The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-11-10
A Letter from Ex-Gov. Throckmorton.

a Letter from Ex-Gov. Throckmorton.
MCKINNEY, TEXAS, Oct. 2lst 1862
| Charles L. Robards, Esq, .Sdreueport, L.:
DEAR SRI am greatly obliged by your favor Of
the 10th inst enclosing an editorial article of the
South esern IN relation to junction and consoh
dation of the Memphis, Ell Paso & Pacific Railroad
with that Of the Southern Pacific.
| have no hesitation in saying that the Memphis,
/ Ell Paso Pacific Company will respond at once to
any suggestion or offer that the Southern Pacific
Company may make in regard to junction and con
sodation of the two roads and, will say further,
should any gentleman feel authorized to enter upon
Company, touching this question, that feel author:
lied by the other company to respond, and that will
secure and produce the necessary authority to make
my acts binding
If it should be agreeable to those who control the
affairs of the Southern Pacific Company, would sug-
gest the appointment of more persons on the
part Of each Company who, in conjunction with the
Chief Engineers of the respective roads, should agree
upon the place of junction. Cor the region of country
where should be) and the of consolidation Of
the two Companies upon the main line westward from
the unctionhe action of such persons to be subject
the approval Of the Boards of Directory Of the two
Companies. The junction should be effected at such
point as would allow the two roads to supply the ne
cessities of Eastern and Northern Texas. Upon this
point apprehend there would be but little trouble.
The consolidation of the Companies, and combination
of their means and energies upon one main line
upon terms of perfect fairness. The advantages of
such combination are so apparent that scarcely
realize that there should be any serious trouble in the
way Of eecng it. By this means not only would the
railroad interests of Northern and Eastern Texas be
made to harmonic, but the general railroad interests
of the whole State would be greatly subserved and
promoted and most powerful impetus would be given
to successful and speedy completion of the projected
lines of road leading from the Mississippi river through
Arkansas and Louisiana to the eastern boundary of
Texas.
1t is understood that the Cairo & Fulton Road is
| now in the hands of strong English company who
propose to put the road under immediate contract
This route intersects the Memphis Little Rock road
now nearly completed, at Little Rock, and term-
mates the eastern border of Texas at the real be-
ginning of the Memphis, Ell Paso & Pacific, and then
connects with the Jefferson branch of the Memphis,
Ell Paso Pacific, which is now under construction
and also at the same point connects with the Missls
sippi, Ouachta Red River Road, leading from Gains
Landing on the Mississippi through the most produc-
tive regions of Arkansas to Red river. Already has
large portion of this latter road been graded, besides
the State of Arkansas guarantees the bonds of this
Company to the amount of $4,000 per mile.
1t will be seen that though the Cairo Fulton Road,
with its Little Rock and Memphis connection and the
Mobile Ohio Railroad, that the Memphis, Ell Paso &
Pacific Road has the most important connections with
the vast lines of railroad east of the Mississippi. No
less important the connections which the Southern
Pacific secured through its connection with the Vicks
burg Shreveport Road, which latter line east of
Vicksburg, connects with the great network of rail
roads that extend throughout the Southern States.
A junction of the Memphis, Ell Paso Pacific Road
with the Southern Pacific in the interior of Texas
the direct line for great national thoroughfare, will
such work the widely extended interests referred to-
The construction of these two roads from their
Arkansas and Louisiana connections to junction.
and the continuance westward of line to the Rio
Grande, will insure the completion of lines already
begun and others in contemplation, beginning the
Gulf and pointing to the northern and western parts of
the State. The Texas Central would this line
somewhere in the region of Dallas, and continue
its to Red river there to meet the road coming
down from Kansas. The branch road now under
process of construction leading through Waco, would
itc Tho farfi1a of
and strike the main line on the waters Of the Clear
Fork of that stream, thus bringing in railway commu
nicaton with Galveston, the great coal and copper
region of the State and still further west perhaps
the Concho, the Lavaca and Indianola Road, via San
Antonio, and connected with the Brennan & Austin
Road at point west of the Capitol, would reach
the main line There could be clearer proposition
than that the construction of these two first mentioned
roads, from the eastern border of Texas to junction.
and then main line to Ell Paso, will insure the COM
pletion of the Gulf road just mentioned They would
become feeders and outlets of the great through line
to the Pacc besides, the wants and necessities of
the several sections of the State through which they
are to run would make them profitable. The contnu-
alton of the Berwicks Bay line, via Houston Colum-
bus, San Antonio and to Brownsville, would make
the general system for Texas complete.
1t appears to that New Orleans has great interests
at stake in this projected junction and continued
line Her necessities, and the wants of Northern Lou
isana and Upper Red river, already indicate that a
road from the Opelousas line via Alexandria to Shreve
port, would be of the best paying routes in the
Memphis, Ell Paso & Southern Peciic would greatly
increase the profits of such New Orleans connections
and should the united roads be prosecuted success
fully and become part of great national highway,
then there would be such imperative necessity for
this connection that it could not be dispensed with
Indeed, so important is railway connection between
New Orleans and your city, that do not doubt you
will hu,o it by the tino tho Cairo j. Fulton road 10
completed to the Texas boundary. There would then
only be the link between Jefferson and Marshall (six-
teen miles, to have complete railway communication
from Cairo, via Jefferson Marshall and Shreveport to
New Orleans.
l agree most heartily with the suggestion of the
editor of the South Western that there should be
ealousies between the two companies. Their inter
ess, and the interests of the country, demand har
nony and cooperation The future prosperity Of the
States of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, depend in
great measure upon the completion of the several lines
Of railroad that will bind them together and afford to
their people easy and cheap to the commercial
world 1t is the duty Of those who control the des
nies of these States and those who directing the
various public enterprises herein referred to- to work
IN concert. feel assured that Texas will do her part
am most respectfully, your friend,
j.. W. THROCKMoRTON.