Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The SoathsFu Pacific RsIlroad-A Pretty
Hard RUb at Sane Memphis
Properly Owners.
About EnlgFanis-What Must bs Dose to
EscsaFaus Them 10 Gene Here.


TEX PACIFIC 6AALAyADs
Cross COUNTY, ARK, May %, 1871.
Editors AppeGi-You received my COM
municati0n concerning our railroad IN
Arkansas favorablythat I am tempted to
risk another more general in its character
The organization OF the Southern Pacific
Companv.recentIy effected, calls attention
TO the tact that Memphis expects to be
the principal eastern terminus on the Mis-
sissippi for this great trunk lin across
the continent. The road now progressing
from Norfolk designed to give direct com
municstion with Memphis, strengthens
this expectation, while il adds much to
the value and importance OF the whole
line. and especially as affecting Memphis
and the Southwest. Fol II must be
strongly remembered that this Atlantic
seaboard will be several hundred miles
nearer by this out than by the one now
travelled. Besides, Norfolk affords a safe
and capaoious winter harbor whence and
whittier all ocean craft can 90 and come
with far less expense and danger than
they encounter in leaving and approach
ing the harbors Of New York, Bos-
ton and Portland during the Indictment
season. How long, think you, II viii DO
before b greater number OF the cotton
frsightsrs-sail and steam-VI1 take
their departure from Norfolk after these
communications are completed, instead
Of encOuntering the pertls OF Hell Gate
and the Sound, in getting out OF New
York: or the fierce nOrthessters on the
Atlantic coast, and which play such havoc
with everything on the ocean, from Hall
fax to Cape May; or even submitting 70
the delay, Inconvenience and expense OF
towing over the bar at New Orleans2
How Memphis looms up when she Is con-
templated as the great emporium into
which the vast products of the Southwest
are gathered to find distribution to ali
parts of the world; whittier all travellers
for business OF pleasure throng to scatter
thence to their respective destinations;
and, finally, the last gateway on this con-
tinent through which oriental commerce
and travel pour themselves to step
across the Atlantic and reach the
western borders of their CONT
nent. Is this visionary? Remember
it is not only several hundreds
OF miles nearer from Memphis to Nor
folk than TO New York, but more hun-
dreds Of Emiles nearer across the cOnti-
nsnt by way Of Texas and San Diego,
than over the snowy plains and mountain
gorges of Kansas, Colorado, Utah and the
rightfully picturesque region OF the
Sierra Nsvada. In the wonderful age in
which it is on happy fate to live, there is
less danger Of our expecting too much
than too little of the future.
We must remember another fact. that
LuAE G4AsAAEAA 4 6A4AAA - Az A1AAI AZ
portant because 1t goes westward across
the continent. We shall feel most its
benefits because il comes east as well as
goes west, Texas will pour all her feed
6rs into its great trunk. Her millions Of
cattle, her other equal millions OF wheat,
her vast future cotton product viii here
after md easy egress out Of her now al
most inaccessible and unknown eXpsnse
of fertility. SO the network Of railroads
with which Arkansas is now con-
connecting herself will gather their
lines toward this great highway,
and thus we Bh6Q see that while
" westward the staE Of empire takes its
way the East will get her compensation
in the contrary direction which commerce
will take. All these railroads, therefore,
with which Arkansas is now or about TO
be traversed and environed, become inter
esling and Important, not alone for their
individual value, but quite IS much be-
cause they constitute the muscles and
siusWs Of a stup6ndOus system of trans
continental travel and transportation.
Memphis, watching for her great future
as the point of arrival and departure on
the Mississippi, has q direct and lively in
tsrsst in all these roads, and her capitalists
and property-hOldsrs would be far more
creditsbly and probably employed IN
giving aid and encouragement to them
than in housing about the corners 70
watch for the highest rate Of usUry
for their money OF putting on the
last turn of the screw on rents already eX-
Orbitant. That was q good article Of
yours, the other dag; about the failure or
i~ncapscity OF Southern men to cooperate
in useful snd important enterprises.
To see the sublime Indifference with
which some Of the owners of lots and
blocks, and even acres in Memphis, go
about the tsreets numbered with and car
ing for nothing only to get and raise their
rents, n is tempted to believe that they
either care Tor nothing but themselves, or
else have no capacity or comprehension
above that Of a peanut merchat-both
probably.
After this wrsthful explosion, I may as
we'll subside. Is not this weather glOri
Cus2 Gradually working gently into ths
heat Of summer without any threat OF
the baking and parchiug drought that
sometimes so dissstrously succeeds the
continued cold and wet of the spring
commencement. The change of two
weeks is magical. I got pretty high on
my stills this time, but I feel better after
thus heslthfuIly and truthfully dispOrting
myself now that I have got down.
SAT.