Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-24
MEMPHIS AND KNOXVILLE.
What the Henderson Advocate Says
About the Proposed narrow
Gauge RaiIway-A Rev
Project.

ty-second has the following: Elsewhere
we publish an able article from the AP-
PEAL, ON the subject Of the Memphis
and Knoxville narrOw-gauge railroad.
We are glad to see our influential CO.
temporary coming up so mRnfully to
this great enterprise. The facts referred
to by the APPEAL ought to arouse the
property-oWners and business men of
Memphis to the great Importance and
necessity Of an early construction of this
road. If Memphis had not made so
many bIunders in her railroad schemes
ia past years, we would be astOuHded at
her present lukewarmness. The first
great blunder was in opposing the ex-
tension Of the road from Somerville
to Jackson. II that road had been
built the Mobile and Ohio road would
never have passed through West Ten
nessee, but would have diverged about
thirty miles north of OkolOna, Missis.
sippl, and passing through the rich
c0unties in North Mississippi, made
Memphis the northern terminus; then q
connection with st. Louis, by a road
that would have been built from the Op-
posite side of the river, would have nat
uIally followed. The projectors of the
Mobile and Ohio road, originally, had
one leading idea, and that was to strike
the Mississippi river at some acceptable
point, as nearly north as possible. Sup
pose Jackson had got the road extended
from Somerville, that would have satis-
fled her business men and property
owners, for Memphis was their natural
market. No eight hundred thousand
dollars would have been received in
West Tennessee to bel p build the Mobile
and Ohio road, consequently the mana
gers would have diveIged from near Oko-
Iona, as suggested. The construction of
the Mobile and Ohio road through the
heart Of West Tennessee has taken
from Memphis multiplied millions Of
dollars in trade. The building of that
road caused the building of the Missis.
sippi Central road, and between the two
IL is haId to compute the loss that Mem.
phis has really sustained. Nearly all
the vast trade OF West Tennessee is now
lost 10 N 7nphis. Much Of this trade
she can never regain, but some OF it
may be, and vast amount Of new trade,
Occurred by the construction OF the mar
row gauge road at least as fer as Fayette-
vile. While the branch road from
Moscow to Somerville WAS being
sgitated, we urged our Memphis friends
=
jackson. But, unwise cOuusels pre-
vailed in that city at the time, and we
were disappointed in not getting direct
line to our great commercial city. AS
self-preserVation lies at the foundation
of all human actions, Jackson was COM
PEELED to take hold Of the Mobile and
Ohio road, and to the building of this
road We gave our earnest support, not to
damage Memphis, but to build up
Jackson. Now, with the same earnest
ness that we advocated the road from
SOmerville to Jackson, do We urge our
Memphis friends to take imme-
date steps and help complete the
narrOw-gauge road. Fail to do SO
and it requires no prophet to
tell the great loss that will result to that
city. And, now, a word to our Jackson
friends. We need not say that our
heart is with that people. II long life
of active work, including the years of
our prime manhood, is not evidence Of
our devotion to the prosperity and glory
of that city, nothing we could now say
or do would be convincing. We say to
you, then, that the road from Memphis
to Fayetteville, at least, will be built.
This road will not affect the material in
terest of Jackson unless upon 8 certain
and sgainst that contin-
gency we sound the note of warning.
You now have all the valuable trade,
nearly, of Henderson county, and a
good portion of the trade Of Decatur
We venture the assertion that
Jackson gets more trade from Hender-
son county than from Madison. Now,
can you retain this trade for all time? |
There is but one way that you can do it,
and that is, build a narrow g Iuge road to |
Lexington. Failing to do this, in less than !
three years there will be branch road |
from this place to Lexington, by which |
Memphis will flank you as completely |
az ever one army tianked another. |
Then, again, Evansville, Indiana, has |
abandoned the broad-gsuge railroad pro-
ected to Jackson, and is now prospect |
ng for narrow-gauge road, in order to
Jet better southern outlet. II Jakson
Juilds narrOw-gauge road to Lexing-
on, it secures the Evansville road, for it
will make connection with you at Lex
ngton. But you go on digging big holes
n the streets-called cisterns-Of no sort
# use, instead Of applying your means
o substantial Improvements, and before
'ou are aware OF it grass will grow in
'our streets,
NEURIL-The instantaneous cure for
ss,dIs5o' Geo. ". Jones g Co., keepit.