Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-08-31
JACKSON AND MEMPHIS.

The proposition now being agita-
ted to build a Railroad from this
city to Memphis win result in sue
cess, if Memphis viii do her duty.
Our people are unanimous for such
a road. We earnestly desire more
intimate commercial relations with
our brethren Of the "Bluff City"
and if we do not accomplish the OBJ
ject, the responsibility will rest
with Memphis. We hope the bust
ness men, ndrailroad projectors, Of
that city viii not repeat the blunder
they made when the Memphis and
Charleston road was being project
ed, some twenty-odd years ago. 1t
that time we were sending all of
our cotton TO Memphis, and buying
our supplies there. The building
of the Mobile and Ohio road had
not been mooted. We desired rail.
road connection with Memphis, and
when the Legislature granted a
charter for branch road from Mos
COW to Somerville, our representa-
tive, (Dr. Jackson we believe) offer
ed an amendment to extend the
charter from SomerVille to Jackson,
only forty miles distant. Strange
TO say, the Shelby county represen-
tatives voted the amendment down.
This action of Shelby county forced
us to look around and see what was
best TO be done. About this time
the building of the Mobile and Ohio
road was agitated, and from neces-
slty, to get railroad facilities, we
earnestly embraced the opportunity,
and gave the enterprise our cordial
support We voted a tax OF $780,
600 upon our property and subserib-
ed literally in stock. We had hard
work to carry the tax proposition,
and had we failed here and in Glib
son county, in all probability the
enterprise would have been aban-
doned. No sooner, however, than
we endorsed the Mobile enter
prise than the Press, and many of
the business men at Memphis, made
war upon the Mobile road. Many
of our prominent citizens, and the
old Vest Tennessee Whig, were sim
gied out as special objects of attack.
The unjust prejudice created in the
minds of some of the people of
Memphis against Jackson at that
time has never been entirely remov-
ed. The truth is, Memphis was to
blame then, and has been to blame
ever since, for want of direct, I'M
broken railroad connection between
the two points. Why should there
be any prejudice at Memphis against
Jackson? We knocked at your door
and you refused to admit us. You
forced US to go elsewhere. 1t is
true that Memphis has lost, to q
great extent, the rich trade of this
section, and it is equally true that
the short-sighted policy of Mem
phis is the cause of it.
Another reason why Memphis has
lost so much of the trade of this sec
ton is to be found in the line of
policy pursued towards us by most
of her business men. We rarely ev-
er see a drummer" from Memphis
here working up business for that
point, whilst Louisville, st. Louis
and Cincinnati are well represented.
Memphis has almost ceased to adj
vertise here, whilst our columns are
crowded with advertisements from
other and distant cities. Now, in
all kindness, we would say to the
business men of Memphis that so
long as you pursue this course just
so long will you lose the trade of
this section that legitimately be-
longs to you. Hold back now and
refuse to help build this road from
Jackson to Memphis, and you will
see what will be what. We are
growing, up here, in fact are large
enough to wear our brooches and
visit distant cities.
CT The democratic paper of Ten
nessee, which supports Andrew
Johnson, S0hO supports Greeley,
flies at its mast head the names of
Charles O'Connor, of New York,
for President, and Kentucky's lu-
matte son, j. Proctor Mott, for Vice
PRESIDENT Supporting man for
Congress for the State at large, who
opposes its ticket for PRESIDENT
Call you that backing your friends?