Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-06
Aun,on passenger Depot.

The absolute need Of a union passep-
ger depot is felt more and more every
day. There is not city in the United
States of any Importance that has not
this requisite, and, in addition, q union
freight depot adorns many Of our lead
ing cities. Where these do not exist
are only excusable on the grounds that
natural obstacles Of an insurmountable
character intervene. Trade demands
the greatest facilities, so as TO do away
with reshipments and extra handling OF
goods, all Of which cost money and
adds to the cost of the article under
shipment. All this is paid for by
the consumer. lin this city we
have six roads, counting the Lit
tie Rock road, the Paducah, the
Mississippi and Tennessee. the Louis
Vile, the Charleston and the Raleigh
roads; and also there is IN course Of con-
struction the Holly Springs and Selma
road All these roads should have union
passenger and freight depots. In this
matter the steamboat lines are also in
terested, so far as freight is concerned.
Sometime since the question was agi-
tated, but it was dropped for some rea-
son or other. A weak argument against
the union depots has been advanced,
viz: That the reshipment of goods and
transfer Of passengers was beneficial to
our city, as goods and individuals were
compelled to remain here, all Of
which left money in the city. 1t
was forgotten that trade and travel
always seek the shortest and quickest
routes, and it is q fact that both pass
around Memphis at present, going
either northward or southwark via the
Mississippi Central or Ohio and Missis'
sippi railroads. We will give case
in point which was related by conductor
Childress Of the Mississippi and Tennes-
see railroad yesterday A Pullman
palace sleeping coach was engaged to
carry number of passengers from
Grenada, Mississippi, to Little Rock,
Arkansas. The car came up to this
city over the Mississippi and Tennessee
railroad, and the passengers got off. 1t
was one mile to the Little Rock depot.
but no track connected the roads.
The car was sent back over the
following routes in order, TO carry its
passengers through: To Grenada, 100
miles; up to Grand Junction, over the
Central road, lO2 miles; to jackson,
Tenn, 10 miles, to Humboldt, II miles;
down to Memphis, on the Louisville
road, SO miles; total run, 342 miles in
order to get around distance of one
mile between the depot of the Mississippi
and Tennessee railroad and that of the
Little Rock road. The Louisville road
connects with the Little Rock track on
this side of the river, and trains are car
riei over on the transfer ferryboat.
When the Pullman car got around the
party again took possession and pro.
ceeded on their way rejoicing, but they
had to lay over here twenty-four hours.
At present passengers and freight have
to lay over from twelve to twenty-four
hours. The railroad officials should
meet and draft petition setting forth
the necessities of union depots, and pre-
sent the same to the General Council
Committees from the different roads
steamboat lines and the General Coun'
Gil could then meet and discusss the
matter in all its bearings, all of which
would result, as it must eventually, IN
the establishment of union passenger
and freight depots at some central and
convenient point in or near our city.