Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-01-30
The GREAT BRIDGE.
What It Would do fsr RsmphIs-..DImoul.
ties and Advantages to Arise.

Nearly twenty years 2 it was pro-
posed in the Board of Aldermen to ap-
propriate 5000 to be pSid for the best
plans and specifications for a railway
bridge across the Mississippi at this point
the sum to be paid when the plans were
adopted and executed. There followed a
great row in the newspapers Of those
ancient days, and the resolution of the
/ Alderman was pronounced very absurd.
10 is quite as easy to bridge the Missis-
! sippi here Is at st. Louis, and everywhere
| civil engineers and railroad builders are
! discussing the necessity for the Memphis
bridge. A distinguished civil engineer
writes that elf Memphis will even begin
ia good faith the construction of the
bridge, not only will the Southern Pacific
be forced to n here its terminus, but
every highway on either side of the Mis-
sissippi would be drawn hither by an ire
sistible force"
THE SELMA ROAD.
The construction of Forests road will
draw down another from Kansas and
compel the extension Of the system Of
roads, cunverging st Indianapolis, to ex-
tend a line across the Ohio at Padueah.
In order that the wealth of the Gulf
States, accumulated at Memphis, may be
gathered by western cities. There is
wealth enough between Memphis and
Kansas City 70 build the road, and it only
becomes this city to develope a profC-
sbIensss and a necessity for the Invest
ment of this wealth in this great high
way. Kansas City and Western Missouri
would exchange bacon, cereals and min
eral products for cotton, sugar, mOlasses
and fruits Of the tropics. We need only
construct that portion of the highway
East of the Mississippi, and commercial
necessities will finish the task 10 the line
Of b Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific
roads.
NARROW GAUGE ROADS.
But while one road thus creates auoth-
er, and while less costly narrow gauge
roads viii hereafter be built subscribing
every end accomplished by those costing
infinitely more money and toll, it is still
true that a railroad bridge across this
naErOWsst portion Of the Mississippi
would constitute a magnet Tor the cen
traliZatiOn of the railroad system of the
South and West stronger b all the
forces that now direct railway line to
csnters of wealth and population. Can
such a bridge be built? Would it psy7
Would a tunnel be preferable2 Whence
could the requisite supplies of green
backs be drawn? May not the river
change its channel finding one, four or
i've miles from the city, which it is sup
posed to have occupied when mound
builders we're rearing monuments to
their IlustriOus dead at Fort Pickering
and in the swsmps across the river2
COMMERCIAL RESULTS.
Bridge the Mississippi, and within the
year Of IFS completion every railroad one
hundred miles in length, south of the
Ohio would instantly seek direct access to
Memphis The task proposed is a vast
undertaking. There must be lofty arch
ways, beneath which the taIlest steamers
pass without detrimen5 or danger,
and this difficulty will be magnihed by
the Memphis and Morley Iron Noun
tain road which Will add nearly one
to the volume of water that would
pass beneath the mighty structure. The
Francis river may then become, when
sUperabUndanE waters Of the Missis-
are excluded from its channel. an
Innavigsbie drain for tho IOWlands.
st. Louis, Montreal and other cities
have built bridges or are engaged in such
works, quite IS difficult and costly as this
II which We speak, and if the country
capitalists and managers and build
OF railways believed that Memphis
had the nerve to undertake the constitute
ion of such e bridge, there would be a
resh impetus given to the prosperity OF
he city. 1t would become the point of
,Dnvergence Of magnificent systems of
always, drawn hitasr from the East and
Vest and centralized by q bridge across
Mississippi.