Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-29
OUR RAILROADS.
The Memphis and Little Rock and
Rival Routes.
The Influences of the Memphis and
Louisville Road.
Something About the Contestants
for the Memphis Stock.
Editors Of the Memphi, Appeal:.


Whatever may be the different opinions
as to Mr.. Brinkley's success as a railroad
President, there surely should be none as
70 the wisdom of selling the city's stock
in the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad
company to no n not directly and posi-
lively interested in the growth and pros
perity of Memphis. In behalf of Mr..
,BriBkley's offer, it may be said, as it
should AVE been said in behalf of Mr..
Greenlaw's some months ago, that all his
property and interests are in this town or
on the line of this railroad; and that Mem
phis must necessarily be benefited equally
with himselfi in his control of it. No offer
made for the stock proposes 20 complete
the road in time for the present crop,
while all agree to do il in time for that of
mex year.. A few months Iongeror short
or delay can make no material difference,
and self-interest should dictate a prefer
nce for Mr.. Brinkley's offer; for if Mem
phis mast part with her stock, it certainly
is better for her that 1t shall pass into the
hands of one so entirely identified with
her prosperity rather than into those of a
stranger whose interests lie in the road
only. But there is another consideration,
equally potent, why Memphis should not
ignore all concern as to the future owner
ship of her stock in that most important
of all our railroads. Cairo is growing as
rapidlyas Memphis. Indeed, while Radical
legislation and corruption have retarded
the growth of the latter city during the
past three years, the former has been
steadily increasing in population and
trade. One of the improvements that
will most advance her prosperity, is the
Cairo and Fulton Railroad passing cen
trally through Arkansas, from northeast
to southwest by the Capital of that State,
beginning at the confluence of the Ohio
and the Mississippi rivers, and ending Fat
Fulton, above the Red river RATS. Look
at the map and you will find IL will make
a larger extent of country tributary to its
line than any other road that can be built
in that State. If it were now completed,
Cairo would compete with Memphis for
all the trade of Arkansas; and not only
Memphis, but the Memphis and Charles
ton, and the Memphis and Louisville
Railroads would all feel the influence of
so important a rival line Of travel and
1t were idle to doubt that
this railroad will be completed, at least as
far as Little Rock, during the next two
years; for every important line leading
from the Ohio or the Mississippi, eastward
or northward, is interested in that COM
pletion. The Illinois Central, the Ohio
and the Mississippi, and all the great
lines leading from the Ohio Valley to the
Atlantic seabord, are all deeply interested
in seeing the trade of such a great Stateas
Arkansas centered at Cairo rather than at
Memphis. If at Cairo, they all stand
some chance TO reap a profit from it. If
at Memphis, they stand none; for our two
roads just named, and the river, get 1t
all.
, We all know that the tendency of COM
merce is northwaTd. AN examination of
the able and instructive report of Mr..
Trask, Secretary of the Chamber of Com
merce, proves this beyond all cavil; and
the trade of Arkansas will be subject TO
Ghe same rule. There is no outlet for IL
the west, and il viii reach the MisSis-
at Memphis or Cairo. In a quarter
of a century that State will send 500, 600
bales Of cotton to the North via Cairo or
Memphis. Are we not deeply interested
in seeing that our Little Rock road shall
not pass into hands that may be oven
more interested in the Cairo and Fulton
line? The company now controlling the
Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad may
possibly become interested III the Cairo
and Fulton road. Ifthey also get control
of the Memphis and Little Rock road
what will become of the Memphis inter
ests in the trade OF that State?
viii 1t be said that these arc mere idle
speculations7 The answer is, that North
ern capitalists are daily buying, leasing
or building railroads in all the South, aud
why not in Arkansas? They are for ma
king money out OF the roads and the lands
belonging TO them, and they will pursue
their interests, for this Is the day Of rail-
road rings. Look at the Memphis and
Ohio road. Two years ago some of u
citizens were rash enough 10 protest
against its passing under tho control of a
rival city, Louisville. But the Alternative
seemed to be that or BrOwnlow's thieves,
and The general detestation of these car
ried the day. Memphis was sold out to
Louisville, and / am not the only citizen
who now thinks that the knavery of
Brownlow's pets, for a year or two, would
been less damaging to Memphis than
placing The control of that road under the
hands of Louisville. Soon after this trans
fer was made, there was n general hope
that this road would be our main reliance
TO neutraliZe the influence which the Mis-
sissippi Central has been constantly ex-
erting against the trade of Memphis. We
had all hoped That the Memphis and Lou
iiville road would aid in completing The
connection, through our streets, between
IL and the Mississippi aud Tennessee road,
and hat 1t would then do all it
could to turn the trade and travel via
Memphis that now pass via Grand juno
But this has proved a delusion: for
the Memphis and louisville road now has
more interest in the business it gets from
the Mississippi Central than in any she
can get over the Mississippi and Tennes-
road. This will be readily understood
when it is stated that Mr.. Gewcombe, the
President Of the entire linef from Memphis
to Louisville. Is one ofthe largest lessees
the Mississippi Central; owning, it is
said, a third in that lease. He and Nc
n those Interested in that lease,
took the road 10 make money ont of Il,
and they are interested in ths roads get
ting all the business it can. Any man of
mind would do the same thing; and
If $1,000 passengers and %, 600 bales Of cot
were at Grenada, to-day, destined for
Louisville, by Memphis or by Grand
Junction, and if the President of the
Memphis and Louisville railroad 7 mean
Mr.. Newcombe) were asked which route
be would nave them go, he would say,
q send them by Grand Junction" because
Is interested in the line from Granada
Humboldt, one hundred and seventy
milessviaG randJanetiOn; which, aon@the
Memphis route, he has an interest only in
the line from Memphis to Humboldt,
miles.
This bleeding OF Memphis through one
of her own railroads suits Louisville, too;
for neither as a stockholderin the Louis
Vile and Memphis road, nor as a rival
city competing for the trade tharhas built
up Memphis, eau she have any possible
interest in the growth and PROSPERITY of
Memphis. We have sold out Memphis to
Louisville, and have a, board of trustees |
here to Supervise the losses. not the prof
It's, the sale will annually bring to Mem
phis. Let us not commit another such
by selling ont to Cairo. Railroad
may as easily tUrn trade |
rom Little Rock to Cairo a. from Gre |
7ada TO Grand y1neti1n4 and louisville.
viii Memphis profit from experience?