Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-19
A Trip on the Little Rock Railroad from
Memphis to Madison.

| a Irlp on the Llttio hock utlifohu IRON
Memphis to Madison.
EDIroKs LEDGER: In company with
the President, Secretary, Chief Engineer,
Land Agent and number of the Direc-
tors Of said road, on Friday last, we left
Memphis at seven q m, for trip Of OBJ
servation, and taking the train from
Hopefsld at eight a m, we took posi-
ton in the cars so as to have full view
of all the country on both sides of the
road; and for the purpose of affording
the party every opportunity to inspect
the road and country, the train moved
slowly, stopping at every point and put
ting of and taking on q little freight un.
til we came up to the working train, some
thirty-two miles from Memphis, at which
point our journey west terminated, and
at which Mr.. ]. d. Waldran spread out
for the party sumptuous feast of the
good things Of this earth, to refresh and
cheer man on his pilgrimage. After do
ing ample justice to the viands thus lib.
orally furnished us, we enjoyed the wit
and humor Of our fellow-townsman, w.
B. G., :and our ever.honored and vcne.
rated friend, Jesse Waldran, Esq, aim ost
an octogenariau, yet as youthful as if but
eighteen. 1t is said the "green spots of
this earth are few and far between" yet
how bright and sweet they are, and
to be thus blessed with the social converse
of the aged, honored and good of this
world, are privileges that are ever cher
ished by me as the brightest hours of my
life. Our party, Messrs. Editors, being
made mp of those who have written their
names in their countrymen's hearts, by
their enterprise and usefulness as citi-
zens, may we not hope that they may
live to enjoy to some extent the fruits of
their enterprise in seeing the fruitioR at
least commenced, for this railroad will
be to Memphis what the Illinois Central
has been and is to Chicago, and the Pa.
cific to ST. Louis.
This road runs through a country
whose producing capabilities have never
been estimated, much less comprehended.
Its vastness rarely enters the mind. Who
of us have reflected on the fact, thut just
across the river, and between that and the
ST. Francis, lies territory as large as
the great State of Massachusetts,, with
her two millions of enterprising people
and her thousands of millions of wealth,
created and sustained on territory not
quite as large as that lying between the
knf ~,k,
ulation when settled must ever make
Memphis their market. But look at it.
Massachusetts, is cold, sterile, boggy and
rocky, and yet she sustainsstwo millions
on her surface, and her ratio of increase
is as great as ever. If she has done this
in her inhospitable cline, with her six
months of winter, and built her Boston
and twenty other cities, what must the
State of St. Francis do for Memphis as it
settles up2 If our road never went any
farther than Madison, it would be pay
ing institution in few years-its local
trade would in FIVE years be sufficient to
pay fair interest on the investment.
The produce that will be grown on either
sustain the road. Land that will pro-
duce two bales of cotton to the acre, and
within one hour of the best cotton mar
ket in the United States, is not going to
ley idle long, now that you can reach it
by rail. Oh, yes but look at the over
flow. Well, l do; and will admit the
drawback. But when you point to the
overflow, will point you to Porter's
road-the Mississippi river road on the
west. 1t is fixed fact-certain to
reclaim and protect from overflow all
that vast fertile region of country from
Cape Giradean to Heleua--a country
whose producing capabilities has not an
equal in America, when climate and
locality is considered. 1t is capable
of sustaining population of over ten
millions ofpeople; and Porter road pro
tects this vast area from the Mississippi |
overhows. This road complete-which |
will be in the next two years--the link |
closed from Madison to Duvall's Bluff,
a branch to Fort Smith, one to Fulton
from the Rock, and last, but not least Of
our western connections, road from |
Duvall's Bluff by way Of Pine Bluff to |
the valley Of the Ouachita river-I say, |
with these roads on the west, and our
Okolona and Selma road southeast, and |
our Mississippi river road on the east.
tapping the Ohio river at Paducah-I |
say, with these roads built, Memphis will
be peerless city, grand emporium of |
exchanges, with population and wealth
unequaled in this great river valley.
Well, says one, this is all fine talk, but
do it; yes, do it. And we will do it, the
drones in the hive TO the contrary not
/ tell you, Mr.. Croaker,
who never invested one dollar in pub
lie enterprise-you non-progressive, who
stand in the way Of progress-you must
get out Of the way; you must either
wake up 10 the new issues that are forced
on us, or you must give place to those
who will use the means placed in your
hands TO accomplish great and benefcent
obiects But one says: What am / 10
do7 First, come forward with yohr ma
terial aid, and help 10 finish this Little
Rock road through 10 the Rock Why,
sirs, that road finished through TO the
Rock, there is to-day a guaranteed
freight in the shape Of meat cattle alone
that will pay ten per cent. on the entire
cost of the road; and yet you stand back,
too tiuid or too selfish 10 come forward
TO the roads relief II you would but
half do your duty Il speak Of Mem
phians), the road would be making
through trips BY July l, 1869. Will you
do IL, or will you refuse the means that
will relieve you Of oDerous taxes, and
pat you on the hiRh road 10 future wealth
and power, without q possible rival OF
peerf say, fellov-citizens, your own
destiny is in your own hands, and may
hope you viii but half do your duty
A SPARIAS. !