Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-08

Helena, intersecting, as the new road
would, the Cairo and Fulton and the
Pacific railroads, il is easy to see how i'm.
portant to Memphis would be the exten.
sion of her communication by rail with
the great West, thereby ensured.
The Iron Mountain road, or as it is
better known, the st. Louis and Belmont
railroad, ensures to Mobile ria the Mo-
bile and Ohio railroad profitable trade
which first belonged to Memphis, but
which Memphis lost because of want Of
rail communication with St. Louis, the
great metropolis of the West. Certes,
the building of railroad which gives to
Memphis this desired communication
should not receive the cold shoulder from
Memphis journals. 1t is not attem pied
to be denied that the building of the Iron
Mountain and Helena railroad would
make out of Helena an important COM
mercial city, and that in time she would
supply to Arkansas the place now filled
by Memphis. But no man imbued with
the free-trade and catholic spirit of our
age would for moment interpose this as
reason why Memphis should look coldly
on the enterprise.
If there be intrinsic commercial value
in the Bluff City, and no one more freely
accords that there is than the writer, she
will command the trade of Arkansas,
though Helena were within five instead
of ninety miles Of her corporate limits;
and if the building of the Iron Mountain
and Helena railroad, or any other rail-
road projected in Arkansas, can preju-
dicially affect Memphis, she had as well
shut up shop. GOOD wine needs no
busL," and trade will go to the cheapest
and best markets. But Memphis reposes
on the firm basis of sound commercial
prosperity, due to her geographical loca-
ton, and to the enterprise, thrift and
commercial honor of her citizens, aud
every railroad constructed in Arkansas
must strengthen these the elements of all
successful business. Memphis is but a
spot in the great Mississippi Valley
one town among the many dotting the
eastern bank of the Father of Waters.
Every railroad which penetrates that val
ley brings wealth and population to its
cities and towns; every city and town,
therefore, in that valley has common
interest in building up its railroads.
A narrow sel6shness is out of place
when the opening up of this splendid do
main, the cultivation and development of
this great valley, is under discussion.
Local prejudice and jealousies must 20
down before the grand march to CONNER
cial empire of this great Mississippi VAL
ley. a1ll. !,
The Iron Mountain and Helena rail-
road will play an important part in the
history of that valley. 1t will be the
main trunk road on the western bank of
the Mississippi river, connecting the lower
valley of that river piG st. Louis and
Chicago with the Northern lakes, con-
Meeting on its way South with all the
important East and West railroads, Civ
ing direct rail communication with San
Francisco and Omaha on the west, and
New York aud all the Atlantic cities on
the east. 1t will penetrate on its northern
route the richest mineral deposits in the |
world, embracing exhaustless mines OF
iron, coal, zinc, manganese, copper and
lead, while its southern limb will pass
through the finest cotton and corn pro-
ducing lands in America. Debouching
on the Mississippi river at Helena, a
point below any serious sand.bar OBJ
struction, and entirely free from ice
in winter, it will ensure an |
trade, by the river, with
New Orleans all the year round. Over |
its rails the Chinese from San Francisco,
or the Europeans from Boston or New |
York, will find safe and speedy transit |
to fields of profitable labor and to homes
Of comfort and independence. A road
like this is one of the springs which feed
the nations life, and should receive not
only the individuals but the nations
. material aid" 1t is too important an
enterprise to admit of local jealousy.
Very respectfully, ~ RAILROAD.