The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-04-22
From the Memphis Appeal, April z.
Memphis Manufacturing Inter



Il will be remembered that Colonel d.
w. Holman, of Fayetteville, in this
State, presided over the Memphis and
Knoxville railroad convention, held in
this city on the twenty-third and twenty
fourth of April, 1874, and made speech
which at the time attracted cOnsidera-
BILE attention, because of its clear, pow
erfui reasoning, and because of the i'm
pOrtant facts bearing upon the manufac-
turing interest of Memphis, which he
presented. Since that time Colonel
Holman has become largely interested
in the Newcastle coal mines, near Bir-
mingham, Alabama, from which they
are delivering coal at Nashville
cents per bushel. This company has
been largely instrumental in reducing
the price of coal at Nashville and along
the line of the railroad from Montgom-
cry, Alabama, to Nashville. We men
ton these facts to show that Colonel
Holman is a practical man and thor
Oughly understands the subjects upon
which he speaks. 1t is gratifying to us
to know that such a man, living in Mid
die Tennessee, takes so deep an interest
in Memphis. He we'll knows that in
promoting the interest of this city he is
benefiUing the whole State. We hope
he may soon see the Memphis and Knox
vile road in operation, at least as far as
Fayetteville, and our city enjoying the
benefits which he so fully anticipates
from it's construction. We reproduce
a portion of his speech and commend it
to the attention of all who feel an inter
est in the growth and prosperity of Mem
phis. 1t is true our city is heavily
burdened with debt and oppressed
with taxation, but if we can
become a manufacturing, as well
as a commercial city, soon grow out of
all our difficulties. If we had taxable
property worth hundred million dol
lars, as we might easily have with the
proper energy, we would scarcely feel
our present debt. By manufacturing
we may expect to increase our wealth
more surely than in any other manner.
Well does Colonel Holman say: "Mem-
phis needs railroads that will bring pro-
duce and trade to her, and not facilities
for taking it away. She has so far been
liberal, not to say lavish, in the invest
ment of her money in railroads. He
supposed the city had received great
benefits from them. Whether the in
vestments in all of them had been the
most judicious was question he would
not discuss. Memphis would be greatly
benefited by the proposed road. 1t
would bring large quantity of grain,
stock and the many other productions
of the fertile country on the line of the
road. 1t would open up direct eommu-
nication with the iron and coal of Mid
die and East Tennessee. thus enabling
Memphis to become a great manufactur-
ing city. The principal wealth of our
great cities must, of necessity, be based
upon manufactures. The mere ex-
change of products was important, but
would prove delusive and ephemeral
unless based on the solid and permanent
foundation of manufactures. The pro-
coal these from these great
mineral regions as cheaply as they can
be procured by any manufacturing city
of the Union. No road of costly con-
struction compares with it in cheapness
of transportation. Can thirty thousand
dollars a mile compare with ten thou
sand dollars a mile when ten Thousand
dollars a mile will do all that thirty thou
sand dollars a mile can do. Suppose the
question Is asked of commercial man,
engaged in any other business, how long
would it take him to solve the question:
Suppose you add to this the fact that
narrowgauge roads can be run cores
pOndingly cheap, do we not see that
LneSS are the FOauS JnaJ memphis needs
to enable her to command the trade OF
the country around her for at least one
hundred and fifty or two hundred miles
This road would also be of great benefit
to our part of the State. 1t would give
our people the advantage of two mar
kets, Nashville and Memphis. We could
bring our cotton, corn, grain and live
stock to Memphis, and here exchange
them for groceries, hardware, and such
articles as we need. In Lincoln we raise
about ten thousand bales of cotton, and
we have to send it one hundred and
twenty-five miles over the railroad, at
heavy rates, to get it to Nashville. If
we had this cheap railroad to Memphis,
we could bring our cotton here as cheap
as now carry it to Nashville. There we
would buy our groceries and many ar
ticles. Is the trade of the southern por-
portion of Middle Tennessee worth con-
tending for? Do you want us to to be
We are proud of Memphis
as our great commercial emporium, and
would rejoice to see her have popula-
ton of two hundred thousand within
the next ten years. Do you not feel
proud of Tennessee, and do you not
desire to open trade with your Tennes-
see neighbOrs?