Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-11-19

And why not? 1t would be manifestly to
their interest TO build only one line, because
the maintenance of two would be serious
burden, totally unnecessary 10 a traf11c which
could only utilize one. Which Line Is II prob
aOle they would be most likely to allow go by
default? When It s considered that the
Pennsylvania railroad company owns or con-
trolls one or more lines from New York and
Philadelphia TO st. Louis and 1t is interested
In the line from st. Louis to Ninita, ali of
which would be intellectually benefited by the
trade and travel this southern Pacific road
would bring, and none OF which they would
get If ii went via Fort Worth on the Marshall
line. II cannot be doubted in which direction
Selt-intereSt would prompt them 10 bring
about such a desirable and prearranged de-
ones self, and the Pennsy lyanta COM
pany has never been accused OF any
failure in this regard. Nor d es the fact that
branches to Vicksburg aud New OTleaus are
authorized to be built, in any wise lessen The
probability of this default, for express care ts
taken in both of the bills 10 make the con-
StructiOn of such branches the work of inde-
pendent corporations and from independent
means. Indeed, the promise OF branches, or
rather the privilege of procuring government
aid TO build them, is so absolutely cheap and
so free from any responsibility that 1t cannot
be doubted, but that in order TO secure the
passage of tneir bill, Scott X Co. would gra-
ciousiy allow a dozen branches to be built by
Independent companies, with the ines ina
BILE privilege of connecting with his line from
Fort Worth to Marshall, provided IL shall
ever be built A few years since these same
people, in a frantic endeavor to get charter
from the Virginia legislature, so as to secure
liae from Quantico TO Richmond, and as a
bribe with " hich to win few votes needed
for the passage OF their bill, voluntarily added
provision thereto sgTeelng 10 anS0Tse SI hiteed cen
Great Western company, which was then Try
iUg to build a road
FROM DAEVILLE TO BRISTOL.
The promise won the votes, but it never Sc
cured the Endorsement OF a single bond, aud
the Norfolk and Great Western road exists
only on the pages of Virginia acts of assem-
bly,. So IL will be with the fine promises they
are now 81 eager to make, after they get their
bill passed by which they can divert the
Southern Pacific road from Texas, via ct.
Louis, 10 Philadelphia and New York. But
even assuming that Scott & Co.'S individual
interest in the California Construction COM
pany might induce them to build the line to
Marshall in order TO get their sll, 100000 back,
and that in consequence there would be q line
with which the Nicksburg and New Orleans
independent branches could connect, it by no
means follows that, as president of the Penn
syIvania railroad company, controlling the
extensive line from New York to Fort Worth,
Colonel Scott would allow the trade and trav-
el to go elsewhere than over his Pennsylvania
line. This would be a matter easily to be con-
trolled by virtue of his authority as president
OF both lines. II any one is simple enough to
ask how trade can be diverted from its natu-
raj channels, the answer, in this case, is that
trade would be forming new channel, and
when once directed in certain course 1t
can hardly be diverted again. If this be
so, could not the president OF the Pennsyl-
vania and Southern Pacific railroad COM
panies, by his agents, who could easily be
also, WELD an influence in giving direction to
the traffic which no other power could begin
to counteract? Controlling the only line lead
ing from New York city to the south, this
same Pennsylvania company, by this same
Colonel Scott, recently denied to all other cor
porations the right to sell through tickets
over his and their lines in that city, and while
he claimed to give all lines diverg1ng from his
trunk line leading south, an equal representa-
ton of tickets TO be sold in his own Office
within agents
to select which ticke S they would sell, and
thus virtually to cut off from patronage any
formidable competing route. SO it would be
at San Diego, and so managed that Colonel
Scott could be kept free fTom any charge of
discrimination. The traveller might prefer
certain route and desire to purchase his
ticket that way, but it would be an easy mat
ter for the agent TO be just out of that class of
tickets, and of course the traveller, who could
not afford to lie over several days waiting for
the ticket he wanted, would purchase one by
that route which the agent did have on hand,
and preferred to sell. The pro,
our Virginia papers, that this work
should be confided to board of commission
ers, to be appointed by the governors of the
that the road would be honestly administered
for the benefit of the whole south, and of the
whole country. such road should bridge
the Mississippi, and have its eastern terminus
in the city of Memphis. It should have
branches or arms from the main line leading
to Vicksburg and New Orleans, and its gauge
shou d conform to that of the southern rail-
way system, with which it should properly
form the closest and most intimate physical
junction, Such is the road Virginia needs.
APURELY SOUTHERN ROAD,
in the hands of southern men equally in the
interests of all southern cities and States; but
this is exactly what Scott & Co. do not want us
to have. Even now, emisSaries are travelling
over the south, many of them southern men,
to their shame be it said, trying by pen aud
promises and money, to secure influence ana
votes for a scheme whose whole intent is the
dactru n southern homes and interests
The people of Virginia are not to be seduced
into lending their couRtenance to any scheme
which does not do full justice to the whole
sOuth. Neither offers of position nor pecuniary
assistance with which to TesuScitate dead but
desirable enterprises, can or will secure the
assent OF her people to scheme which would
virtually plumber their southern brethren.
Nor is it believed that Tennessee will be less
patriotic. In congress last winter Colonel
scott positively refused TO allow a branch TO
Memphis TO be Incorporated in his Dill, he
failed in its passage then; and now, hoping to
secure support from the Tennessee dele
CATION, ii is said that he Will gractOusly allow
a Memphis branch to be mentioned, and
agree that the government may aid her
people to build an independent branch to
Marshall, provided they will aid him in secur-
ing the right TO switch of the trade and travel,
at Fort Worth, about eight hundred miles
west of the Memphis branch, and carry IL
across the country TO st. Louis, Philadelphia
and New York. Will some OF our Memphis
friends inform The public how many of the
promises made by Colonel Scott when he
leased the Memphis and Charleston road were
ever kept. That st. Louis and her people are
ardent advocates OF Scott'S scheme, is not sur
pIising; indeed, their zeal is both natural and
reasonable, but neither Virginia nor TenneS-
see, nor Ony other southern State has any in
terest in such a scheme, except to defeat 1t, as
directly hostile to their best interests. II
Scott Il Co. get their bill passed this winter,
our hopes are gone forever. The act of justice
to the south VIII have been performed, and
when those, who now or may hereafter be in
duced to advocate this barter OF our rights,
wake TO realize the mistake they have made,
they will discover at the same time that the
south is shorn OF
HER STRENGTH AND FUTURE HOPE.
Indeed, it would seem to be our duty, If we
cannot get any other Pacific road than the
mockery which ScotL's bill OFFERS to do with
out one for few years longer, rather than
see what should be ours for our good pervert-
ed to our own destruction. Let our people
toTbear awhile. Scott q Co. are pressing so
hard because they hope TO save eleven million
dollars, besides the control of this great work ;
and then the time is rapidly approaching
when their charter will expire by default in
its execution.