Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-05
1MroR rANr TO MEMPHIS.
The Norfolk and Great Western Rail-
road 10 be Built I'm Two and n Half
Years by Parties Interested I'm the
memphis and FL PasO Railroad.
The Richmond Wig, of the 10Th ult.,

| cOutHl to y tutt otS0eah Va - 80 ~ ota VI
thusiaslic railroad convention held
Danville, Va, on the 18th. Every count
along the line from Norfolk to Bristo
save one, was represented by solid an
substantial men. The correspondent
says:
At IL m. to-day the meeting was Gale
to order by the President of the road
Col. Thomas s. Flournoy, on whose INC
ton Dr.. Thomas P. Atkinson, of Dan
vile, was made Chairman, and N. Talley
Esq Secretary.
On motion of William Martin, Esq.
of Henry county, committee OF tire
was appointed to ascertain the amount 0
stock represented in the meeting. TIL
committee soon reported through it
chairman, Mr.. Martin, that 81, 900, 900 o
stock was represented, and that Messrs
r. C. Link & Co. claimed to be stock
holders to the amount of $7,000,00t
more. They had rendered this amour
of subscription to the treasurer of thu
company the day before, and offered Il
pay $500 900 10 cash, that being the ter
per cent. required by the bylaws of the
company to be so paid. The question al
to whether Messrs. Link & Co. were
stockholders, or should be allowed to
become such, was by the committee re-
ferred to the meeting; and Messrs. K. G.
Link and - Levy, of their firm, being
present, they we're requested to explain
their objects and purposes in making so
large subscription
Mr.. Link, who is seemingly not yet
twenty-five years of age, in a speech of
sometwenty minutes, which was as con-
else and as much to the point as any /
ever heard, explained fully the purposes
of his company and their ability to carry
them out. HIS firm was an extensive
one, of ample means, and had been en-
gagged largely in railroad building, both
on this continent and Europe. ROLES
C. Link Il Co. was the name of the COM
pany in Philadelphia, but this might be
considered only branch of the parent
house, which had its headquarters in
London. His company had been at
tracted by this magnificent scheme of
railway from Norfolk to Bristol, which
was, in his judgment, the grandest rail-
road scheme that ever entered the mind
of man. As early as last January, he
had visited Dsnville, and again in Feb
ruary, also, and each time be had pro-
posed to the President and Directors to
subscribe to the capital stock Of the
company an amount sufficient to make
his company absolutely the controlling
power 10 the road. He was frank to say
that the Norfolk and Great Western rail
way, if managed properly, presented
the finest opportunity 10 the world of
returning to its owners a msguifi-
cent revenue. With this Yiew ne and
bis company proposed to invest in it to
the extent indicated by their subscrip-
ton, an amount which ihey thought
amply sufficient Ia eonplete the road
through from Norfolk to Bristol by the
lst day of January, 1874 They had no
connection with, and we're not in the in
terest 0t any other railroad whatever
save in tie line of railway from Mem
phis to Ell Paso, and they desired to pos.
sess this road only beesAse Y was the
last link in the chain of road that In less
than three years would extend from Nor
folk across this Continent to San Diego,
on the Pacific, and, by shipping from
Norfolk and San Diego, to the ports of
China and Europe, and ultimately belt
the world. The road, he said, should be
built in the most substantial manner;
the line should be as straight as possible,
the rails should be of steel, the bridges of
iron and the grade easy, 80 as to make it
the carrying road Of the Continent The
money subscribed, portions of which, he
understood, had been paid in by the
counties, they did not want, and would
refund. They did not want a county
bond until they had completed the road
through to Bristol.
1t might seem to some an impossible
undertaking to complete three hundred
and sixty-fve miles of railway in little
less than two years aud half G st of jan
uaFy, 1871, or ct the rate Of nearly half
a mile day. 1t was, indeed, hercu-
lean undertaking, bat those who doubted
would, if they believed him, surely be-
come confident when he told them that
- McHenry, now happily a member
of bis firm, was the same man who, in
two hundred days, built two hundred
miles Of the Atlantic and Great Western
railway. AS an earnest Of their purpose
and of their ability, at least to com
mence The work, he had with him in the
town Of Danville $500 900 in cash, which,
if their subscription was accepted, would
be turned over Immediately TO the Treas.
urer Of the Norfolk and Great Western
Railway Company.
Upon this conclusion Of Mr.. Links
speech the meeting grew wild with de-
light. The mans sincerity of purpose
was plein, and few doubted the 500, 900
guarantee of his ability.
Colonel FlCurnoy addressed the meet
ing, and told the stockholders that no
matter what capitalists came in and
built the road, its control would pass out
Of their hands. He had accepted the
Office Of President when the company
had not dollar 10 the world-had worked
for ii in season and out Of season, not for
pay nor for glory, but because of his
faith in the project and his belief that
through the success of this road only
could old Virginia and her people be re-
deemed, regenersted and disenthralled.
Colonel Flournoy's remarks produced a
fine feeling and were much spplauded.
Despite the efforts Of petty men to hin
der and delay it-despite the ridicule
which the same petty men have heaped
upon Col. Flournoy's visionary project,
the completion Of the road by January,
1879 ia a hxad fart.