Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-15
THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
Sn Enterprise that Deserves the I'm.
enlargement and support Of all

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greatest commercial thoroughfare In the
world. Navigable from St. Paul in Min
nesota to the Gulf on the borders Of Mex
leo, il traverses the richest lands on this
continent, and affords advantages for
cheap traffic unequaled by any section
of country between it and the seabosrd.
| Numerous networks of railroads draw
freights to its shores from the West and
the South, making it the great channel of
trade for the grain Of Minnesota, Wis
consiu, Iowa, illinois, Missouri, Ken
lucky and Tennessee, for the cotton of
Arkansas and Mississippi, for the sugar
of Louisiana, for the cattle of Texas,
and for the precious ores of Mexico. At
Lacrosse, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee and
st. Paul railroad strikes it on The east,
and at Winona, Minnesota, the St. Peter
and Owatona railroad strikes it on the
west; the Milwaukee and Prairie du
Chen railroad, connecting Lake Mich.
gan and st. Paul, strikes it ON both sides !;
the Sioux City railroad strikes it
at Dubuque; the Chicago, Iowa and
Nebraska railroad reaches it on the
west at Clinton and on the east at
Fulton; the Mississippi and Missouri
railroad reaches it at Davenport on the
west, and the Chicago and Rock Island
railroad at Rock Island on the east; the
Pacific City railroad touches it on the
west at Burlington the Toledo, Wabash
and Fort Wayne railroad on the east at
Quincy, ILL.,; the St. Joseph and Hanni-
bal railroad on the west at Hannibal and
st. Louis, Mo; the Terre Haute and
Alton railroad on the east at Alton; the
Ohio and Mississippi railroad at East st.
Louis; the Illinois Central strikes it on
the east at Cairo, where the Ohio river
pours its broad stream; the Memphis
| and Louisville, the Memphis and Charles
ton, the Mississippi and Tennessee rail
roads strike it on the east, aud the Mem
phis and Little Rock railroad on the west,
at Memphis; the Selma { Ala and Meri-
dian miss. railroad touches it at Vicks-
burg on the east; the Texas and
Shreveport railroad strikes it on the
west opposite Vicksburg; and the
jackson (Tenn.) and Mississippi Central
railroad on the east at New Orleans.
Upon this long inland ocean," with its
numerous tributaries and grand railroad
connections, the Mississippi Valley Nav.
igation Company Of the South and West
propose starting splendid lines of steam
ers that will be credit to the skill and
enterprise of our people. This Company
was organized under charter from
the State of Louisiana and an act
authorizing the formation of joint
stock companies for works of pub
lie improvement, building docks aad
vessels, constructing stea mboats, and
conducting such business as may not be
in violation of the hw authorizing it's
formation. At meeting held in New
Orleans on the 2sth ult., it was agreed to
receive land in payment of subscription
stock, and such steps we're taken to COM
plete the arrangement in manner so fa-
vorable as to enable the Company to
carry out its object in regard to the
building of steamboats, and the cheaper
ing of freights. This land portion
of the plan is admirable, because
it will interest capitalists of the
North not only with the land, but every
other, interest of the South. We have
had very little opportunity to investigate
the styles Of steamers proposed TO be
built by Captain DeHaven, President of
the Company; but when we learn that
they are approved by Boards of Ia
derwriters, practical steamboatmen and
the best mechanics in the Missis-
sippi Valley, as we'll as by Bre-
mond, the celebrated steamship builder,
we bespeak for them cordial and extern
sive support. When we find its directory
composed of John A. Grow, Thomas A.
Adams, Alfred Moulton, William Creevy,
David DeHaven, 81. Millspaugh, John P.
Baker and Fl. Noting. of New Orleans,
A. Baker and John B. Davis, of Louis
vile, KY, ]. E. Montgomery, N. s. Otis,
DR.. j. r. Watkins and DR.. ]. W. Rogers,
of memphis, john Cobb and General Z |
7. Crittenden, of Madison, Ind, D. W.
Flowerree, of Vicksburg, and Samuel
Patterson, of Jacksonville, Ind, all gen.
tlemen of worth and financial influence,
and its President to be Captain D. De-
Haven, of New Orleans; Vice President,
John A. Grow, of New Orleans; Secrs-
tary, N. s. Otis, of Memphis; Chief
Engineer, John 2. Davis, Of Louis
vile, Kentucky; and Superintendent,
R. s. Kirk, of Madison, Ind, gentlemen
of practical ability, we perceive COM
pany that ia calculated to surmount all
obstacles and achieve splendid success.
Now we hope our mercantile men and
the general public will investigate this
matter. Captain DeHaven informs us
that he has assurances from some of the
first men in the North that they will not
only invest money 10 this enterprise, but
guarantee an immigration of worthy agri-
culturalists that will be beneficial to every