Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-13

join hands mountains can be removed
or tunneled through in an incredibly
short space Of time. A railway track of
any distance can be put down OF removed
in any given space of time, provided the
necessary amount of labor is expended
%judiciously.
The Charleston Railway Company
having entered into a contract with the
city to lay down a track extending from
the Charleston depot to the river, down
Washington street, determined to take
advantage Of the cool nights and do the
work by starlight after the manner of
doing business recounted in the Arabian
Nights, or other thrilling works of fiction.
At 8 o'clock on Saturday night loco
motive headlights flashed down Washing
ton street from the intersection of High
street aud q force of one hundred men
suddenly appeared with picks and spades.
Wagons and days passed down the
street bearing cross-ties, which were
dropped off every thirty feet, and other
wagons and drays followed bearing the
finest fish bar iron rails of thirty feet in
length. These were also dropped off on
either side Of the street. The drivers
and others who were performing these
strange acts did not seem to know by
whose orders they we're operating. Our
reporter visited the street, but could get
no satisfactory information. Determin-
ing to solve the mystery of it if it took
him all tie Fall, he moved rapidly out
Washington to High street, and ON the
route saw men measuring the street with
tape lines, like military engineers work
ing silently at night in front of some
enemy. Then men swinging picks and
using shovels, putting down cross-ties at
a distance Of thirty feet apart. Farther
out squads of men we're putting down
the iron rails and other squads were fas-
tening them together and spiking them
down to the ties. The locomotive head
lights threw glares of light over this
animated scene.
Our representative accosted several
men who seemed to be in authority, and
discovered that the enterprising Presi-
dent Wilson, of the Charleston Railway
Company, had determined to commence
work and to build the extension Of his
road to the river at once. Everything
went along very quietly, but with regu-
larity. Cross-ties we're put down, the
rails we're fastened together and spiked,
and the double iron band that brings
commerce to every enterprising city,
kept on advancing rapidly towards the
river. By daylight yesterday morning
Second street was reached, and in a
short time the iron bands extended to
Front street opposite the landing. The
great work was accomplished in an al
most incredible short space of time,
thanks to the industry of the engineer of
the road, Col. Niles Meriwether, and his
subordinates. Yesterday several thou.
sands Of people who read the morning
Journals, visited Washington street and
rubbed their eyes when they saw a rail.
way track that had been built in a night
II showed them what intelligent labor
can accomplish when properly directed.
1t showed that the Charleston Railway
Company had taken possession of its
rights and had occupied the route given
to it by the city. 1t showed that the
company was anxious to finish the track
and get ready for the fall trade. 1t
showed that there is in Memphis an in
domitable spirit Of enterprise that will
make any city prosperous and flourish
ing.
The railroad company has now a track
laid down from its depot to the river.
Yesterday a car moved over the track
and carried a lot of freight, which was
shipped over the Little Rock railroad.
Our reporter vas informed by some en-
thusiastic Memphian yesterday, that OF
next Saturday night the Charleston
Railway Company intends building il
elevator at the landing. laying down it
side-tracks and erecting its depots before
morning. We do not vouch for the cor
rectness Of the news, but if the railroad
company has determined to do SO it vii
be done by the light Of the twinklinI
stars. Those Of our citizens who wisl
to gee the work done, as if by magic
had bstter remain up all night and visi
the foot Of Washington street, or els
they may receive another ELECTRIC shoe
on Sunday morning when they discove
that the work has been accomplished.
81 The Whffa Hnuaa