Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-26
M. AND S. RAILROAD.
An Argument in Favor of Its Passage
Through Holly Springs.
Letter From Sincere Wei-Wisher Of Mem
phis and an Old Resident of
Holly Springs.

phs and an Old Resident of
Holly Springs.
Holly SPRINGS, Miss, June II, 1871.
Editors Appedl-The writer being
the prAjectOr OF the original Memphis,
Holly Springs and Okalona railroad,
and following it up through all renew
ais of name and charters, except the
last, striking out Holly Springs and
OkaloDa and inserting Marion, he OBJ
tanning in our Legislature its charter,
also in Tennessee, the same being
drawn up by j. w. Clapp, who was a
| cO-wOrker with me. AT one time the
movement had but few friends and
seemed lost in the wreck of things. /
| looked around to find allies, my mind
naturally turned to two men, each
competent, enjoying the confidence
and sympathy of our people and cOun-
try, aud equal f0T any task. One
was with US a champion leader of our
iorces-N. Z. Forrest; the other was
Governor /. Ct. Harris, who l saw a
day or two before our surrender at
Grenada, Miss, take shipping on a
frail bark to foreign lands, being
driven from his land and country by
the conquering fOrcess Never shall l
forget the hour, the thoughts retro
specting the past and contemplating
the future; viewing a great man flee.
ing his country in that frail bark,
leaving everything dear behind except
a son. All lost! lostl lost! Our coun-
try surrendering to await her SEN
tence. To this man l wrote soon after
his return to Memphis, to come here
to our corporatOrs meeting, which L
called at my own instance unadvised.
Forrest was among them by my
former action. / know not of any
having aspirations for the Presidency
of the road. Governor Harris an
swered me kindly for my offers and
suggestions, stating his financial en-
barrassments precluded his accept
ance. The day arrived and with it
Forrest. 1 was selected the presiding
officer, which declined in behalf of
General Forrest. Here the enterprise
received shape and form for a perma-
nent organization, and we adjourned
to OkalOna where that was effected.
Now the road becomes a fixed fact.
The road / consider located via this
place, at our late interview for its
Location felt at one time misgivings
as to its location, and had sad appre-
tensions for the road, Memphis, and
our little city. felt my labOrs would
be in the main short of my eXpecta-
tiOns, and abortive to the road. I was
asked by several persons in regard to
location, and If did not consider the
ChulahOma route the best. My
answer was invariably that l was for
the road, Holy Springs and Memphis.
In view Of many of my friends along
the line who think their line the
best, some of whom may feel piqued
and disappointed, l herewith briefly
submit the views which forced such
conclusions on my mind as at Mem
phis before the locating board the
first day. could not add to what
Governor Harris and Major Strick- |
land said on the next adjourned day. |
felt it was Memphis and Shelby |
county meeting, and l, not of either, |
said nothing. now give my views, |
and say first that Memphis has been
much injured by the Mississippi Gen.
trail railroad, which never, in my
opinion, would been built if the |
was first projected, had been located |
via this place to Tuscumbia, Alabama. |
This was truly a sad mistake for |
Memphis. Many Of her citizens
have abused us for giving our neigh |
Dor and sister in all that is dear the GO |
by. AS we are naturally bound to- |
gether as one people, identity of in |
terest indeed of all West Tennessee, |
North Mississippi and portions of |
Arkansas, makes US one in all things |
of a common interest as brothers, and |
really the writer hopes to see us some |
day in one commonwealth, making |
a State grand in its proportions and |
diversified for every good to be a State |
Of the nation. Memphis, the grand |
center, with that majestic river pass
ing by, railroads converging in every
will sooner or later show |
her destiny. am part of Memphis, |
seeing her grow up from, IS It were, |
the cradle since 1886.
But / felt dark day would be to /
her il the Selma, Memphis and Mar
ion railroad was located on the |
and R0cyfOrd line.
Instead 81 reaping benefits from
the roads construction, it would
be by far a greater curse than the /
Central railroad had been,
to prove which / will say first, in be-
half OF the Chulahoma line, all that
can, by its advocates, be said for the
OF the railrO8d and Memphis.
1t is well known that if every bale of
cotton, and its proceeds, as needed in
return supplies, was to go to Mem
phis, il would not compare more
iavorably for the road than this line,
and no more for Memphis, as all goes
,beTs any tCGy. Now, for estimates.
The first two depOts, say twelve miles
out, would not be more than three
miles apart; the next two, twenty
miles out, will be III favor OF our lines
the next tWenty-eight miles will be
equal. The next, Chulahoma and
Red Banks, admit, will be in favor
Of Chulahoma; bla, on conditions
hereafter, from Chulahoma to Jones'
but little will concentrate
1t the crossing, and from there up the
railahatchie bottom, say twenty-five
miles, with very few farms Of value
along the line, the bottom of no value
or cultivation, as much OF it Is over
1OWn; on the north poor country,
With few exceptions; on the south Of
rallahatchie river very poor and
broken, and river to cross uncertain
or half the year; ct Rocky Ford a
Door cOmntry. Thence up the Mud
Jreek country to PontotOc 1 allow to
BASS conditionally, not exceeding,
rom Pontotoc, intermediately pro-
iuoed on line of the road, 10000 bales
n cotton ma 01Durn fo Mooanbio O |
distance of 100 miles. Now for our
inc. The road will get every pale of
.OttOn that the other line would, un-
ess, possibly, few bales that might
,Ome acrOsg the Tullahatchie at
Wyatt, and that may now go from
Abberville viG Mississippi Central
nd the Forest road. Switched OH
lere, all cotton within twelve miles of
his place westward goes tolMemphis
low. estimate the shipments at 1st ,
iepOt, II miles, TO be 1900 bales; ID :
tation, 5000 to 5000 bales; sd, 5000 to ,
600; 4th, 5000 to 1000; 4th, Holly
springs, 1900; 9Th, CheWalla, 1000; !
tn, Hickory Flat, 1000 to 5000; Sth,
rams, 5000; 9Th, Locks Creek, 5000; {
9th, Kings Ford, 10000; 11th, Me
rus, on PontOtoe Ridge, 5000; 18th,
JherryOreek, 1000; 18th, ,Pontotoc, 5000; :
q all 5000 bales certain for Mem
ibis, and other prOportionateb business.
The road located on this line Will get :
Mostly the Chuiahonaa cotton perhaps
lOG &C convenient to the producers, but
We must remember IL takes money to >
'uild railroads, and 1t is impossible for :
g all to have them atour doors. Sup :
,Ose this road had been located on the !
)hulahoma iina, the stock on this :
eing conditional would be 0fno avail !