The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1872-12-06
NEW RAILROAD PROJECTS.
CONCENTRATION OF BROAD AND
NARROW GAUGES AT
CAIRO.
THE PROPOSED RAILROAD CONvEN.
TlON AT PARIS, TEN.
NESSEE

Mayor Lansden, instructed by the city
council, will appoint three delegates to
attend the railroad convention to be held
at Paris, Tennessee, on the 10th inst
Few Of our readers are aware of the
fact, that Cairo has deep interest in the
proposed convention, that it has been
called to contribute to the accomplish
ment of certain railroad projects, the sue.
cess Of which will greatly contribute to
the prosperity Of our city.
During many years our citizens have
been struggling to compel q recognition of
Caros commercial importance--to make
this place railroad centre, and to build
up here a great city. We have at last
compelled this recognition, and there is
now nothing to prevent us from taking
the position among the cities of the coun-
try to which our geographical position
entities us. Mr.. J. Edgar Thomson, in q
letter addressed to the London bankers,
who placed the 100000 loan Of tho
Allegheny Valley company, guaranteed
by the Pennsylvania Railroad company,
of which he is president, speaks of Cairo
as one Of the great commercial centres Of
the West He says: ut therefore be-
came necessary for the success Of
the Pennsylvania railroad COM
pany that it should secure
lines under its own control extending
from its western terminus 10 the CONNER
cial centres Of the west viz: Cleveland,
Chicago, st. Louis, CAIRO, Louisville,
etc, all Of which has been ac-
'omplished.' 1t has been accomplished
y the construction Of the Cairo and Vim
'snnes road. Mr.. Thomas Allen also rec
'gnisss the importance Of this point, and
fastening the construction of the Cairo
md Fulton road. So also do the Mississippi
Central, and Mobile and Ohio roads, and
both are In haste to make this city their
northern terminus.
But there are other railroad projects on
loot, created by this now general
recognition Of the Importance of Cairo as
\ railroad centre. One is to extend the
Holly Syringe, Brownsville and Ohio rail.
road, reduced to three foot gauge, into
road from Cairo through Union City,
Brownsville and Bolivar, Tennessee, and
drought Ripley, Louisville, etc, Missis.
sippi, to Ship Island or Mississippi City
on the gulf. Mr.. J. u. Smith. the presl-
dent Of the h. s., B. & .. railroad, in q
letter to Col Taylor, says: IF we can get
reasonable assistance from your city we
will at once change the gauge of our road
to three feet and 60 to work to make ours
the connecting link between the Cairo and
st. Louis narrow gauge and the Middle
ton, Ripley and Ship Island narrow gauge
railroads, and in that event II would be
better to make the terminus or beginning
Of our road in the city of Cairo in place of
opposite the city"
Another movement is on foot in Ten
nessss, and Alabama, for q narrow-gauge
railway connection between Cairo, and
points South. Its proposed to build two
narrow-gauge roads, one from Tuscaloosa,
Alabama, to Paris, Tennessee; and one
from Huntsville, Alabama, via Columbia,
Tennessee, L. Paris, Tennessee, and to there
have these two roads unite in q union
road to Cairo. The movement is assum-
ing . good deal of strength, and the con.
vention at Paris, on the 18th, to which,
Cairo will send delegates, is to further this
project. The Memphis appeal of I'd
inst, speaking of this road, says:
The Columbia Herald says that arrange.
ments have been made to hold convention
on Tuesday, December 10, at Paris, Tennes-
see, to take steps to continue the Duck
River Valley railroad from Johnsonville to
Cairo, Illinois. 1t is only one hundred miles
nom Johnsonville to Cairo, and from Cairo
to st. Louis II Is one hundred and forty seven
miles. A railroad with gauge Of three
feet, nom St. Louis to Cairo, will be com.
pleted this winter This road runs foi forty
miles through the great Illinois coal fields.
1t is the intention TO connect this road with
the Duck River Valley railroad at johnson.
Vile, on the Tennessee river, by the road
Paris. Delegates will be In attend.
Tennessee, and Cairo, Illinois. Huntsyil e.
Alabama, should also be represented, II
may be well to state that branch OF this
road Is to be extended to Jackson or Bolivar,
and thence to Memphis. The South has not
wealth or density Of population, save on
great through routes, TO do more than build
narrow gauge roads. Col. Falkner leads the
way to the south's regeneration.
Col. VIM. J.Sykes, Of the National Mar
row Guage committee, 10 laboring very
industriously in the interest of this pro-
jsct. He addressed tho people Of Paris,
Tsnnsssss,on the subject, last Monday, and
proposes to speak along the line Of the pro.
posed road through Mayasld, Kentucky,
to this city.
The convention at Paris will probably
decide the fate Of this project so important
to Cairo, and we therefore hope the mayor
will select MS our delegates energetic citi-
zens, who understand our wants and ne.
cessitiss, and can speak with authority for
our city.
STEVE AssELMEsT, the bar-keeper, has
opened fine saloon in Louis Blatteau's
old stand, where can DO found, at all
times, Steve serving his customers with
the best OF drinkables. ll-22.tf
The Qui Vive Coterie will give q grand
calico party on Friday, December Is, at
the st. Charles hotel. The club particu-
larly requests those ATTENDING. 10 appear in