Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-04-23
AFFBRHOoN sEsstox.

-A-atA4A0SAAtlHH OOIuphuJ IhlETOdu COZ
porstors, at Pulaski, Giles eoanty, Gov
ernor Brown had been elected president,
and the speaker secretary. The plan OF
that company was to purchase all the
manufacturing sites and iron lands on
the road line, which latter could be pur-
chased st one dollaf per acre, or else re-
eelVe the land in subscription tax. This
road IS certainty in Middle Tennessee,
through Wayne and Lewis counties; /;
hardeman and Lincoln counties require
two-thirds majority; Wayne Is an ac-
cepted county. 1t cost only sixty-One
thousand dollars to grade the road
through Lewis county. Mr.. Moffatt, the
real estate and immigration agent st
Nashville, said TO him: " Sykes, why 1
viii give the road a eoal-mine Of eight
feet thick, IN Grundy county, il the
road win come to Winchester Captain
Allen, engineer, had cut the road at one
place through an iron vein forty feet
thick. He had placed the paper before
the chamber of commerce, but for three
weeks no attention had been placed to
II. Governor Brown, one of the largest
stockholders, and Mr.. Chairs, one Of the
most solid men, and other reliable gen.
uemen, had Endorsed it. They did not
solicit subscription, but he made this
appeal in behalf of West Tennessee. He
guaranteed that only fifteen per cent. Of
the subscribed stock would have to be
paid in a year. He wanted careful ex-
animation of the matter. He wanted
the gentlemen present to converse with
General Neeley and Colonel Holman, to
the latter OF whom he appealed as to the
truth of his statements.
Colonel Holman said he had stated
the truth, and presumed that his reputa-
ton for veracity in Memphis was too
well established to admit OF doubt. He
suggested that gentlemen living on the
road be allowed to speak.
Colonel Polk asked that the counties
along the line be heard from in order,
and called for Fayette county.
DR.. Hunter, Of Fayette, said he had
come here unprepared, and had no re-
marks to make.
COLONEL POLKS SPEECH.
Colonel Polk, OF Hsrdeman, said $50 900 had
been subscribed In his county, where the road
mao been graded TO Henderson Station, -
miles, and only two miles were left Forty
thousand dollars were subscribed east of Boil
var, and a little more money would construct
II 70 the tennessee river. This completion
would pour the iron wealth Of that region into
the lap OF Memphis, and make her one Of the
wealthiest EN- porfuns in the Union This iron
was carried TO st. Louis, and there used to
make Missouri iron more maileable and 1T for
use. He appealed to the pride OF the people,
the future prosperity OF Memphis, the great
undeveloped Interest OF the city. When she
looked back upon the page OF history where
no great Developments had been chron-
icled by the Cliosophic muse, it might
be said: "lSic transit G Gloria" fhe
hope of Memphis er Sc was in the
Development OF mineral resources, the estaD-
Hshment OF manufactures and the securing
OF additional and new lines Of raj road trans
portatlon permesting the richest sections OF
the country. Agriculture was the great foun-
daLlon stone upon which the commercial,
Manufacturing and even the social pros
perlty OF the country was based. But the
great overwhelming Interest OF Memphis in
the Knoxville railroad Uas NOT rndSrgtoo,i
By reaching the great commercial markets OF
Europe the merchants OF Memphis. as well as
equal footing in competition. The cotton !
planter could not long stand this com petition /
sgaln st their Interest agrt culture would open
us channel, and to-day the cotton OF India /
was competing with this county, and its effect !
would be felt severely here. II this road was I
oullt, 30 miles % Knoxville, thereby giving /
an outlet Ufd Norfolk 70 Europe, il wouldbnly /
be tax Of s. per acre for each mile for six /
miles parallel with the road. This would be /
this value would be made thereby redeem |
ing the country OF onerous taxation, and |
Memphis Of 4,0l0OO0, or S5,000,000. The ad- /
vantages in a pecuniary sense would be very |
great. Cheap transportation was needed for /
the country. He hOnored the benefits confer |
red BY the projectors OF the brOad-gauge roads, /
the nsrrOw-gauge road would better subserye /
the interests Of the land, and be more cOmpat-
loLe with the means within reach OF the peo- !
pie. DE believedi IN ahe construction Of a trunk /
line OF narrow gauge railroad through Tennes-
see. He challenged any man present to show |
him any narrow gauge road Of ten miles that !
had never paid. He next gave the relative |
results between the cost OF the broad and the |
narrow gauge railroad. He thought, long be- |
fore the road reached Knoxville, there would /
nave 10 be a double track, because the rtch /
basin OF Middle Tennessee would furnish /
enough shipments TO require such capacity.
Provisions could be furnished cheaper than
could be had in Indiana, Ohio or Illinois 10
the labOrers and mechanics of Memphis pro-
vided this city would manufacture the mate
had been paid 10 the trade Of Mid
die Tennessee. scarcely any trade on the
Mobile railroad reached Memphis, the natural
market for il. Memphis did not gain one
ha1 the cotton grown in the seven or eight
counties in the Immediate vicinity OF this
cry cotton rsd sl9'een IN Hs2ssn 59Ssand bales
ty, only one-fifth came % Memphis This
was shown from the fact that Bolivar shi pped
the rest of the county stations 5000 bales. The
same was true Of Madison and Henderson
counties, the cotton and produce of which
went 10 Mobile and New Orleans. After ailud-
ing to the fnexaustible mineral resources OF
Middle and East Tennessee, he said that when
Memphis took $4,000 stock in the Memphis
and GharlestOh, the value OF property in this |
city was sSOOO.000. Now 1t is 81, 100000 hence
that Su ubscri ptiOn was a stroke OF economy.
Now when IL was asked Of Memphis TO take a |
small subscription in a very important rail- /
road she faltered. He wanted TO know what /
'change had come over the spirit of her 1
1reams;" he wanted her to come mp 70 the Old !
faith; TO open up cheap transportation, the ]
.ruest economy being the JudfclOus expendi- |
lure Of money. He wanted soms assurance /
hat memphis would assist the enterprise. He /
that there never would be another
JrOad-gauge road built in the south; they
vcre too expensive; they would eI nscsssfsa g
and not diduse.
aHHnr an
This gentleman, by request. gave his views
d regard to the past DEVELOPMENT and future
Il Memphis in 50 far as the same has been az
ected, or may be affected by the railroads.
,endent upon any one production or pursuit.
here must be a diversity OF predictions and
variety OF pursuits in order 10 make peO-
lie great, Memphis purchased too much
rom people who had no interest in this COM
lunity, and every spare dollar was given (
way 70 dealers in other States. His departed
riend, Governor Jones, had made a mistaE Ee
D locating the Charleston road. II should
ave run on the line proposed for the Knox
lille road. A railroad is but facility, and
that wonderful facility IL Is. II used to
axe him seven days 70 go from Memphis TO
iashville. Now yOu eat your supper here /
nd next morning you eat your breakfast in
nashville. This tells the tale. In
even days now he could go TO st. Louis and
hence 10 the distant Pacific coast, where no
Dwering mountains barren wastes or deep
2yanas could impede the energies Of men In
railroads. He alluded to the ad-
antages this road would have in opening
ew markets, bringing cotton TO Memphis.
nj me dement's OF me roads connections. 1t
-Ould do a sore eye good 20 see wayne
ounty man in Memphis. He had not seen
skes had been made, Il was the duty Of the
our 70 rectify these and regain the lost trade.
Ie wanted the merchants Of Memphis TO be
ONE interested in the enterprise. The peo-
he here are discouraged, though they had
akon $50 600 in the Selma road, with no pros
eets for ats completion; they took $4,000 In
Ia FlHn rNsaafr
4 which was worth twelve and a half cents
VI the dollar; they took S3JO,ul0 In the Upton
Dad, Wnich was under way they TOOK s5's,OO9
a the Memphis and Ohio road, which had
lot paid; $4,000 or 10000 In the Mississippi
nd Tennessee road and $4,000 in the
.ittle Rock road, with no a6van tage in stock.
lie wanted 10 see the day when he could 60 TO
BOLIVAR in one day.
Mr.. Sykes, alluding to the remarks Of
gentleman present, said there must be
ome mistake relative TO the chamber Of
commerce refusing the use Of its hall.
4e then referred to the early interest he
lad taken in the Selma road and its i'm
,Ortance. He then made 8 lengthy
peech, proposing plan for the imme-
late subscription Of $500, 600, at the rate
II five per cent. month, each merchant
lr giver TO furnish the same. He alluded
10 the different calamities of Memphis,
among them the Nicolson pavement. /
He favored a meeting after dark, and \
the day following at eleven O'Clock st /
The chamber Of commerce. He moved /
the appointment of Messrs. w. r. /
Moore and A. d. Langstaff, COM
mittee to confer with the chamber of I
commerce relative to permission to meet 1
there. Adopted.
The meeting then adjourned,