Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-27
Friday MORNING, -: OCT q. 1871.
THE MEMPHIS AND SHREVEPORT
RAILROAD.

The recently adjourned railroad onven
ton at Shreveport would have accom-
plished a great deal, If nc more than 10
excite public inquiry as TO one OF tne nus
interesting portions of the southwest
1t has dome better. 1t has reawakeneo
in Memphis. snd along the line to be trsv-
ersed bv the rslls that will bind us to the
Rad river cotton mart, 3 desire for the
construction Of that highway, which, If
taken at the food, must lead to most for
tunste results for us and for the project
ors. The people are ripe for work, and
only need to see a beginning to pour IN All
their energy and give freely of lam ana
money. The citizens of Shreveport have
uvsited in vain upon the capitalists of New
Orleans into which city for years they have
been pouring a very wealth of trade. Be
fore the war they were promised railroad
connection with the Crescent City which
the people of the latter sbould hsve
made, If only in their own inter-
ests; and since the close OF the
war these promises have been repeated,
until at last they have come to signify
sound and nothing more. Tired OF this'
the really enterprising people Of shreve-
mort have given up all idea of going to
New Orleans, and hsve turned their eyes
toward Memphis, the young, vigorous
and thriving city, whose future is well
and plainly indicated in b fact thai al
though this year the total cotton receipts
at ali the ports hsye fallen of 1872 ,0O9 bales,
as compared with the receipts up 10 the
same time last year, those to her, In
the same time, have nearly doubled. In
the railroad convention, wherest we were
represented by ex-Msyor Douglas, Gen
ersl Ruhn and Colonel Duff, the prevail
ing ides with Shreveport was connec-
ton with Memphis, which, in the columns
ofthe Shreveport Republican, thus finds
expression:
II ia inevitable and will work out its "
solution that this section OF the soutnHesL
has a more intimate relation and community
of interest with The Western marts OF uaue
than with any other section. The intercourse
and exchsnse Of the indigenous PJoducts o.
the two sections must be facilitated BY the
Improvement OF the natural channels o.
No and the completion OF artlncial
highways Of transportation between me Two
this principle-productE seek the quickest
and most feasible route from the point OF
production 10 that Of consumption, ana the
cotton Produced here must seek the East by
and through the West, where certain per
cert oft viii remain IN exehange Tor bro
visions and other supplies, Sc let us see that
the highways for this exchange are opened
and improved TO facilitate the same. This
community ofinterest and commeTolsL con-
sanguinity will demonstrate itself and Work
out ffs own solution, but we must aid as
sist the artificial and natural channels OF
commerce.
We applaud the sentiments thus well
expressed by our contemporary, and are
glad to be able to assure it, and through
it the people Of Shreveport and Camden
and al the Red river country that our
capitalists and railroad men appreciate
them and are now preparing to give body
and form to an artificial link of communi-
cation which will enable the merchants
of Memphis to share in the products of
one of the best cultivated snd most veal
thy cotton districts in the South. Colo
mel Sam Tate, the president Of the Little
Rock railroad, one Of the shrewdest and
most practical of our railroad builders, q
gentleman Of rare energy and capacity
TO whom Memphis owes much, hss taken
this work in hand and will push
it with all The vim of an
iron will, until the whole distance be-
tween Memphis and Shreveport Wis Pine
Bluff and Camden, is bridged by a first
class railroad. Alresdy bids have been
advertised for the construction of the Pine
Bluff link, which, uniting with the Little
Rock railroad at DevsI's Bluff, will Sc
cure to Memphis much If not most of the
trade Of the rich country along both banks
of the Arkansas river for sixty miles up
and down that stream. The work thus
begun can be greatly facilitated by the
people at Pine Bluff and between that
point and Camden and Shreveport. II
they will respond promptly when called
upon, we think it not impossible that in
two years. time Red river cotton viii find
3 market in Memphis via the Memphis
and Shreveport railroad. The eyes Of our
people are turned westward. In the west
hope to find the material of future
prosperity. and in the development ofthst
magnificent domain we hope to realize
our largest profits.