Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-14
THE MEMPHIS AND SELMA
RAILROAD.
Letter from Pickens County,
Alabama-FOrrest and Sykes
at work.
Major sykes speecl, at Selma.

The following letter from Lipsey
Mills, Piekens county, Ala, has been
unacountsbly delayed on the route,
having been written on the let inst:
| Editors Memphis Appeal;
hose you will not consider me In
truding by giving you q short account of
q railrosd meeting we had ct Carrollton
four county seat on the 10Th ult. Gen.
Forrest. OF your city, and Maj. W. J..
Sykes. OF Aberdeen, were the speakers (;
both advocating the building OF q rail-
road from your city to Selma, Ala,
Mai. W. ]. Sykes spoke first, and is as
eloquent in speech as the ehivalrous For
rest was with the sword in defence OF
constitutional liberty. They are the
right msn in the Tighs place. The audi
eaes was large, and enthusiastic In favor
Of the proposed road. MAJ. Sykes In bis
speech, took 3 wide range, and impressed
upon mis- audience the Importance OF
raising other things as well as cotton in
the south he said that the South had
sold 5000 600, 600 worth Of cotton since
the surrender, and proved almost to Z
msthematical demonstration that she is
now $500, O00, 900 poorer than she was at
the day of surrender. In view of these
startling facts, he urged the Importance
and necessity Of raising more grain OF al!
kinds. more fruit Of different kinds, and
that We should raise our own st0ek-iR
TACT everything that can be raised in the
South, SO as to make her independent OF
the world. He is the trus Southern msn
that doeth such things. He then urged
the Importance OF "iBternsl improve
ments" generally, aud Of this road In
particular. He also touched upon the
Importance OF manufactures, and said
the South ought to manufacture eli the
cotton she raised, st least Into thread,
and not to look to England or New Eng
land aIons for 8 market. but to the great
and growing West also. He said many |
other good thiEgs which L have not time
TO notice,
Gen Forces San earnest speaker, and we
all know hiLl to be g hard worker. In his
remarks he urged the importance Of this
particular road and showed that is could
be built if the psople desired it; it rests
with the psopls along the route, snd said
if the people would but subscribe one
Of the land within six miles OF
side. the road would be built. The
lands u 0 to be given, but to be paid ioT
In theei0ek Of the company. He showed
the connections of the road 81 both euds
to be good; could be 40 better. At Sci
is would connect with rOEds running
to New York and all the N0rIherD cities,
ell the Eastern Atlantic cities, with
the Gulf rosd running TO Pensacola, al
point they have one ol the best
haTROrs on the gulf coast, and also tae
lumber depot of the South. Al
west or Memphis end it would con
meet with all the great railroad liaes
running westward and noTthwsrd, and
iC would be a link in q Of the great
- - EhA DLnHEn hznn.--~ /
rs in close connection with China and
great eastern world. He urged many
other important reasons why this road
should be buiit, that I will not notice at
the present.
The great question with Us is, a ne
5uld the road! l think we can; l knOC
can, il We will 90 20 work in earnest.
Let tine two acknowledgements aud Sci
up, and go TO work. The pso'
Die along the line of the rosd will 90
.heir part. l am Satisfied OGr county
though perhaps the p0oreat in lands
through which the road will rum will do
ler part.
/ VIII cav in conclusion, that Alabama
lss sn "Intsrnsl Improvement Bill"
the Endorsement Of railroad
10 the amount OF $4,000 per mile,
Rben any road will build and equip
.wenty Eiles Of road, and is clear Of
iebt. This road, in Alabamsr can avail
Of this State aid, az We now have
/ road from Marion Junction to hsrion,
|. distance Of fourteen miles, completed,
md the mesDs provided for its extension
o Greensboro, q distance of eighteen
1 will say to you Memphians and
Mississippians, II you viii bring the road
O the Slate line, Alabama will meet You
here, and units the three States together
" an iron tie that will not be EASILY
L. G. Z.