Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-02
TIE mississippi River RaiIroad-Its
Bearing on the Prosperity of Men,

Bearing on the Prosperity of Men,
phis.
rom the Appeal. ID
With rspidity seldom equaled in this
country, Mr.. Mitchell has brought his
great enterprise up to the very threshold
| of accomplishment. Within four or five
weeks at farthest, the contractors will be
at work, hewing their way through forest
and field, and preparing the roadway
from Memphis TO Covington--the first
! thirty-six miles OF the most important
railroad that Memphis has ever opened.
| The first aud most marked effect Of these
operations will be the disbursement of
| tens of thousands of dollars weekly, a
large portion of which will flow into the
channels Of Memphis trade, thus bridging
over the otherwise dull weeks that would
] intervene before new cotton begins to
| come in. The next effect will be to rake
up our citizens from the indifference and
chronic stupor in which they have been
reposing, and convince them that there
is courage and purpose yet left among
| our people, and future before our city
that no adversely can obscure or defeat
Al lire railroad company, pushing their
iron track through a lice country-a
country teeming with enterprise and
wealth-will quickly stir new life in the
most becalmed of communities, and give
us again in Memphis a lige city! God
speed the cars that are soon to fly to and
fro, like the weaver's shuttle, over the
line Of the Mississippi River railroad
We speak Of this road as the most i'm
portaut ever opened by Memphis; and
we do not speak at random. If ever
there was a railroad at Memphis pro-
iected in the interest of the poor and the
middle classes, it is the Mississippi River
road. Cheap provisions and cheap
fuel--these are the boons that this road
will bring. Without cheap food and
cheap fuel, Memphis can never be
great city. The rich can live any
where; but the rich do not make city.
It is the toiling millions" that make a
city and make State, and unless the
necessaries Of life can be brought within
easy reach Of the many who labor, Il is
in vsin that city or State is founded.
They will perish and go out, as they de-
serve, unless they are built upon the
comfort, happiness and welfare Of those
who toll
It is the Mississippi River road that
promises our people such supplies Of food
IS was never furnished our city before
and so cheap and so good. There Is
health in the very thought. Every mile
OF the territory TO be penetrated by this
road is as fertile as Egypt 1t is in a
high state Of culture already. 1t is not
/ d wilderness 70 be reclaimed and reduced
10 culture after the road is built; it il
{ already populous district, unequaled il
fertility and in actual culture BY any
other part OF West Tennessee-in fact q
very paradise OF agricultural beauty and
! abundance. The treasures Of this match
! less district nov annually pass 10 othel
narkets-not 10 Memphis Fruits sDt
vegetables in such abundance that theJ
/ perish on the ground ungAihered, are onll
} waiting ioT ihs Mississippi River road 4
be brought 10 Memphis, enriebing thI
; owners and rejoicing the happy con
) sumers Of such Injuries in Memphis.
But 4 is not in this domestic view emil
that this road is so valuable. Il vii
} yield q new and vast addition 70 our com