Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-09
Mississippi River RaiIroad-ActioE
of the County Commissioners.

The Board of County Commissioners
it will be seen from the following repo
of proceedings, has passed resolutio
to appropriate three hundred thousan
dollars. We heartily approve the vot
and hope the other counties along the lin
of route will initiate the example, an
thus furnish the means and insure til
early completion of the road. We hay
now fine prospect of securing gres
public improvement, which promises {
be worth more TO the city, and especiall
the poorer classes, than any other i'm
provement completed or in contempls
ton. We can now afford to do the sam
thing for the Valley road south. i
gain great public advantages. we ma.
well strain point, and pledge the mean
consequent on their achievement, which
will be incoming in abundance:
Yesterday the question of appropria
ting 100000 on behalf of the Mississippi
River railroad again came before thu
Board.
The following having been submitted
BY Commissioner White as his individual
reasons for favoring q subscription te
the Mississippi River railroad, on motion
of Commissioner Merrimsn it was or.
dered that the same be received
accepted and spread upon the minutes:
favor the taking of 100000 in the
Mississippi River railroad by the county,
for the following reasons:
First-Because il cannot, or ct least
there is no certainty OF it being built with
out aid from Shelby county, while with
its aid il becomes fixed fact, as other
counties are looking to and awaiting our
action. If Shelby county subscribes,
they will do so to their utmost capacity (;
if we do not they will not
Second-Because il will bring to Mem
phis an immense trade annually, that is
now directed to St Louis, Louisville and
Cincinnati, amounting to at least one
million dollars in the items of handling
and selling, and besause it will double or
treble that amount in exports of mer-
ehandise to the rich country and tribu-
tsry to the route.
Third-Becsuse it will give greatly in
creased vitality saa profit to AL kinds of
business at once.
Fourth-Recause Memphis will neces-
sarily be the distributing and circulating
point for the three millios dollars re-
ouired to build the road and bridge the
streams.
Fifth-Becanse it will give work to our
many thousand idle mechanics and labor
ers, and induce many from other sections
by certainty OF good and prompt pay.
Sixth-Because the distance to New
York will be lessened fifty-one miles, as
compared with one, and eighty-one miles
with the other Of the present main routes,
whiIs thiriy-four miles will be saved to
st. Louis and the great Northwest, and
6fiy-two miles sayed from New York to
New Orleans.
Seventh-Because by its construction
Memphis irresistably becomes the great
sntrspof of tragal and traffic between the
Gulf and NorthsFa and Eastern States,
both of which are nov diverted eastward
fifty miles By the Mississippi Central
road.
Eighth-Because it will tend to cheap.
ness Of the transportation of freight to
and from Memphis as well as 10 the trav-
cling pnbie.
Ninth-Becauss without this road the
and Tennessee railroad will
never be what it ought, and otherwise
would be profitable, paying thorough
fare. The building Of this link makes it |
The great highway from North to South,
q source of wealth to The city and coun-
Try, instead of drag and tare Of con-
Iention.
Tenth-Beeause its construction, with |
hat of the Selma railroad, will of neces-
.ity hasten the completion of the Little
Rock railroad and onward to the Pacific
"a scheme that is even now exciting the
attention Of Eastern capitalists, ana viii /
induce their concentration upon that en-
erprise in which the entire Southwest is
ieeply interested, and Memphis In par
ocular.
Eleventh-Because Memphis is bound
o enlarge and prosper j1st in proportion
Is the agricultural and mineral wealth Of
he surrounding country and States is
'roaghs Aoi deposited in her lap by rail-
Dads.
Twelfth-Becsuse it is Bbssajable that
II cities add to their greatness and pow
n by building railroads leading through
Ind to rich sections Of country like that
0 be traseTssd by the Mississippi River
abroad
Thirteenth-Because the rapid INCREASE
n the valuation Of the Memphis and
Charleston railroad end Mobile and Ohio
abroad stock within the past two years,
u since the country bsgsn 10 revive from
he ravages and loss Of the war, makes it
almost seli-eyident tina, stock taken in
bis road will not only be good stock but
make the stock Of the Mississippi and
Tennessee road valuable.
observation-disclosures it will have .
endeney to bring about healthy and
pleasant condition Of society by Identify
ng interests aud inspiring mutual con-
idence.
Fifteenth-Because it will lessen
rhine and pauperism by affording re-
nunerative labor with assured protec-
ion.
Sixteenth-Becsuse ths people in the
lection Of the country through which this
'oad is to pass have long, and, when
,slled upon, regularly paid taxes, goiLg
o benefit other portions Of the county
Without deriving aHY direct benefit to
heir own locality. Ia q word, thsy
leiped TO build aud sustain the other
leading out Of the city.
Sevenieeuih-Beeause l believe, from
NJ past experience 10 ike business
transactions, that, instead Of adding to
he general burdens Of the large major
~ Of our taxpayers, it will make It
'asier, on account Of the increased
money put in circulation and the ready
ale Of property az an enhanced valua-
ion, and it may have the effect 10 force
'lethoric lsndholders-vho have ever