fences around it, but
to cover it with produce-to plunge II
into the vortex of commerce. Like the
bee, it would ultimately emerge covered
with honey-the honey Of value. We
must not ignore the truth that our pros
periiy is menaced seriously We can no
longer command our old trade east Of us.
Other interests championed by formid-
able combinations are springing up
around us intent on our conquest as n
commercial emporium. When we reach
Grand Junction and Grenada, New Or
leans comes in competition with us.
When we reach Corinth, Mobile con-
fronts us. L. not this so ? Only by az
fording superior advantages in trade can
we hope TO be victor in The contest The
question that staggers us is-can we do
ihis2
Now while this matter is solving, it
would be wise TO push on a work that
cannot be affected by rivalry on this side
of the rivera work well on the way OF
completion, but still remaining ineom-
pleie. A few more hard knocks, backed
by few more hundred thousand dollars
expended with great prudence and
sagaciiy, will do the work, crown the en-
terprise, aud save us from the worst that
can come upon us from the East Sup
pose we could command the services Of
such man as Gen. FORREST, as Pr0si
dent. What might not his great talents
and energy accomplish Deyoiing his en-
tire time to the management ofihe work
experimenting the expenditures o
money-directing the operations of labor
etc. we should soon have the iron steel
plunging all the way through TO b
groomed in Little Rock We recon
mend nothing We attack nothing. w
only indulge in suggestions But we Dc
call upon the people Of Memphis to be
stir themselves in this matter The fur
Their we 20 to the west, the better Tor us
Our interests, TO great extent, he II
the direction Of the setting sun. West
ward the star Of empire takes It's way
The star Of our future takes the sam
direction. While we struggle for tn
East with one hand, let us tightly grasl
the West in the other We may hoi'