Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-05
The Memphis, Ell Paso and Pacific
Railroad
To the Editor Of the Courier-Journal,l

We now have an excellent railroad to
Memphis. By July at the farthest, we
shall have rail communication with Lit
tie Rock, Ark. 1t is just about one hum
dred and fifty miles from Little Rock to
Fulton on Red river above the raft
The Red river bottoms above the raft
have long been regarded as among the
best cotton lands in the world The
Texas prairies lying south of the river,
and the rich cotton lands in the Indian
Nation lying north of the river, are com
paratively neglected, in consequence Of
the want of transportation, there being
often but few weeks in the year when
boats can pass around the raft; and
when they do, from seven to ten dollars
per bale is charged for carrying cotton to
New Orleans. With all these drawbacks
to contend with, from 100000 tol20,000
bales of cotton were made within easy
landing distance of the upper Red river
in 1869, every bale of which would have
passed over the road from Fulton to
Memphis, and no doubt much Of it to
Louisville, if the road had been COM
pleted Every wagon road leading from
the upper Red river country to Jeffer-
son and Shreveport is lined with OK
teams hauling cotton at from 81 to 81
per 100 pounds in gold A single-track
railroad would scarcely be able to move
the crop one year after it reached Full
ton. The prospect of railroad transpor-
tation afforded by the perfection Of the
organization Of the Memphis, I'll Paso
and Pacific Railroad Company has
doubled the crop of any previous year,
and would in all probability increase it
in like proportion for years to come if
the crop could be moved when ready at
reasonable rates of transportation and
insurance.
Memphis has subscribed literally to
the Memphis, Fl Paso and Pacific Rail-
road, with a view to securing the cotton
crop and jobbing trade of that section.
1t will cost about 81 ,600,000 to build the
road from Little Rock to Fulton, the
greater part of which has been sub
scribed, A subscription of S500,000 by
Louisville to the enterprise would secure
its completion in eighteen months or
two years at farthest-say in time to
move the crop of 1871. The investment
would pay handsomely in itself indepen-
IDENTIFY of the immense trade facilities it
would afford us The Memphis, FL Paso
and Pacific railroad is divided into four
sections-irst, the Memphis and Little
Rock road second, the Little Rock and
Fulton road; third, the Fulton and FL
Paso road fourth. the FL Paso and Pa
cifc road The first and fourth sections
are now being built, and are nearly com
pleted, and learn that large force is
now at work on the second section.
When the entire road is completed from
Memphis to the Pacific, lying, as it does
between the snow line on the north and
the epidemic line on the south, and trav
ersing the richest agricultural region on
the continent nearly its whole length, it
will certainly be a better paying road
than the Central Pacific which possesses
none of these advantages, and yet its
stock is now selling at 600 per cent.
The stock will be magnificent invest
ment, independent of the trade facilities
it will afford us, and the trade it will
bring us will pay back our money in two
years after the road is finished
st. Louis capitalists are making every
possible effort to reach the valley of the
upper Red river, by way of Kansas and
the Indian Nation, in advance of the
Memphis, FL Paso and Pacific railroad.
Every obstacle they can throw in the
way of that road they are bringing to
bear. New Orleans is also busily en-
gagged in the same manner. Mr.. Epper-
son, late president of the Memphis, FL
Paso and Pacific railroad, has had to
contendw with opposition from nearlyevery
direction. The Federal Government du-
ring the war. seized his iron and rolling
stock and gave it to the Shreveport and
Texas road Mr. Washburne, oar min
ister to France, put himself to a great
deal of trouble to discourage the sale of
the bonds of the road in Paris, and the
scalawags and carpet-baggers of the
Texas Legislature threatened TO with
draw the State aid pledged in the most
solemn manner to the road; but, notwith-
all the obstacles thrown in his
way Mr.. Epperson has succeeded in
placing the enterprise upon a footing
which will secure its early completion.
In working for that road, Mr. Epperson
has lahored for Louisville. Will Louis
vile help Mr.. F. to finish the work, or
will she leave him to fight his and her
battle alone?