Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-06-04

oiiio AAhO VI leCtllAOSu lIOl
Shreveport to Savannah, lie
wholly between the 32d anc
SD parallels of latitude, pre-
senting less deviation from
latitudinal straight line thar
the same extent of railroad ir
this or any other country.
Memphis lies several degrees
north Of the SD parallel, while
Norfolk lies many more
degrees eastward of a longitu
dinal line from Savannah
The distance from the proposed
eastern trminus of this new
route to Norfolk, via Memphis
by straight lines is to the dis.
lance between the same starting
point and Savannah, via Vicks.
burg, as about ID to 20 in favor
of Savannah
1t is therefore very evident
that this proposed route gives
Savannah and Charleston great
advantages over Norfolk, and
places Vicksburg far in ad-
vance Of Memphis. And when
we further take into consider
alton the near proximity of
New Orleans, with continuous
lines of both water and rail
road communication, to the
proposed eastern terminus Of
the main trunk line, we will
begin to understand something
Of the formidable character Of
the competition that Memphis
and Norfolk will have to en-
counter from rival intirests ~
ing south of the 'Isothermal
Line in the superior advan-
tages of Vicksburg, nSavanah
and New Orleans.
Plainly and obviously the
35th Parallel was the route for
Memphis and Norfolk. With
the route located on that line,
with the eastern terminus at
Fort Smith, nothing could have
prevented Memphis from be-
coming the great central depot
in the Mississippi valley, and
Norfolk the great outlet to the
Atlantic, and gateway of in
ter-oceanic communication.
1t is marvellous, that with
these considerations so obvious
to the least rejecting, and
sHb so51dliiaRfR RgHm9ee v,vn mind, there e.
indeed there was any, rests
lance to the adoption of the
32nd parallel route, on the
part especially, of the Virgin
ia and Tennessee delegations.
1t makes very little difference
to the interests Of Arkansas,
however, whether the route be
located on the 35th or 32d
parallel, for in either event we
occupy a favorable and com
handing position. With the
route located on the SD par
allel, we are sure of at least
two connecting lines, one by
way of the M. O. & R. R.
Railroad, running through the
southern tier of counties, the
other by way of the Cairo &
Fulton road running diagonal
ly through the entire breadth
of the State, with probably
another line running through
the western tier of counties,
connecting with st. Louis.
The adoption of the SD
parallel route gives peculiar
prominence and Importance to
the Cairo & Fulton road. And
when we take into considera-
ton the immense capital, both
pecuniary and political, that
this road can command by vir-
tue of it's close connections
with the various northern and
eastern roads and cities, we
may confidently look forward
to it's early completion. We
must confess that we know
nothing of the organization or
proposed plans of the present
company; but this much we DO
know, that the interests OF Ar
kansas, especially in connec-
ton with a Pacific road, are
more intimately and directly
involved in the Cairo and Full
ton, than in any other projec-
ted line of road in the State,
and that the prospects for the
early completion OF that road
are incompatible with those
of any other through route in
the State. at.