Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-20

sugsestiors TO the Chamber Of Com.
merce.

u-NKMPHIs, LITTLE ROCK AND FORT
SMITH RAILRoAD-THE TIDE OF TRAVEL
FRox cALIroRsIA.
In 1855 q committee Of gentlemen. as
sembled In Exchange Building, reported
10 a meeting Of citizens that the com.
pletion Of the Pacific railroad was Of vital
importance TO the State Of Tennessee,
opening rs II would the entire wealth Of
the State OF Arkansas TO the railroads
concentrating at Memphis" that "it
was well known Congress had granted to
the State OF Arkansas an immense
amount Of land for the construction Of
this road from Little Rock to Fulton. on
the borders of Texas" and that "the
State of Texas had made an immense
grant Of land, enough nearly to make an
empire, for the construction OF the road
throughout the broad extent of her ter.
ritory to Ell Paso."
Thirteen years have passed since that
time, and what is the resultf A live
people" are completing the Pacific rail
road through Nebraska, Utah aud Ne
vada, leaving the Ell Paso route "out in
the cold" This great trans continental
line, from Omaha via Salt Lake to Sacra.
mento, is being built by two companies
the CENTRAL PACIFIC, composed chiefly
Of California capitalists, with head
quarters at Sacramento, and the Union
PACIFIC, with headquarters in New York.
By Congressional charter each company
will own and run just as much Of the road
as it builds, so you may be satisfied there
ia lively race between them for Salt
Lake. They receive each, in six per
cent. thirty-year Government bonds,
$4,000 for every mile finished where the
route is level and the grading light, $32.-
900 among the hills, and $4,000 in the
Rocky Mountains, where the heaviest
labor is required.
q This is a great enterprise; but how can
it benefit Memphis2 Let us see. There
are " Kansas forks" of this Pacific Rail-
road we can link ourselves to, and draw
a large tide of travel from California
through Memphis. There is the Wysn-
dotte division-Wyaudotte, Kansas, via
Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan, Fort
Riley and Salina to Denver, Colorado.
This road is direct continuation west
ward of the Pacific Railway of Missouri,
which runs from st. Louis via Jefferson
to Kansas City. AT the latter point the
cars cross the Kansas river by a bridge,
and the Union Pacific road begins. Then
there is the Neosho Valley division, from
Fort Riley via Neosho and Arkansas
Valley and Fort Gibson to Fort Smith,
Arkansas. Here we are, then. Extend
the Memphis and Little Rock railroad
from Little Rock to Fort Smith, and we
gain not only all the trade Of Lewisburg,
Clarksville, Ozark and Van Buren,, along
the Arkansas river, but We form connec-
ton with the Pacific road that cuts off a
a large portion of the "gold region
travel from St. Louis, Chicago and New
York. II will also give an outlet to
Kansas for exports to the sea through
Memphis and Norfolk, and be the means
of connecting the whole Southern sea-
board with the Pacific ocean. Look at
it. Travellers can come here in very
short time on the Memphis and Ohio
road from Wilmington, Delaware; on the
Memphis and Charleston road from Nor
folk, Va, Beaufort and Wilmington, N.
c., Charleston, s. c., and Savannah, Ga.
By taking the Memphis, Little Rock and
Fort Smith route they strike the Union
Pacific road at Fort Riley; pass on it to
Salt Lake, and there take the Central
Pacific road to Sacramento.
Can anything achieve broader benefit
for Memphis than this extension of the
Little Rock road l think not. The
Government of the United States has
given large "land grants" for the build
ing Of the road from Fort Riley to Fort
Smith; companies are already organized
and at work. What, then, is the duty Of
the Chamber of Commerce 1t should
the Legislature of Arkansas
for means to complete the work, point.
ing out to the authorities and people of
that State the great advantages of such
line of railroad, linking, as it would, the
whole Southern seaboard, the Mississippi
river aud the Pacific ocean. Still more
1t would give the Gulf cities of New
Orleans and Mobile direct line
of travel through Memphis to
California, and might be the means of
gaining that independence " so widely
lamented as 'lost." 1t certainly would
increase the trade and population of Ar
kansas: for citizens of Virginia, North
and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Tennessee and Kentucky
passing through her territory, to or from
Sacramento, would have an opportunity
Of judging of her varied resources, and by
spreading the information broadcast in
duce an immigration Of settlers. As to
Memphis, the tide oftravel flowing hither
from the gold coast" would give ami
nation to almost every kind of business
send our hotel keepers into ecstacies; aud
cause butchers, bakers, shoemakers,
Lailors, hatters and BARRIERS to be in brisk
demand. TArLER.