Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-16
WESTWARD, Hol
Us Subscribe for me shreveRert
and the Kansas City Railroad
at the same Time.

Editors appeal: The meeting at the chamber
Of commerce, on yesterday, developed the fact
hi the people of Memphis are in serious
earnest upon the question of our western rail-
road connections. The interest manifested
upon tho subject by all present was unmis- |
takably IDOL the side of building The roads,
and of building them speedily. So far as have
been able to discover the public sentiment
upon this question, It is unanimous. h only
question seems to be as TO the amount OF sub
scriptIons and the times for making them.
Some are inclined 10 urge the subscriptions noto
for the Memphis, Shreveport and Jefferson
road, and to wait awhile before asking aid to
the Memphis and Kansas city road. Upon q
cnrsory view OF the subject, ii might seem That
the latter was a judiclous step Butlf we stop
TO carefully cons der all the cases involved, l
feel persuaded that the policy of ASKING
unitedly for subscriptions for the Two roeds, at
the same time, will be vastly 70 the Ultimate
10 Is well known that The Cairo and Fulton
road is now being built, and Dy q company
who can and will hpish IL at no very distant
day. That road will run through the heart OF
that rich and valuable trade NOV largely COM
Ing to Memphis) In the valley OF the White
/ river, naturally belonging 10 Memphis but
| which will surely be diverted by the Cairo and
Fulton road unless we furnish equal laciliiles
for its security. We cannot expect 70 retain
this trade, II, by the building Of the Cairo
aud Fulton road 1t Is placed twelve. twenty
| four, or thiri y-six hours nearer TO st. Louis
/ and other large cities tnau II Is 70 u II Lnls
/ rapid age a day or two in time Is equal to a
week or monLhin the sleepy past; Again: the
| people OF Shelby county know the perils that
have heretofore beset their BY that
worst of all our foes,the Mississippi Central
railroad. This Cairo and Fulton road on
opr West is another mississippi central
| only on a much grander scale-to drain
1 our western arteries Of trade, ana from their
| rich deposits into the lap, chiefly Of st. Louis.
/ bercnIesn efforts to prevent. II we lose the
| trade Of the White river valley, II Will be II
cutting of the right leg OF the human body.
| We must not think OF submitting, Tor a mo-
/ ment. TO even this possibility. The ShrsNe-
port road, no one thinks OF opposing. The
fbree hundred thousand bales Of cotton that
| lie along It's line all belong, by right and ma
ture, to Memphis. The one million cattle that
are annually driven across a single ferry In
/ Texas, thence q thousand miles overland be-
fore reaching a railroad in Kansas, 10 be
farther transported 10 New York, would find
their most natural and easy outlet over this
road and IN through Memphis the shortest
and cheapest route TO Boston, New York,
/ Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and the
great cattle markets OF the east. These cattle
slone would require, as has been stated, an
average of eight daily trains, OF twenty cars
each, 10 transport them 70 market. Now
when you remember that the hides, tallow,
Osage-orange seed, lumber, wool All the nu-
merous other articles Of export, Which this
road will develop in inexhaustible supply,
will also come naturally and necessarily over
this road and through Memphis, no one
will, for a moment, doubt It's untold
value to the county of Shelby. But
enough as to the value Of these two railroads.
Is I'D hest 10 subscribe at once 10 the build
ing Of both? l think it Is. Now for my rea-
sons. our system Of railroads east Of the Mis-
sissippi river is already well provided for. The
western land by far the most importantly sys-
TEN is almost as yet no system at all. We have
shown how, II the two above contemplated
roads be not speedily built, Shelby county
property will not be worth owning. a single
liberal subscription now, by this county, VIII
insure the building OF both these roads,. Their
completion will assure, beyond the possibility
of a doubt, the prosperity, for all time to come,
yerging roads from every quarter, and compel
them, whether they wish II or not, TO come TO
Memphis. This Will necessitate the building
Of the grandest bridge in the world across the
old river in front Of our city. 1t will make
Memphis the first cotton market in Americas
force the manufacturing industries Of the
country 10 concentrate here; will build up
great machir s.shops, which Will necessarily
supply all these roads with cars, machinery
running-gear ETC., and concentrate here I'm
stead OF a hundred, as nowD a thousand OF
the largest commercial establishments IN
easter. 1 think, to get the united vote for both
roads, than 10 secure a vote for either OF them
siDg y For q subscription for both, you viii
have two companies, each r.valing the other
In obtaining oiut votes for the two enterpri-
ses, while. ifyou ask only for one, the oppost-
too ofthe other might prevent the accom-
plishment Of either. l don't know that this
would be the case; 1 only suggest that II might
so happen. In conclusion, MeSsrs. Editors, let
me express the hope that II, after mature de-
liberation, you may SEE the question In the
usht OF above communication, you Will lend
the use OF your valuable aid to urge an lmme-
dIate subscription by Shelby county OF sueh
Joint sums as shall secure the early completion Of
00N"'000 VIM. R. MOORE.