Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-30
..w,n,. and Her RaiIToads.


To the Editor Of the Ledgeri
DEAR SIR-For some time past the at
! tention of the citizens Of Memphis ha
been directed by her very able daill
journals 10 the Importance OF the imme
date construction Of at least two west
ern railrOads-the one 10 Shreveport fol
cotton and tTexas cattle, the other 10
Kansas City for corn, wheat and pro
visions. with, in the humble opinion oil
the writer, far more persistence than
GOOD Judgment. In the first place, Mem
phis is not now. nor likely soon TO become
a manufacturing city, so that cotton
shipped 10 Memphis, merely passes
through that city on its way to the fac
tories of New England, or OF Europe,
and of course the cheapest and most
direct route from the section where Il Is
grown. 10 New York, Norfolk or New
Orleans is the route it will take, even
though Memphis had dozen western
roads. Now we do not mean to argue
that Memphis does not need more west
ern roads, and that she would not be
benefited by their construction, but We
DO mean to say that she is not ready for
them, and for the following reasons:
First, Memphis has only one road east
ward to New York, and one to Norfolk.
IL is true that each road has indirect
connections with each Of the above
ports, and with Charleston and Savan-
nah, rbut not such as is sufficient
to create healthy competition, and
avoid extortionate tariffs. Already has
the high freight on cotton, charged by
roads leading eastward from Memphis,
deprecated her cotton market and
forced thousands Of bales to New Or
leans that would not otherwise have gone
there. Complaints have been made
against the two roads leading eastward
from Memphis, and doubtless with good
reason, but after all, these reads have
done nothing more than they, in COM
mon with all other business corporations
or individuals have a perfect right to
do-charge all they can get, and take
the advantage of there being no compe-
tition for the traffic. The Selma road,
if built, may bring considerable cotton
to Memphis, from, perhaps, as far as
Holly Springs, but will bring very little
from beyond that place, and as a route
from Memphis, for cotton that is seek
ing transportation eastward, glance at
a good map will show its inutility. 1t
will not be able to compete with
existing railroads to the Attain
tic ports, nor reduce prices on them,
nor with water transportation, the cheap
est of all, to the gulf ports. To secure
for Memphis the cotton of Arkansas
and Northern Texas she must make the
route through that city cheaper and
quicker than any other. To do this she
must reduce the cost of transportion to
the Atlantic sea-board to the lowest pos
sible rate, and this she can do with a
very triAing outlay, so small that it is
perhaps beneath the notice of those who
are urging the expenditure OF million
or two to bring cotton to Memphis, when
it is admitted that the high tariff from
that city eastward is greatly reducing
the number Of bales that would other
wise seek her market. The remedy we
suggest is the immediate construction OF
the Memphis and Knoxville railroad.
II Shelby county and the city Of Mem
phis together would assist this company
in their efforts to reach that city, instead
of making their western terminus at
Bolivar, to the extent of only one-tenth
the amount proposed to be given to
western roads, the Memphis and Knox
vile road would be completed to
the Tennessee river within the pres
ent year, and to Columbia and Fayette-
vile within eighteen months. 1t is folly
to expend large sums in building roads
from Memphis westward, for the purpose
of securing trade, until Memphis can
offer cheaper and better route east
ward than can be found through Cairo,
St. Louis or New Orleans. The Memphis
and Knoxville narrow gauge railroad
can be built at one-half the cost of either
the Memphis and Charleston or MeIAphis
and Louisville roads; can be operated for
one-third less, and be able to do all the
business both Of these roads find TO do; is
besides 65 miles shorter, aud will not
only carry freights and passengers at
greatly reduced rates, but forever do
away with anything tending towards ex-
tortionste tariffs in the future. 1t will
also give to Memphis large trade, lit
tie inferior to what she would get from
the West, and would be nearly, if not
quite, equal to the Kansas City road in
supplying beef, pork and provisions.
Why not, then, build this road, when
the task is SO easy, and so
much better suited to the pres
ent financial ability of both city
and country Depend upon it, that the
Memphis will derive from
the speedy construction Of the Memphis
and Knoxville railroad in getting an
abundant supply Of iron, coal, lime, mar
BILE, building materials and all kinds Of
provisions will soon make Memphis bet
ter able to expend her millions On ives
tern roads.
The citizens along the line of the
Memphis and Knoxville railroad, east |
Of Shelby county, are straining every
nerve to build it, and thus have cheap
transportation, with a fair prospect Of
success, as the work Of grading, bridging,
etc, is progressing satisfactorily between
Bolivar and Henderson station. Why
then, we ask, will Memphis and Shelby
county longer remain inactive, when so
much may be gained at so trifing cost?
7. II. NJ.