Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-23
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD.
A Convention of all Those In
terested Proposed.

From the Shreveport southwestern
Apart from, and above all questions o.
the day, in its relation to Southern in
teTests-a CbimbOraEO, so to speak, in its
| Importance and towering eievatiOn-is
| the construction Of a Southern Pacific
Railroad; the construction, We mean, OF
| a railway from q convenient point in
| Texas-to connect with the Mississippi
| river-to a convenient point or points on
| the Pacific coast, traversiDg line Of lst-
| itude below the snow barriers, which OBJ
stTuct the free communication of more
northern lines. In our advocacy Of this
great national enterprise, we have used
the term Southern Pacific in e0ntrsdis-
tin0tion TO the routes nov under con-
struction in the Northwestern States
and not as synonymous with the cid, So
called, Southern Pacific road, identified
in the past with the names of Stevenson,
FOwlkes, Thompson, Walker and Todd,
as its chief representative men, and
known to fame as far IS it is known at
all by its magnificent designs, its specu-
lative manipuIRtions- and its splendid
failures. That enterprise, as inaugurated
by these men, is deRd and buried. To
exhume it3 remains would be but un-
wisely to scatter before the winds the ef-
fiuvia of the grave. It's sffairs are in
different hands now. II is not even 3
local enterprise, so far as we know any
thing OF its condition ard affairs. 10
the employment of the term interna-
tional, we have sought only to convey
the same idea as expressed in the term
Southern Hacine, Rnd without reference
to the route OF that name. There are so
many Pacific routes, old and new, that
it is difficult to define an entirely new
and substantive project, looking to con-
4ectiop VIZ: wis5 the Pacific, iR popular srti.
elss. without the use OF terms that might
indicate some confusion OF Ideas. WHAT
we desire to advocate is, an agreement
among all routes in interest, upon tie
initial point of 8 trunk line or lines, and
cooperative effort Of all to secure Con.
gressionsl aid. We foresaw, what the
Indications now more strongly fore
shadow, the prejudice likely to result
from the numerous stOck-jcbbing inter.
ests, competing In the lobby of Congress
We believed, as we now believe, these
rival beggars would bring odium on 3
national enterprise. We believed, and
now believe, that Gen. Grant is an hon.
est man, and could not be inveigled in
the meshes Of these lobby Influences;
that, on the contrary, he would look upon
their grand enterprises as so MANY
schemes to plunder the Government.
We therefore made our suggestion of an
initial point, in the vsin hope that the
representatives of the various routes,
known to be at Washington, would
take heed in time, and not provoke an
unfriendly feeling on the part of the rev
administration.
we do not desire to discuss the merits
OF different routes. At least two good
routes offer themselves for adoption-the
old Southern Pacific and the Interna.
tional routes-either would suit us, and
we would be glad to have both lines.
What we desire to see is, that all the
proposed routes, from St. Louis, Cairo,
Fort Smith, Memphis, VicksbuPg, New
Orleans and Galveston, should converge
upon some point in Texas, and that from
this point one or two routes should be
adopted to the Pacific coast, and that
Congress should extend its aid. And the
bsst plan to secure these objects, snd to
lift great national enterprise above the
prejudices and corruptions Of the lobby,
and to plant IL firm on its feet before
Congress and the c0untry-to stand or
fsll upon its own nerits-is s general
convention OF all parties, or routes, in
interest, We would suggest, then, Che
first Monday in May as the time and
Memphis as the place OF holding this
convention. What says the press
What say the railroad men and The can
italists OF st. Louis, Cairo, Fort Smith.
Cincinnati, Memphis, Vicksburg, New
Orleans, Louisville, etc, etc. ?