Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-22
rHE PAcTELc


In our hasty review, yesterday, of
the action of the Convention upon the
Southern Pacific Railroad, we failed
to make a point which we think viii
strengthen the position we have taken
Of antagonism TO the report adopted.
If we take the figures said to repre-
sent the distance between Memphis
and San Diego, we find that only
220O miles of railroad are necessary to
bridge it. If we are guided by the
declaration Of the Convention, and
distribute the energies Of the South
ern people upon the construction of
branches from the Brazos river to
| New Orleans, Galveston, N~icksburg,
st. Louis and Memphis, we will not
only have to help construct the line
from San Diego to that point, about
400 miles), but build 5000 miles ofad-
ditional railway; thus reaching re
suits that 220O miles of road would
give to the South by building 400, or
double the number. And for what?
To appease the clamors of towns and
cities that are not upon the direct
route, and that have claims only upon
our sympathy Is points Of interest in
the South. Just as we expected, and
as we wrote on the 18th Of February
last, the only danger TO be looked for
to the FL Paso, or the 3jth parallel
route, has been encountered through
the Convention. On that day we
stated that 4" the danger to be appre-
hended by the Memphis Pacific Rail-
road lay in the number of little rival
interests which may spring up in
almost every neighborhOOd, and that
members Of Congress may be drawn
Off after side issues. There can be no
doubt as to the necessity Of our stand
ing together on the Memphis, Little
Rock and Fl PaSo route, which now
combines the greatest strength and
which is the only road that has any
prospect Of success" That the propo-
sition Of the Convention is in the
nature Of compromise between the
New Orleanists, the Vicksburgers
and the st. Louians, viii be readily
perceptible. Taking, say Fulton, for
its initial point, the road contempla-
ted will run to Dallas and thence by
way of Fort Worth, Weatherford,
PABLO Pinto and ChadbOurne to FL
Paso and thence, by the old survey Of
the t~hirty-second parallel to San
Diego, and by way Of San
Gorgonio Pass to San Francisco.
At Fort ChadbOurne it will be joined
by the contemplated branch from
Memphis, at Fulton by that from st.
Louis, at Dallas by the Southern Rail-
road running to Vicksburg by Shreve-
port, and also by the projected road
from New Orleans by way of Shreve-
port. This would be better than moth
ing, and seeing that it might satisfy
all parties, and would provide for all
sections. will be in that sense accept
BILE" We expressed ourselves thus on
the Goth Of March. For a compromise
this would do very well; but when we
consider the loss Of energy, of money,
and of will-pOwer necessary to it, we
fear that the result would be reached
after too great cost. We are too poor
in resources of all kinds to venture
anything. We must calculate closely
and be sure that we are not only right,
but that what we contemplate will
pay, before embarking in any scheme,
however promising. If we build a
trunk line to San Diego from Mem
phis, We viii then have a through and
an air line TO Norfolk, and almost
TO New York, with branches to
Nicksburg, New Orleans and st.
Louis already in active operation.
Upon such an enterprise we can
most certainly concentrate public
opinion and the legislation OF Con-
gress, while if we adopt the recon-
mendation of the Convention we
scatter the one and defeat the posi-
bility Of the other. Let US have the
trunk line first, the branches win
come after. Such a road is a neces-
sity, rendered more than ever 50 by
reason Of the failures Of the Central
and Union roads, impossible as they
arc by the SHOWS of a three months
winter. We are satisfied that the
Memphis road win be built, notwith-
standing present adverse decisions;
but, at the same time, we fearthat, per-
haps for ever, it viii pass into hands
heretofore identified with interests
adverse to those of the South. Il is
no idle saying that the men who built
the Pacific road, Just completed, con-
template with great interest the posi-
bilities of their engaging in the thirty
fifth parallel route, as the one that
promises most profit and the largest
permanent results. The only ques-
ton for us to decide is, shall we hold
the advantages of this route for the
or permit them to pass to the
control Of these men, whose homes
and hearts r forever in Wall street, !
New York;
L /