Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-22
Railroads and the Interests Of Memphis.
MEMPHIs. December Is. 1858.

hallroads ana the interests OF memphis
MEMrHIs. December Is. 1858.
Editors of the LEDGER:
have watched the discussion going on
in the city papers of the proposition made
by the Southern Railroad Association,
through Col. Tate and Gen. West, to pur-
chase the city stock in the Mississippi
aud Tennessee railroad, with all the in
terest of an old friend of Memphis-to
the promotion of whose interests have
devoted many of the best years of my
life-and, in the absence of Col. Tate,
feel called upon to note some of the in
consisteneies and correct some of the err
rors and misrepresentation into which
the too ardent friends Of the Louisville
and Memphis railroad have fallen; for,
take it land | have unquestionable good
grounds for the sssumption), that all, OF
nearly all, the opposition comes imme-
diately or remotely from that quarter.
In fact, it is currently reported and gen.
orally believed that while Col. Tate and
Gen. West were in Memphis, by invita-
ton, for the purpose of laying their plans
and their proposition before the City
Council, one of the subordinate officers
Of the Louisville company was constantly
calling, by telegraph, upon headquarters
at Louisville for his chief to come down
in person and checkmate the plans Of
Messrs. Tate and West, or to telegraph
him (the subordinate) the necessary au-
thority to act; that something must be
done at once or the proposition of the
Southern Railroad Association would be
accepted, and O rival line to their own
would be resolved upon and built at once.
These Representations, it is understood,
speedily bere fruit. The subordinate "
referred to, it appears, holds intimate
relations with some of the editors of the
morning papers, and forthwith those
morning papers opened all their batteries
upon the Southern Railroad Association,
and its representatives, Messrs. Tate and
West, who had s0 recently been the in.
vited guests of the city.
Now, gentlemen, what has this Louis
vile corporation, now controlling the
Memphis and Ohio road, ever done for
Memphis-what is it now doing, in the
way Of discriminating in freights in favor
Of Louisville and against Memphis-that
it should be SO eager to prevent the con-
summation of al arrangement which will
undoubtedly result in the speedy con-
s,ruction of Mississippi river road from
Memphis to Paducab, and give Memphis
an air line connection with the entire
railway system of the great, the illimit-
able Northwest It is not at al sur.
prising thstiit works in the dark-keeps
itself in the background-in this matter,
and pulls the wires which cause its
agents in the City Council and else
where to dance.
But to return to the main object Of
| this communication. One of the errors
into which the peculiar friends Of Louis.
Vile have iallen-and, apparently, Vii.
fslly, tools, that Col. Tate is acting in
this affair without authority from the
Southern Railroad Association. Nov,
both in his address to the Board aud in
his published card, Col Tate expressly
and distinctly avowed that be was there
10 make the proposition as the represea-
tative of that association, acting under
its authority and in accordance with ITS
Instructions; and IL is unfair and un-
candid to the last degree for the oppo-
nenfs of the proposition TO 50 wantonly
assume The reverse; il Is, indeed, very
like 4 vilful perversion Of facts. More
over, / AN able TO state, on the best
authority, that Col. Tate not only acted
as the qualified representative Of the
association, bui he had carte BLANCHE for
any arrangement be might chsose 10
make.
Again. the dispaiants on the Louis-
vile side of the question. in their reck-
less mode Of discuasiug the points ct
issue, have entirely ignored Col. Tate 9
card, and assiduoasiy and iosiduo1sly