Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-19
MEMPHIS AND LITTLE ROCK RAILROAD
A Few straws from Kent.cky.

From the COurleT-J
There are absurd reports circulated in
regard to the intentions" of the Direc-
tors of the Ell Paso and Pacific railroad.
The seers are gifted with magical powers,
and look directly into other mortals'
mind. They assert that the Pacific road
will make combination to run straight
from Memphis to Norfolk. As it will
cost good many millions to build such
road through Virginia and Tennessee,
it is fair to suppose that sensible men
would prefer to use the route nov 10 ex-
istence through northern Alabama via
Chattanooga. 1t is charged, however,
that the aforesaid Pacific has dire de-
signs against the interests of Louisville
and intends to give our city wide berth.
And as an evidence thereof, the refusal
of the Memphis Convention to recon-
mend that Congress should grant right
of way from st. Louis through Louisville
to Norfolk is cited. The FIRST person Who
attacked that proposition was Chief JUS
tice Williams, of Kentucky, upon the
ground that it ignored the right of the
States. Other parties took the same view,
and the resolution was tabled by con-
siderable majority. But the only person
from Kentucky interested in the FL Paso
road was your correspondent, and his
views are as distinct now as they we're
when he supported the resolution and
voted against tabling it. 1t is too late in
the day to split hairs on abstract ques-
tons when real intereats can be sub
served; and as Congress has repeatedly
granted the right of way through States
and considers it an unquestionable power;
we should ask for what can benefit our
own localities, and not aid the opponents
of our interests upon mere distractions.
As this road would unquestionably sd-
vance the wealth and population Of Louis
vile and Kentucky, we ought ell to go
for it; and, so fav as my Influence or
suggestions could induce any members
Of Congress to vote for that right of way,
it would be given. The different States
can easily confirm it by granting separate
charters for th9 same purpose, II any
strict constrpctionists deem it to be the
proper method.
Now, the elements OF geography have
been forgotten by come Of our good
friendG. The Ell Psso railroad c,,,m.
mences at the northeastern boundary of
Texas. The Memphis and Little Rock
road IS diS,...aact corporation, over which
we have no control. The Little Rock
and Fulton road which runs to the
southvesteEn boundary of Arkansas, is
equally distiact. So that the diabolical
design of joining the eastern terminus of
the Pacific road and the western tsrmi-
nus of the Norfolk and Memphis line,
for the purpose Of damaging Louisville
interests, is worthy Of the skill of any
magician.
The fact ia that In national under
taking ths interests of all localities must
be considered. Therefore, the sensible
men at the Memphis Convention traced
trunk line from San Diego, on the Pa
cifc, to point 10 Texaa, By which the
whole country ulgkt bs benefited. From
THAI main trunk stems were projected to
St. Louis, to Cairo, to Memphis, to New
Orleans, and to Galveston. Thus we did
not work in the interest Of any city, but
for all. If by our gteat corporation THE
Nashville failroad) We cannot compete
With any other line it will certainly be re-
markable. The natural ally Of the Ken
lucky railroads must inevitably be the
Memphis an Little Rock railroad, as the
nearest and best route for through
freight or passengers between the
Atlantic and Pacific must be d.
rectly through Louisvillp for all
points from Baltimore northward. The
Interests of Kentucky and Louisville are
more vitality affected by the construction
Of qpr road to Northeastern Texas than
by any other measure before the country.
The proposed branch to Vicksburgi will
take the travel through the Southern
States. That to Cairo and that to St.
Louis will bring no traffic to louisville.
Bot the route via Little Rock and Mem
phis mqst give the Louisville merchants
great opportunities, aud it will be their
own fault IL any other city draws away
our new customers by lower prices or
more advantageous terms. In urging
the construction OF the FL Peso line ]
urge the building un Of Louisville. Il
any are 90 blind as not to see that, it viii
be Insde so clear in two or three years
that even their dim perceptions will &C
knowledge it. B. ID.