Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-29
RAILROADS.
Memphis. Selma & EIytOn Rail-
road.
Memphis, Union CITY and Me.
tEOp8iIs.

MEMPHIS, SELMA & ELyToN RAILROAR
Editors Memphis Appeal
That the Importance OF railroad from
this city in the direction Of Okolona
| Miss, thence towards Selma, Ala, and
! also towards Eiyton, Ala, may be IN.
derst0od and fully appreciated, 1 pro.
| pose through your columns to state some
| facts which may not be known to many
| OF our ciyiZens. a railroad is in process
of construction from Meridian, Miss, TO
Chattanooga, Tenn. This road will pass
| near Eiyton, Ala. The road from Mont
gomery, Ala, to Decstur, Ala, will also
| pass through or near Elyton. They are
| now, as l learn, making arrangements
TO build road from Opelika, Ala, which
| is only few miles from Columbia Ca,
| in the direction OF Tuscumhia, Ala.
| This rOsd will also pass near ElytOn. Il
will thus be seen that Elyton will be-
come an important railroad center.
From Aberdt en-, or Columbus, Miss, to
Elyton, does not, am satisfied, exceed
ninety, or at fRrthest one hundred miles
From Columbus or Aberdeen, the most
direct route to Chattanooga, end thence
TO Norfolk or New York, will be through
ElytOn when these roads shall be built,
From Memphis, there will be common
road to some point beyond the Butta-
natchie river, which divides Lowndes
snd Monroe county, Miss, and then the
two roads will separate, one going di-
rectly Selma, thence to Pensacola, and
the other going to Elyton, thence to
Montgomery, Opelika sud Chatta-
no0ga or a road may be built
through Tuscaloosa to Limekiln
ststiOn, where the Montgomery
J II 81. n. l.
roads cross each other. The road to Ely
ton and the road to Selma will not inter-
fsrs with but be mutually benefiei to
eseh other, having, for considerable
distance, s common trunk. No other
projected road from this city presents
the advantages that these roads dc.
They not only furnish cotton and other
agricultural products, but they reach the
coal and iron regions of Alsbams. No
road from Memphis reaches coal at so
short distance as do these roads. 1t is
only about one hundred and eighty miles
from Memphis to the coal fields OF Ala,
bsma on this route. Prof. Tuomey, in his
geological report made sometime ago,
shows the great mineral wealth of the
country through which these roads pass.
Coal can be brought from the Alabama
coal fields to Memphis and sold at fifteen
or twenty cents per bushel. This coal
has been examined, and pronounced by
competent judges to be equal to any coal
ia the United States. Not only coal, hut
iron and marble, are on the line of these
roads, and are nearer TO this city than
any other coal and iron which are in
close proximity. At Columbus, Aber-
deem, OkOi0na, and Holly Springs, this
coal can be delivered much cheaper than
fror,a nv or l,ss .,
and this will enable all OF them to be-
come important manufacturing towns
and cities.
The building up Of these places will
greatly benefit Memphis; for if each Of
them were an important manufacturing
town, connected by rail with this city,
Memphis would, on account Of its posi-
tion on the Mississippi river, and its
railroad connections, become the dis
tributiDg point for their manufactured
articles. The prosperity of these cities
would contribute greatly to the prosper
ity and growth OF Memphis. II We
should secure these roads before the
meeting of the Commercial Convention
on the 18th OF May, it would do much
towards securing for our city the South
ern Pacific Railroad. We are now con-
nected with Norfolk by rail, and we
should also seek direct connection with
Sayaunsh, Pensacola and Mobile. Men,
phis should occupy towards the sur
rounding interior towns, the same POSI-
ton that Boston does to Lowell and the
manufacturing towns of New England.
The coal and iron Of Alabama will be
found to be equal il not superior to those
Of Pennsylvania, and whether Memphis
will share in that valuable trade de-
pends upon the action Of her own peo-
pie. Alabama and Mississippi will do
Il cir part, and are anxious to come to
Memphis. VIII we, by our inertness
and want OF public spirit, drive them
away, and force them TO seek other out
lets fog trader Will not our public