Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-03
TO SHREVEPoRT!
EIoqueutFReta and ~FiguPes-TheR Report
Of the Delegation 10 h Great
Railroad Meeting.
The People Of the Southwest AbIaze
with Enthusiasm.
Another Meeting TO be Held at h
GreenIaW Opera House Monday
Night.

Meeting to be Held AT IN
GreenIaW opera House Monday
Might.
A meeting was held at the chamber Of
,nmmerce last evening, 10 hear the report
If the delegates to the railroad convention
recently held at Shreveport, Louisiana.
TIE meeting was called to order al half
past four by Colonel Pinson, who briefly
explained the objects OF it.
Colonel Douglass wished to know
whether it was the wish OF the chamber
hesr the report; then, If so, he would
submit 1t with all accompanying docu-
Colonel S. Tate thought 1t would be
to POSTPONE the reading of the re-
port until Saturday or Monday, when q
large meeting OF parties interested IN the
to be treated of could be
gathered. 1t was q very important ques-
ton for Memphis. II would be necessary
20 AXE seton. Memphis was the natural
point for controlling the trade Of the
Mississippi north OF New Orleans. Mere
ak would avail nothing. Action, money
and energy were necessary to put the
OF progressive men into practical
operation, The territory to DC opened up
contribute 500 900 bales to
che city. To have It read now would be
TO deprive it Of b natural effect that
be expected from it. Alsrge pub
lie meeting should be convened Snd let
the doctrine be spread so as to take root
and fruclify into something important.
Colonies Douglass and DCh thought it
would be better to have the reports read
and given to the press in order that they
20 before the public, then a meeting
could be called for Monday. Mr. William
r. Moore wss of the same opinion. He
was for having the report read now, and
then call g meeting a. the Greenlaw opera
house Monday evening, to which import
ant people, both local and stranger could
be invited.
The report was then read by Colonel
Douglas.
FROM MEMPHIS TO SHREVEPORT.
We synopsise the report: The follow
ing resolution wss passed by the '
ton:
Be it resolved by the mayor and board
of aldermen OF the city of Shreveport,
That the city Of Shreveport viii, st the
approaching legislature, use all her inhu-
ence to procure q charter for q railroad
from Shreveport to the border OF the
State of Louisiana by the nearest and
most practicable to Memphisi and
thar when said charter Is procured that
the city of Shreveport, aud the citizens
of said city, will subscribe lperally to
said road.
After the adjournment Of the conven-
ton, the delegation visited Marshall,
Texas. to attend the mechanical snd agri-
cultural fair. They then returned to
Shreveport to attend 8 banquet, Civ
en- by the city fathers of that hospitable
burg, and then went TO Jefferson.
During last season there were $1,000
,,VN1n uhHnnad from n ffarann
all, or nearly all, of which, we are assured,
would have been sent to Memphis had
the railroad been in operation. From this
point, also, a large number Of Texas cat
lie will be shipped annually-350,G coo head
Is not an over esbimafe-as h is the
shortest route from Texas to the eastern
cities.
a railroad from Dsvalls Bluff to Shreve.
port and Jefferson would bring Memphis
ia direct communication with South Ar
kansas, North Louisiana and the great
and fertile regions Of Southern, Middle
and Northeastern Texas, and in addition
open out to Memphis, by way OF the crest
International railway, through San Anto-
MO to Preside del Rio Grsnde. $50 miles;
thence through Cohahuila, Durango and
CinsIos t Mszstlsn, 4s0 miles, making
the entire distance from Memphis to the
Pacific coast at only 1850 miles, instesd of
1850 miles to Ssa Diego. This, for several
reasons, will be an exceedingly important
route TO Memphis.
The Pine Bluff branch Of the Memphis
snd Little Rock railroad DIVORCES from
the main line a. Devslls Bluff, on White
river, IS miles west of Memphis. Tennes-
see. and runs in = southwesterly direction
for IS miles to Pine Bluff, on the Arksn-
sas river; thenoei in the same general direc-
ton, through Camden, Arkansas, to
Shreveport, Louisisns, making almost an
airline between its termini.
IRE liue hiss not yet been finally located;
the following distances, however, are suf-
iciently correct for sll practical purposes:
From Devaus Blud 10 Pine BIuf--.. As miles
From Pine Bluff 10 Camden----...--- 6 miles
FrUm Camden to Louisiana state line ~ mics
From State line TO Shreveport, La. % miles
Distance from Devslls Bluff 10 Shreve-
Distance nom Devals Bluff 70 Mem
Distance from Memphis to Shreveport.292 miles
The general surface of the country is
level, being for the most part rich allUvial
river bottom, or gently rolling prairie,
with occasional low ridges, presenting
fewer physical objects to the construction
OF g arsi'clsss railroad, as regards light
curvature and gradients, than are gener-
a AA0a VAN - = AS@1 "a NLAl A11A 80
The principal w-ster-cOurses to be crossed
sre the Arkansas, Saline and Ouschits
rivers. A"drsw" will be requisite in the
bridge over the Arkansas, and perhaps
over the Ouschita, but beyond this no
large or extraordinary expense is required
for bridging.
The cost Of construction cannot be def.
nitely estimated until the surveys now
in progress are completed, but as timber
- = - ~aF0 -w,1gg- - h-sl-4.. o-Dz.N9a1
etc, Is plentiful and cheap; the grading
Easy to execute, Snd the line accessible
at several points, at all seasons, for the
delivery Of materials and supplies; 1t will
be cafe to estimate the cost of road-bed
and supsrstructure at something less than
the average cost per mile of southern
roads, which is about SIS 0O0. The cost of
equipment will depend almost entirely
on tbeamount and character Of business
the road will have to perform st the start
The time required to complete the road,
by reason of its being accessible at several
points, as above stated, aud rovided there
is no delay in furnishing the necessary
funds, may be safely fixed at twelve or
fifteen months from the dsts Of commence
ment of work by the contractors.
A railroad from Dsysils Bluff to Sbreye-
port will traverse one of the finest and
most productive cotton growing sections
on this continent. Situated in the heart
of the cotton zone, with q rich deep soil
Of inexhsustible fertility, the lands slonR
the line OF this road will produce over g
bale Of cotton TO the acre, and corn. wheat,
oats, rye, beans, peas, rice, Irish
and sweet potatoes, fruit and garden veg
grow in the greatest perfection.
Stock and hog raising has been found to
be profitable, as the short mild winters
preclude the necessity of much shelter or
long feeding.
The climate, free from the extremes OF
heat and cold, is genial and healthy, and
20 great are the Inducements the construc-
lion Of this road will offer to industrious
and enterprisinR settlers, that a large in
nresse Of population, and greatly en-
HANGED value of property along the
line, will be the legitimate and
result of its completion.
According to the census of 1870, the
population OF the counties through which
he road viii be located Is as follows:
county, Arksnsss..-....... 5.6A
Jefferson county, Arkansss.-----..15 1888
county, ArkAnsas.--..-...... 5.707
Ouschita, county, Arkansss--.--.12, 975
county, Arkansas ...-.. Ill. S97
parish, Louisiana .675
Jsddo parish, Louisiana. ---.-21 ia
PINE BLUFP,
he county seat of Jefferson, ia located
IN the south bank of the Arkansas river,
Ibout forty miles below Little Rock. Il
s q shipping point of considerable impor-
'anes, and win furnish = lsrgs amount of
rsfhc to the railroad as soon as 1t Is
to Memphis; so that the frequent
delays attending Transportation
~ river csn be avoided. The Little Rock,
Pine Bluff and New Orleans railroad, now
lnder construction from Little Rock to the
dississippi river, passes through Pine
3lud.
CAMDEN,
he county sest OF Washington county,
situated on the 0uachlta river-which |
5 nsvigsbls only for very small boats, and
hat for short and uncertain seesons-is
urrounded by = hne agricultural country
which Is now shut of from market. The |
timulus thst viii be given 10 Camden, !