Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-07-21

Letter from a Tax.Payor.

The proposition for a subscription of
5000, 900 by the city of Memphis toward
the construction of the Mississippi River
railroad is to be submitted to the tax
payers. II becomes us all to consider
carefully the pros and cons Of the mea-
sure, and see if our taxes are TO be in
creased in building new railroads
whether they had not better be spent in
projects that would bring to Memphis an
hundred-fold more advantages.
In the first place, the Mississippi River
railroad penetrates section of country
where trade is already controlled by
Memphis. Every bale Of cotton in Tip
ton, Lauderdale and Dyer counties, near
the projected line of that road, finds its
way to the Memphis market. With this
road built and controlled, as is proposed,
by Paducah, the probability is that one
third of this cotton will find its way to
the Paducah and other Northern mar
kets. Then why should Memphis assist
in building a road through a country
whose trade she already controls, and by
| its construction run the risk Of losing d
portion Of the trade she already pos
sesses?
maintain, Mr.. Editor, that this road,
whenever built, will be built by Northern
capital Money enough cannot be had
in Memphis or in the counties through
which it runs, to do the local work. 1t
is well known that the people of Upton,
Lauderdale and Dyer and Paducah are
very much discouraged by the stoppage
Of the work and by the recent decision
Of the Supreme Court with regard to the
Barbour Lewis bonds. Upton county
has failed to levy tax to meet the
bonds she issued. When the road is
built, therefore, il will be done by North
ern capital, and the promise of few
thousands from Memphis will not hasten
the construction of the road in the least.
The present price of Memphis bonds is
ifty-fve cents on the dollar. Increase
the debt 5000, 900 more, and the highest
price they will bring will be less than
fifty. This will realize the railroad
scarcely 100000, which will not be a
drop in the bucket toward the construc-
ton Of the road.
Do not understand, Mr., Editor, that ! |
am opposed to the construction of this
road | am not, and hope to see it
built, but do maintain that it behooves |
Memphis to look to her Western inter
ests and expend all her means and ener-
gies on projects that are not only neees-
sary to retain what trade she has, but
that will add an hundred-fold more
wealth than any project east of the
Mississippi can do Memphis has
already three outlets North and East
the Mississippi river, with the roads
terminating on its banks; the Memphis
and Louisville and Memphis and
Charleston roads What more does she
need? The construction of dozen
more roads would not reduce the rates
on through freights, because the river
route makes the rate. -. ..,
Memphis should expend all her means
and energies in pushing road through
Southern Arkansas and tapping the Red
River Valley not farther west than Full
ton. This valley, for width. Of thirty
miles north and seventy-fve miles south
of that stream, and extending for a
length of three hundred and fifty to four
hundred miles west, is one of the richest
and most productive on the globe. 1t
consists mostly Of high, rolling, rich
prairie land, finely watered, with a
healthy and salubrious climate. With
the facilities of railroads furnished this
region would be one of the garden spots
of the world. The uplands produce the
finest of wheat from twenty-five to
thirty bushels per acre) and corn, oats,
fruits and melons of all kinds, in great
abundance. This is likewise one of the
best stock regions of Texas, and ranches
6 a.. of 10 nntl |
uncommon. To give an idea Of the
amount of cattle exported from this re-
gion, reliable correspondent of the
Courier.Journal of July lst, writing
from Fort Worth, states that between
April lst and July lst 22S,000 head of
cattle passed through that place in
droves of from 500 to 5000, on their way
North to some point on the Kansas Pa
cifc road to take shipment East. In
the fall at least as many more, it is esti-
mated will pass that point. Remem-
Der, this was only one route. 1t was
only a few days since that statement
was copied in your paper that about
100000 head Of cattle were near some
point on the Kansas Pacific road await
ing shipment.
1t is safe to estimate the annual ex-
port of cattle from this portion Of Texas =
at 10000 head. The bottom lands of
this valley are acknowledged to be as !
fine as any cotton lands in the South. ltd /
is safe in estimating the annual pro-
duct of this valley from the great raft,
(near Shreveport west, at 200, 900 bales,
and with railroad facilities given this \
production would be doubled. Not a
bale of this cotton nor dollars worth
lf this trade ever reaches Memphis. il
And yet by the construction Of road
Of one hundred and twenty miles length,
and remarkably cheap grading, this :
'ich valley can be reached by Memphis.
Red river, the only channel at present
o their market, seldom rises until spring,
md most Of the cotton might find a
market in Memphis before that time. II
Is it not worth a struggle on the part
# Memphis to attempt TO control at Il
east a portion Of the trade Of this rich
egion2 Does it not appear like child S p
,lay for her TO be wasting her means /
.lone on projects east of the Mississippi? 2
With this line built Memphis would be a.
he cheapest -four and beef market in 10
be West-just what she needs 10 attract IS
apital and mechanical population.
Louisville is fully as much interested IS
n building this connection as Memphis 50
heir interests are identical and they u
hOuld discard all petty jcalousies; they G..
hould work hand in hand in pushing In
he Arkansas road, not only to Full a
on, but for several hundred miles Sc
arther west on the Memphis and Fl on
'aso route. Peters old colony forms al
part of this valley. colony in which q
itizens Of Louisville are already largely pa