Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-17

from only five leading points along the
route Of the contemplated Memphis ana
Shreveport road. This cotton slone
would bring to this city twenty millions
of money. And yet this Is not all that
would be gathered along q road running
through q rich, densely populated
country from Memphis to Red river.
Across u ferry on Red river, last spring,
more than q million cattle were driven
toward Abeline and st. Louis q
Chicago. The grass crop fails on western
plains. Farms are opened along rapidly
extended railway lines, and the cattle OF
Texas must seek eastern markets
over q shorter and quicker route
than that heretofore trs7ersed, Menu
phis must become, when this Shreve-
port road is finished within the next
eighteen months or two years, the beef
distributing market for the United States.
such q road, connecting such points,
crossing such rivers, through such g
country, assured by such quantities Of
freight that no single-trsck railway can
transport it-such q road viii not only
EuElC4 N6ILll1hA C4klC1 ~ s00 NCAAN-g
which it psnetrstes, but its shareholders
viii be profted, even as were the owners
of the Georgia road and OF the Camden
and Amboy. OF all the cotton now sold
in Memphis, more than half (2sO,OOO bales)
is brought hlther By steamers, and 100000
bales are brought to us by four railways.
This single rosd TO Shreveport will &C.
post in our warehouses 8 quantity Of cot
ton equal to all that brought hither by all
these roads, and probably as great q num-
ber Of bales as Rrs now aggregated at this
point, both by railways and steamers.
None can question the proftsbleness OF
stock In such q road, trsversing such q
country and turning backward such
streams Of wealth. Memphis cotton crop
sold last year for thirty-eight million
dollars. Add to this the value of the
crop sold in only five towns through
which this road passes, and the sales OF
cotton In Memphis viii exceed
in amount fifty millions Of money,
But tbs whole trade Of Memphis,
lite wealth and population and future
hopes, are based, as the city exists to-day,
on the present crop Of 300 0 bales sold in
this market. If Ikis number be almost
or quite doubled by this single road, may
we not nationally conclude thst the extent,
population and wealth Of the city win be
doubled by It's construction
1t must be built. An Investment, as
such, in it will psy from the dsy the road
is finished. It Will soon double the tax
able wealth Of the city and county, and
will lift Memphis at once beyond the reach
Of thoss ruinous agencies which lateral
roads have exerted 30 disastrously
10 the fortunes Of this city, Since
this scheme IL feasible; since It
lie commended by all; since every exsction
OF commercial prosperity demands its i'm
mediate construction; since cities, towns,
and people, west of the Mississippi, are
eager 70 cooperate even now, rs shown
by our special dispatches, in the task;
since the best men in this or any county,
propose to lead the way in this great
work-we must confess that our first
impressions IN references to entangling |
alliances and combinations with other
roads are still deemed well founded and
the question whether the city and county
will invest q million dollars in this road
should be submitted without complics-
tions. Those who think differently should
beware lest, in msnifesting so keen an
Gnxiety 10 ally themselves snd their
schemes with those Of the builders Of the
Memphis and Shreveport road, they do
not confess the inherent weakness or
comparative worthlessness Of their own
plans.