Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-11-18
The subscription prise OF the
PUBLIC LEDGER is IS per annum
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weekly. POSTAGE FREE.
THE soUHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.

THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
In view OF the early meeting of Con-
gress, and the two conventions to be held
in Memphis and St. Louis, the Southern
Pacific railroad is a lively topic. II has
been discussed very freely for some days
in the press, The facts and bearings OF
the main question are coming out and
public sentiment rapidly taking shape.
The New York Bulletin, which of course
is adverse to any Southern road, assumes
that Tom Scots plan is to get a subsidy
for a road having its eastern terminus at
st. Louis. This was no doubt his secret
purpose at one time, though the vigorous
protest which has already gone up from
the South may have changed his mind.
Eastern influences will be used andhave
been already to stir up a feeling Of
rivalry between different points
in the South and West so as
to defeat any plan for another road
across the continent. We should bear
in mind that to secure government aid
the South must be united, for the Union
Pacific will make q strong fight to- hold
the field against all rivals. If we may
Judge of the temper Of St. Louis by the
following resolution adopted last Satur'
day at a meeting Of all the committees
appointed to arrange for the convention
of the 25th, it is very conservative:
Resolved, That the city Of st. Louis
does not ask or claim that she shall be
made the Eastern terminus of the pro-
posed Southern Transcontinental rail-
road. What she e-ks is that the build
ing of the road shall be I cured to some
point in the Micsis ,ippi valley within the
territorial limitl Of Texas, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Miesouri and the Indian Ter
ritory, and she will trust to her CONNER
cial and geographical position and to the
intelligence and enterprise Of her citi-
zens to secure such connections there
with as may be desirable.
In support of the resolution Colonel
Broadhesd said he offered it for the rea.
son that there appeared to be some feel
ing in the South in regard to the part St.
Louis had taken in the movement. By
all indications the Memphis people had
imbibed the idea that there was an effort
to make the enterprise entirely a-St.
Louis concern. 1t was desirable that
the executive committee declare openly
that st. Louis was not seeking alone to
make herself the eastern terminus. The
resolution was adopted unanimously and
the delegation from st. Louis were in
structed to present it to the Memphis
convention, which meets next Friday.
The Republican Of yesterday says:
This resolution assures the people Of
the South that our city is not animated
by any inadmissible local interest in the
matter, and that its object is simply to
secure the building of a new and better
trunk road to the Pacific, in whose gen
eral benefits she shall equitably share.
While, therefore, we heartily applaud all
that the Memphis convention may do to
further the common enterprise, we hope
it will not impair it by he exhibition of
local jealousy, and by counteracting the
effort to be made at the st. Louis con.
vention on the 23d.
The Knoxville Press and Herald
handles the subject plainly and fear
lessly. Referring to Tom Scott letter
Of assurance to Mr.. f. S. Davis it avs:
This letter reads well enough, but is
hardly explicit enough. The Memphis
and Little Rock road is already in oper-
alton, and, as a matter Of course, Mem
phis by that means will have ~"'connec-
tion" with the Texas and Pacific. ANY
point can have connection with it that
will build up to it. But that is not the
point. Memphis should be a terminal
point Of the Texas and Pacific railroad
itself, entitled to all through privileges
enjoyed by any other point and upon
like terms. The bill before Congress
should be so clear upon this point as to
leave no possible ground for mistake or
dispute, and the ultimatum Of the Ten
nessee Congressman, at least, should not
fall u whit short Of it.
This is the point exactly, and as Colo
mel Flemming, the editor Of the Press
and Herald, will be here tomorrow to
attend the convention, aud is we'll posted,
we shalbawait his further u~tterances with
interest. A fair understanding is desira
BILE, not only between the different South.
ern States and cities, but between the
South as a unit and Mr.. Tom Sect. His
representatives at these conventions will
find it to theirIinterest to be exceedingly
explicit and concise. Glittering gene
ralities will not answer. Absolute and
u~nequivocal conditions will be required.
This is a national scheme, in which the
South is interested really but little more
than the North. Boston is as much in.
terested in the trade and development of
Western Texas, New Mexico, Mexico,
Arizona and Lower California as New
Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis or Balti-
more, saw from the fact that Boston has
already invested in another line East.
ern capitalists are ayerse to large enter.
prisos Of any kind at the South and will
be the worst enemies Of the Southern
Pacific railroad whatever shape it may
take.
--o-n-