Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-09
The Memphis and Little Rock Railroad.
BURNT CANE STATION, M. 4 L. .R.R.,l
Santana ar a. 1888. 4

The Memphis and Little Rock Railroad.
BURNT CANE STATION, M. x L. .R.R.,
September 4, 1868
EDITORS LEDGER: After the labors of
the day and supper of hoe cake, side and
coffee, and while enjoying the cover of
heavens broad arch, and being greeted
by the hooting owl and somewhat under
the influence Of, and the incisions made
by, that familiar bird or fowl, known as
the musquito, l am induced, by way Of
relief, to jot you few thoughts about
this great road and country, and its in
| Auence on our city; and whenever my
mind turns to this sunset road-this grand
trunk line that is to terminate at Quay
mas, California, with its hundred feeders
and brauches-I am free to say become
somewhat bewildered, and wish were
boy again, that I might witness the fru-
ition Of my imagination and that imagi-
nation is, intact, deferred but for short
while. He that hath ears, let him hear,
for l tell you, just give US peace for FIVE
years, and the tonnage that will be
| freighted over this road to Memphis will
| be more than three times the combined
| tonnage of all our other roads coming
| into Memphis Who that has ever been
over this so-called swamp, and examined
her soil, but is amazed at its strength aud
productive power-the concentrated es-
sence of productive fertility cumulated
since the time Noah left the Ark till now.
Properly titled it will grow fifteen hun
drsd pounds of lint cotton to the acre;
will grow corn, potatoes, onions, wheat,
clover and oatsin surprising quantities.
This little territory between the st Fran
els and the great Mississippi has capacity
to support population of ten millions
of people; and this land is all to be re-
claimed by the Mississippi River road.
In less than two years from now, with
peace, it will be reclaimed, immigrants
settling all over and through this bottom
and across the St. Francis. The high
land reached, road will start from For
est City in a northwesterly direction,
tapping the Southwestern Missouri road
near Springfield, Missouri, and thence on
to Topeka, Kansas, there tapping the
Kansas Pacific road. But we are at Du-
valps Bluf-by the way, city-in five
years from the time our road reaches her,
claiming peerage with Little Roock, and,
believe, far in advance of her. AT Du-
vaps Bluff our great road throws ont her
second arm to the south, striking the
Arkansas river at Pine Bluff and run
ming southwesterly to the Oaachita and
the Red, affording the only reliable outlet
to that immense fertile district; and as
the iron horse peDetrates those vast
fertile prairies, distributing and receiv-
ing merchandise and produce that must
ever pass through our hands, who dare
fix limit TO our population in ten
years from to. day, with peace2 1t some
times seems to me that the Almighty has
reserved the settlement Of this grand
Eden until these latter days, in order that
they may be occupied by a higher intel
ligence, who will more fully appreciate
His bountiful gifts. Through bondage
and suffering He led the Israelites to a
land of milk and honey. May it not
prove that He has reserved the sttlement
of those fsirer, fuer fields west Of us for
his chastened people flor, be it known to
all men everywhere, that there is no land |
or country where the Sabbath is so fully |
observed and Gods ordinances so fully |
obeyed as in this sunny land of ours
But am DEPRESSING. Ny object in this
communication was to call public atten-
ton to this great road, that has been
progressing so quietly and unostenta-
tiously that some persons have almost
forgotten that it was living road. True,
it has had difficulties to overcome that
would have made many more noisy men
succumb than its present Board OF Di-
rectors, and to its President, r. G.
Brinkley, Esq, Memphis owes the COM
pletion Of this road TO Madison, and soon
to Forest City. he has gone on quietly
but surely, contending against difficult
ties under which no other road has had
10 contend The country just emerged
from the most terrible war of history,
not as victors but as victims; the labor
Of the cou7try destroyed; public and
private credit demorahzed; the levee
system that was TO and did protect the
road from overflow, utterly destroyed;
the political status Of the country unset
tied; a negro oligarchy, or perhaps
better term, negro anarchy; capital
uulu huh CtOH tAoopCOto tAeAActcHt-
say these are some Of the difficulties
President Brinkley had to contend with
But he has constantly sustained the I
road BY his princely private fortune,
until We hear the steam whistle on the
banks cf the ST. Francis Then, say,
all honor 10 the Board OF Directors and
officers Of the Little Rock road. aud wheu
our children come to write the history Of
the public benefactors that have laid the
solid foundations Of Memphis and struck
out Der iron arms, II We could have the
privilege Of coming back 10 read, We
would fnd such names as James G.
Jones, r c. Brinkley, Robertson Topp.
John Timothy TrtzevAnt, ". B. WAldraD,
Sam. Tate, Noses J. Wicks and Amos
Woodruf, among the frst and truest
friends toNemphis interests, as repre-
sentative Esn who had faithin Menphis,
and have sho-= their faith BY their
works They have laid the foundation
Of this city upon 9 rock, aud rains may