New-York tribune., 1871-07-06
LETTERS FROM THE WEST.
THE RAILROADS OF ARKANSAS.
THEIR PROGRESS UNDER TIE OLD RULE AND
THE NEW

LITTLE Rock, June 2i.-By the completion
Of the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad Arkansas may
lie said for the first time TO be connected with the out
side world. Under the Old order of things one was
cOOped up for from two 10 four days according 10 the
stage of water in small steamer, making circuit Of
some 800 miles through the White Arkansas Rivers
and all this To accomplish actual distance OF 40 miles,
between Memphis and Little Rock. Under the new re-
gme the Journey is now made with comparative comfort
10 hours There is STILL however much to be done ere
the road De said 20 be permanent success In the
construction Of this route through most difficult
country the of the Company were gradually eN-
hausted until after several years Of struggle the war
found but As miles of road, from Little Rock TO White
River in successful operation, with about the same
amount the eastern end that for goody portion OF
the year lay several feet under water. This was under
the administration Of the road but all has now been
changed. The gap Of some 50 miles las been hled up
and az last after Is years OF desperate struggle the
Mississippi having rcceded from the 80 or 40 miles yearly
overlooked we have mbrokcn line of ROAD
from Memphis to Little Rock The Com
pany still have the job hand, however OF
raising this portion of the road several ieet
so as 70 place it entirely above Overflow
This they hope to accomplish during the coming season.
and the present efficient management Proposals
are now solicited for the As understood the road
is now practically under control Of the Memphis and
Louisville Company who, looking upon as the natural
continuation of their line to Little Rock ms the center OF
the Arkansas railroad system, propose putting IN hrt
change OF gauge has been determined upon from five
feet six inches 10 the ordinary northern gauge Of four
feet eight and half In view of the fact that all the
other roads the state well a. the Southern Pacific,
Of which this is important outlet will be of that
gauge the change contemplated is certainly necessity.
The Memphis aud Louisville Company, too, am in
formed have pledged themselves guarantee the bonds
necessary build and equip road from De Wallis Bluff,
nj the crossing of White River IS miles east OF this point
~ the Memphis and Little Rock Road, south
ward 10y the way OF Pine Bluff on the Arkansas
and Camden to Marshall Texas. Having control Of the
Memphis and Little Rock Road, they thus will not only
have an important feeder and outlet from the various
roads cOngregang at Little Rock, but through line OF
their own the terminus OF the Southern Pdclhc 10
Memphis. That such cOnsummatlon VIII materlaiI
affect the interests of their line TO Louisville as
well as the City OF Memphis is beyond doubt From
present appearances however would seem as though
rival shipping point least to spring up on the
opposite bank Of the river At Hopael on the ArRan
sa, side only terminates the road from Little ROCK
but the Memphis and ST. Louis. now IN process ol co
sructon as well the Kansas city and Memphis ROAD
the struction of which is subject now considerably
actated As the majority OF the freight seeking the
river at this point will be bound down the Mississippi
very naturally the steamboat companies are looking out
for permanent landings Already as reported the
Memphis and ST. Louis Packet Company are making ar
rangcments 10 mammoth elevator and warehouse
Al Hopefeld and Memphis is alarmed thereat
That has brilliant future before her seems
beyond all question From her position she Is the ntu
raj gateway between the NORTHEAST and Southwest as
abe IA also between the Northwest and SOUTHEAST.
Though the southern Pacific terminates at Marshall on
line with Yicksburg practically its only outlet is through
Arkansas and the city Of Little Rock. II there existed
no other for this the fact that east OF the Ms
sippi and south the Ohio all the roads are OF the e
feet gauge while north of the ONO on the east ana
everywhere west of the Mississippi all the roads as wen
the new Pach, 10 be built of the four feet eigh'
and a halt gauge, would tend to such result Ancie
ARE other facts however far more potent tha Gu ''
First and foremost between the southern racine anu
tine main trunk lines between the east and west as wen
understood, there exists a community OF interests
These lines will soon through completion OF the bridge
st ST Ious have an unbrOken communication Win the
lines leading and south from that city. one Oh
these the St Louis and Iron Mountain, is rapidly push
Ing an extension southwark to connection near tue AT
r,rsas line with the Cairo and Fulton, the
charter for the Missouri terminus OF which Is
now understood to be owned by the Pres-
lient and chief owner Of the Iron Mountain Road
Again at or near Commerce distance above Cairo,
the only feasible point between ST. Louis and the Guf
for crossing the Mississippi with bridge. Here as at
mo- other point on the lower Mississippi, are high bluff
banks with rocky bottom. 1t is understood that prom-
nent railroad capitalists have charter for road from
this point intersection with the Cairo ana Fulton
and ST. Louis and IronMountan Roads in the Arkansas
line as also a similar franchise in the State OF Illinois
Now if the gauge of the Ohio and Mississippi be changed
as intended and direct line be traced from the inter
section of this road with the Illinois Central or better
still from point the line of the St. Louis, Nandaa
aud indianapolis Road, to Commerce, and continued
nlong the Cairo and Fulton dagonaly across the state
pf Arkansas point in the Southern Pacific at or near
Dallas Texas the result as an unbroRen line from
indianapolis Cincinnati, and st. Louis via Little Rock TO
the Southern Pacific and even through Texas into Mex
leo he International 1t is thus seen that com
nerce and an unbrokcn gauge literally busi
ness of Southern Pacific and the Great Southwest
through Arkansas via Little Rock to the North and East
The line of the Cairo and Fulton and International for Its
entire length through the state of Arkansas some 300
miles is under contract contractors we-knOwn u the
railroad world. backed financially by capitalists OF New
cb % portion Of the road from LITTLE Rock TO an inter
section with St Louis and Iron Mountain Is 10 he COM
need in working order by the lst of july 1872
nes of rail are already laid from Little Rock. north
ward and 50 miles or more OF the route are graded
II Arkansas thus forms the natural channel between
the Southwest the North and East, she forms one
no les important between great Northwest and the
south and East. From Kansas City, is well known
"a line of road Is rapidly pushing sOuthWard tAIOush
the T,rritory and the Arkansas Rivers charter al
lows road To he extended northwaTd which, il has
patci i'm fact to consolidate with this Kansas line From
Fort smith again. following the valley Of the AIkanSa
extends Little Rock and Fort smith Road This Com
pany as certainly pushed its work with conlnendable
zeal From Little Rock westward the road Is completed
and trains make regular trips 10 LeW1sburg, distance
Of % miles while of the remaining 100 miles IS or more
are Graded, with the ties upon the ground The Com
road when completed, it evidently soon will be, 10
connection with the Kansas ine, opens the da lnda9
Territory and the Northern Pacific to Little Rock ana az
fOids what to be eagerly sought for an outlet Tor the
grain OF the Kansas Valley and stern Arkansas
From here as direct continuation 70 lne MIsslsspp
stretches the Arkansas Central to Helena 70 miles 1Ion
OF White River March 1872 and through 10 ltle ROCK
within year thereafter. Some 40 miles are graded
and ties for miles the ground The road
has grant from the state OF $1,000 per mile ana mas IN
addition about 100000 of land in the OF assets
Smith Railroad, however as IT Is also the INK between
the North West and the Gult states rs tne Ltte ioek