Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-08

MostY ron ras AsKiSo-SaH. TATE
and his Railroad Proposifions The
most absurd proposition 10 which dis
eased prejudice has given origin, in-
wolves the consolidation Of the Memphis
and Ohio. and Paducah and Union City
railroads. This notification Of widely d.
vergent lines, would lessen very little the
present railway distance between Mem
phis and Paducah. The line from New
Orleans, through Memphis, would have
no great advantage over that through
Holly Springs and the rich district Of
county along the Mississippi, destined
10 add vast sums 10 the wealth Of this
city, would remain undeveloped.
Our people should remember that there
are very narrow portions OF three States,
on the eastern shore OF the Mississippi,
left tributary TO Memphis; corner OF
Mississippi; a few counties In Western
Tennessee and very small part Of
Kentucky. Memphis, as a commercial
capital, makes laws for district hardly
larger than Connecticut IL this district
had the wealth and density Of population
OF Connecticut, Memphis, with lie mari
time trade, the Mississippi being an
inland sea, would outrival all the cities
OF Connecticut in wealth, energy and
population. Il is hardly possible 10
travel ten miles in any direction in Con-
necticut without crossing q railroad; there
ia A church or school-house on every
hillside and pretty farms occupy once
sterile valleys. An inhospitable re-
giop, BY railways and by the narrowness
OF the States confines, has been con-
veried into a paradise The smaller the
State, permit us to explain pareutheti-
cally, the more intimate the relations oil
law-givers and Of governed classes, the
wiser the laws and the more promotive
of local or State prosperity. Hence cur
hostility TO the absorption Of power by
the general government which robs
remote States to enrich favored sections
Memphis is the natural capital OF a
State, that should appear on the map de
fined by natural boundaries. II may be
enriched, even as Connecticut has been
enriched, by a network Of railways
When we have not wealth to construct
roads, most unfortunate are We when We
may use the gold or greenbacks of others
and, peculiarly fortunate, when capital
lists propose to lend us, for three or foul
wears. two and half or three millions
the cost n an dir line road to Paducab
The railroad will be valuable property tc
individuals, bat if finished and equipped
and given TO Board of Aldermen would
Income. within twelve months, a bank
rupted nuisance. The city can wei
afford TO build, but not to own railroads
The fewer the subjects and narrower the
spbere of Aldermanic action, the better
| for the people and the less the induce
ments for corrupt legislation. tits there
fore true that Col. Tate and his associates
consulted the true interests of the city, o.
the contemplated road and of themselves
when they proposed to build road for q
stipulated stipend.
Some stupeudous ass bas said that Col
Tate would expend his two and half OF
three millions on the road to Paducah
aud then so use it as to drive freights aud
travel over the Mississippi Central line
Why expend millions for this end wher
half a million would buy of every mar
who will talk of Paducah road during
the century? We rather think that Col
Tate foresees profits to arise from the
Arkansas and Pacific railroad travel
toward the North, which must flow over
this Paducah line, and that trade and
travel from the North and South will
surely crowd the shortest route between
Chicago and New Orleans. Memphis
becomes an important point in Mr.. Tate s
clear, unclouded vision, and his money
and energy are no less indispensable to
the glory and speedy aggrandizsment
of Memphis he has money which we
must hare; we have legal rights which
he would buy. He has, very clearly, the
advantage Of us, and we had better trade.
LOMBARD.