Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-12

energy, perhaps, ecaus ne com-
mands more money, than any practical
physical revolutionist employed in
the industrial regeneration of the
South. he is building and will soon
finish three hundred (296) miles OF
road from Chattanooga to Meridian
and thence to New Orleans. True,
Stanton's road does not touch every
city and village in Alabama, and it is
very true that the State loans Stanton
nearly seven millions of its bonds, and
these two facts have excited a deal OF
iIl-temper and much harsh criti-
cism. Meanwhile Mr.. Stanton
employs fifteen hundred Cinnamon
and three thousand negroes to achieve
his great tasks, and Alabama viii be-
come, through his acts and example,
the richest State in the South. Our
Alabama neighbors do not properly
appreciate Mr.. Stanton. We have
railways that for years have been
stupidity extended on paper, ham
mered at by the press and by bogus
and other contractors, until popular
patience is exhausted, and we pray
for the advent of a Stanton. We
would even give him all that the city
and county have invested in three OF
four railways, amounting to a million
dollars, if he wilt undertake to con-
struct roads for US with the rapidity
which distinguishes his operations in
Alabama. Time is money, and Stan
ton, like Memphis, appreciates the
fact. Stanton moves athwart the
plains, mountains, valleys, pine and
coal fields Of Alabama Like the
last great monster mastodon de-
scribed in traditional fables reeounted
by Cornelius Matthews, as sweeping
away forests and overwhelming noun
tains in its last struggles with the for
gotten q C that reared the mounds at
Fort Pickering. Alabama has agreed
to furnish railroads, partially built,
about twenty-five millions of bonds.
II these works be suspended, hesitate
must annually pay interest on bonds
already issued, except on those which
Stanton's finished road viii protect.
Politicians resort to many scurvy
tricks to. win votes, but viii hardly
advocate, in Alabama, a policy of re-
Progression. The State must 60 for
ward and perfect the system begun, or
taxpayers, instead of railroad conn
panies, must extinguish the railroad
liabilities of the State. Who has
conceived of a more magnificent
system of great trunk railway
lines than that which appropriations
made by the Alabama Legislature
will perfect! Stanton's road from
Chattanooga to Meridian and New
Orleans, through the iron and coal
and pine fields, 10 which the State
grants Sc, SOC, 600; the Memphis and
Savannah road from Tuseumbia to
OpeIika, 240 miles, $3,S00,000 Sam
Tate's and Greenlaw's road from
Montgomery to Decatur, Ala, 200
miles, $500, 900; Forests Memphis
and Selma road, 100 milesiR Alabama,
s2,0O0, 900; the Montgomery and Eu-
faula road, 80 miles, 81, zoe, 900; East
Alabama and Eufaula road, $50 miles,
s., 400, 900; Selma and Gulf road,
81, 500, 900; Vicksburg and Brunswick,
24o miles (fn Alabamal, SS,600, 600 a
sum total of appropriations by the
Alabama Legislature exceeding twen-
ty-fve millions. The Grand Trunk
road, from'Mobile to Elyton, the Ely
ton and Aberdeen, and Decatur and
Aberdeen, projected roads, are as yet
unaided by the State. Complete
the three ~longest'of t~heseSroads and
the rest, per force, eg neceSsitate rel,
viii be finished. What a magnificent
State Alabama becomes! Rich? The
word does not contain half the idea.
Coal and iron and pineries, and, in
counties, the most product
i've cotton. fields in the world, all de-
yelOped and populated by railways,
will make the State peerless in the.
profusion Of its resources. Besides
Stanton's, a great trunk line comes
from Louisville TO Decatur,
Montgomery and Mobile, and an
other from Savannah TO EufauIa,
yicksburg and the Pacific. Ala
Il selfish demagogues as law
or thieves as railway builders,
do not grasp power, will soon become
the first of Southern States in all the
Of Manufacturing and agri-
cultural greatness. She can take no
step backWards without evident una
voidable ruin, and when roads begun
are finished, each feeding" every
other, all will prove profitable and
burdens Of State government viii
Rever more be recognized.