Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-17
ARKANsAs.
A Sensible Letter WrlteT-islena and
1swphls-Absurdliy Of Hivairles abd
Isal0usles-Futurs SBlenioT Of
Both Places.
Crops and Possibilities Of Arkansas-A
MaanIacsst goustrs-Whst Il Needs.

crsBs and Possibilities Of ArkaRsas-A
MaqnIacest gSuntrs-What Il Needs.
Cross COUNTY, ARK, May u, 1871.
Editors ApDeGZI have been looking
carefully at your map or diagram in
your issue OF May 9TH, exhibiting the
railroads built ana building which
find a center in Memphis, and con-
tribute to swell its importance and
business. They need no explanation.
They speak for themselves. But II
seems to me you might have added
another road, which, though it does
not directly by itself point to and
center at Memphis, yet, l am certain,
will increase largely the business and
contribute literally to the prosperity
of your city. / refer to the Helena
and Iron Mountain. / am aware that
this has been regarded in Memphis
with some jealousy and disfavOr.
Having st. Louis for its northern and
Helena for its southern terminus, it
has been supposed that these two
cities would reap all the benefits de
rived from the building Of this road.
It has been thought that, running
north and south on a line some forty
miles west of Memphis, its tendency
would be to run everything it should
carry straight by and away from that
city, adding largely to the great BUSH
ness of ST. Louis, and assisting
HELENA TO BECOME A DANGEROUS
RIVAL
to Memphis. Let us see if prObabili-
ties Justify such a conclusion. The cot
ton grown in the region which this
road traverses now reaches Memphis
by being shipped from Wittsburg by
the St. Francis, nom Forrest City by
the Little Rock road, and some by the
way of White river. Some of this is
WagOned a distance of n hundred
miles before il reaches Its shipping
point. The country may be said to be
almost entirely tributary TO Memphis.
Their cotton goes thither to find a
market. Nine out OF ten Of the cOun-
try merchants make their purchases
in Memphis. The people have a con-
hrmed Memphis habit of regarding
everything. They depend upon Mem
phis for everything. If they ever 60
away from home to see the outside
world, they go to Memphis. They
have learned at least the names OF
Memphis merchants, but not those OF
any other city.
THE APPEAL, THE WESTERN METHO-
DIST AND THE BAPTIST
find their way through here,
but scarcely any papers from any
other place, except the State papers
from Little Rock. Now, is it likely
that all these relations and cOnnec-
lions will be broken up by building
the Helena and Iron Mountain rail-
How? Its first connec-
ton will be made at Forrest
City, and it is expected that
the cars will be running be-
tween that place and Helena before
Christmas. VIII not the traffic of St.
Francis county, below Forrest City,
and that Of the upper part of Phillips
county be quite as likely to take a
short cut 20 Memphis, over the Little
road as to seek Helena altOgeth-
er to establish new relations? The
road will not stop 10 be finished be
fore it will begin to hunt its way
nOrthward, up through the northern
part Of St. Francis, through Cross,
POinsett, Green, or, perhaps, Ran
counties. 1t is expected that
it will be mostly graded to the north
line of Cross by the first of October?
Now when the people of these upper
counties are able TO reach Forrest City
by rail, while before they have had
only wagon transportation to this
place and to Wittsburg, is it likely
they will quit going to Memphis all at
once, when it is hve-fOld easier to 90
than it was before? We all
know the force of old habits well
strengthened and confirmed. Mem
Dhis may safely calculate upon these
to enable her TO keep the trade which
has so long been hers, and also to ar
ry with it the increasing trade and
business which the opening Of
this important road will create through
the excellent country which it ira
verses. st. Louis is not cotton mar
6et. There is scarcely a probability
Or a possibility That she ever can be.
Certainly she can never compete with
If Helena even had the
natural advantages Of Memphis or
New Orleans, she could never become
the rival OF either; for they have got
such a start that she could never over
take them. So l think Memphis
to regard the Helena and Iron
as one Of her most impOr-
tant roads. What she wants most is
country. a city a never grow TO
respectable proportions without a
pOpulOus and productive cOun-
around and tributary To her, I'M
less she is exclusively a manufacture
ing city or dependent upon ocean
commerce. Memphis has a large area
Of country around her. 1t can scarce
" be said to be rich save in pOssibili-
ties. 1t must be penetrated and
crossed by railroads in every direc-
ton.
TT MUST HAVE MORE POPULATION,
more IabOreTs; more industry, more
skill, and when its prOductiveuess be-
gins TO bear a proper ratio to its capa-
D%ilities, then the dream Of Memphis
growth and grandeur will begin to be
realized. But Memphis is large enough
now for the country she represents
mean the country in its present con-
iitiOn. When there are four times as
much cotton, ten times As much corn,
twenty fold as many cattle, horses and
produced on the same AREAS
here easily could be-a city like
could find her hands full,
and she would have TO wake up and
De forced TO make herself large enough
% accommodate thecOuntry naturally
tributary TO her. Every railroad that
s built is valuable, not so much for
bringing what it finds along its line as
or what it ADDS and creuteS after il is
QUILT. Memphis wants all the roads
The can get, not so much 10 bring bus
ness as TO make business.
rHE HELENA AND IRON MOUNTAIN
ROAD
will open a portion OF country hereto
ore almost inaccessible according to
DUF modern ideas. For all crops, tits
doubtful if any part Of the continent
it. 1t produces the grasses and
III the cereals quite as well as the
Northwestern States, when these are
he only crops. While in addition to
hese, cotton and tobacco may be
grown as proftabiy as in any part OF
he South. Speaking OF tobacco, /
IN told by an experienced and skillful
0baccO grower and manufacturer,
hat the land on CrOWley's Ridge is
lot eXcelled by any in the United
for producing tobacco Of superb
r quality and sufficient quantity. The
evel land west Of ii is likewise excel
emit, but while it may grow a little
quantity, it can hardly equal
he Ridge ia the quality il produces.
his gentleman has resided here for
eversI years, and is well acquainted