Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-08
MEMPHIS AND ST. LOUIS.
Our Up.Rfyer NeiR hbOr Anxious for
Through Come ctfons.

A considerable number of leading
business men of St. Louis met at The
Southern Hotel, 10 that city, last Thurs
day evening, TO devise means to increase
and improve transportation facilities
Southwark Ebon G. Smith presided,
and George Fl. Morgan wes Secretary.
Various gentlemen gave their views,
and IL was generally admitted that the
extension Of the Iron Mountain railroad
to Columbus had failed to secure desira-
BILE through connections South Toe
President Of the Mobile and Ohio rail-
road, Colonel Murdoch, was blamed fer
this, but it could not be helped. 81.
Louis is therefore at the mercy Of Chi
cage, Cincinnati and Louisville, Mayor
Shryock made the statement that Louis
vile does more business South than 81.
Louis, and that Baltimore, even, has a
line of boats from Memphis up Arkansas
river. Various plans were suggested,
but all agreed that the Iron Mountain
railroad must be extended down the river
to Memphis.
The remarks made by Thos. II. Allen,
President of the road, on the subject,
being of some interest to the merchants
of Memphis, we reproduce them as
published in the Times, of the 5th
He said S.. Louis was good city for
talkera and resolutions, but when be had
attempted to raise money TO build the
from Mountain railroad, he was unable to
get more than $4,000 20 build road
which had already cost fse millions. He
hoped something more would be accom-
plshed than q set of resolutions. Mr.
Shryoek was right about the Mobile and
Ohio railroad Ee could get them to do
very little. He didn't think they in
tended Injustice to S.. Louis, but their
course certainly worked it. Its rolling
stock was very deficient, and the goods
received by it frequently laid at Colum-
bus for weeks. IL seemed impossible to
get the inclined plane arranged at CO.
lumbus. He had offered the Mobile and
Ohio railroad to construct it himself, and
informed Mr.. Murdoch that if arrange.
ments we're not made he should seek
other connections. That be was thinking
now of continuing his road to Memphis.
He had few weeks since raised $780,
600, but owing to Wall street troubles,
had been disappointed. He had another
plau--to have a company donate lands
at 81 rs per acre along the route, and
had accomplished this when the company
raised the price to 50 80. The cost of
the road to Memphis would be only about
"a .000, 900, and if the arrangement could
be made to obtain the lands, it could GER
tainly be bnilt If hnilt il would relieve
900 900 acres of land in st. Francis
river valley from overflow. The State of
Arkansas had been very liberal, offering
to pay the price of the grading in that
State in State warrants, payable in lands.
He had brought the matter before the
County Court, but that honorable court
did not think proper even to notice his
proposition. In this connection be would
speak of the Cairo and Fulton railroad.
This road he had bought to the Arkansas
line. The franchise in Arkansas was
very valuable, as il had l,500. 900 acre
grant. Further, twenty miles had to be
built by April next or the charter was
vacated. IL was most important road
to st. Louis, and unless ST. Louis now
threw herself in the breach it would GER
tainly be built to Cairo, and thereby con-
meet only with Chicago. To return to
the object of the meeting, fast freight
line would certainly pay, but through
connections must be made to make it
effective. Why not buy the Mobile an
Ohio railroad 2-$750,00Q wsuld do it.
That road hasu't paid its interest for
January. If it has to be sold it can be
bought chesp, and St. Louis ought TO
buy it. he believed that the Illinois
Central was making every effort TO get
that road 10 it's power, and would do so
unless ST. Louisused her m cans literally.
He notices already that tickets in the
South can't in many places be had for
St. Louis via the Iron Mountain rail-
road. he should continue trying to
build the road to Memphis, and by re-
leasing The State from her claim Of
81. 900, 900 get an appropriation OF $780,
600 If possible
The meeting adjourned until the 18th
inst, when a committee appointed will
report.
THERE will be public meeting Of the