Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-17


Ilicability.
THE HEHPBIs ASD ROCKVILLE
RAKEOW-GAUGB RAILWAY.
In casting about for measures which
would be beneficial 10 the city of Mem
pnis, the railway enterprises that have
been projected strikes the attention first
OF al. In order TO build up CONNER
cial cities facilities for the transpOrta-
ton OF articles Of trade and traffic must
be supplied, or O.heT cities, ambitious and
energetic, will supply the demand and
realize the profits. st. Louis has built
the Cairo and Fulton railroad on the
west Of US, and is taking large trade
from Arkansas and Texas which should
come here. Other roads east Of us carry
away cotton and produce which legiti-
niateIy belong to the Memphis market.
his latter, to a great extent, it
is intended by the projectors
OK the Memphis and Knoxville mar
row gauge road, to cOunteract and bring
the trade to this city. Does 1t not seem
strange that there are portions Of West
Tennessee, within Sirty miles of Mem
phis, that are forced to send cotton
to other and distant markets because
freights are cheaper? They are forced
to do this, while at the same time they
prefer to trade with Memphis; first, be-
cause it is one of the best, if not the
best cotton market on this continent;
and next, because they prefer trading
| near home and with city of their own
State. The reason why freights are so
heavy upon the citizens of large por-
zion Of West Tennessee is because they
have not easy access to line Of road
which leads directly to this city, and in
order to reach mere they are compelled
to run part of the way on some other
road that is being run in the interest Of
some other city, and which makes heavy
and unjust determinations against Mem
phis. To illustrate this, look at the
country surrounding Bolivar, Tonnes
see. In 1873 the cotton shipped from
that point amounted to six thousand
two hundred and fifty-seven bales, Of
which five hundred and fifteen were
! shipped to eastern cities by way of
Louisville, five hundred and eighteen
bales east by way OF Grand Junction
and Chattanooga, and four thousand
two hundred and twenty-five to New
Orleans by the Mississippi Central road,
while only nine hundred and ninety
nine bales came to Memphis, although
planted and raised within sixty
miles Of it. It was all because
freights were running against this
city, and the same state of affairs exist
now. II the Knoxville road was COM
pieted TO Henderson station, from Mem
phis, it would tap the Mobile and Ohio
railroad there, and the people of Hen
derson, Madison, M'NaiTy and Hsrde-
man counties could ship direct to Mem
phis on one line, and q line whose in
teTest would be to discriminate in favor
Of Memphis. Henderson county raises
fifteen thousand bales Of cotton a year,
aud M'NaiTy twelve Thousand, not a
bale Of which finds its way to the Mem
phis market, to say nothing Of what
would come from the rich county of
Madison if her people had direct rail-
way communication with this city. The
great difficulty now felt in the construc-
ton of this road is 10 obtain fifty thou
sand dollars in subscription from Mem
phis to build the road from here to the
eastern boundary of Shelby county.
When that amount is raised here, the
company is prepared, We understand, to
put the road under contract from here
TO Bolivar. Beyond that point a large
portion Is already graded, and much more
under contract, or to be put go
in few weeks. The raising in Mem
phis Of the required amount of fifty
thousand dollars wilt insure the con-
stFuctiOn of the road from here to Fay
etteville, il Lincoln county. Then
what else besides cotton would that road
bring to Memphis. Hardin, Hickman,
Wayne, Decatur and Lawrence coun-
ties would send US lime and limestone,
iron ore, hydraulic cement in great
quantities, gray and chocolate marble,
such as can be seen in the State capitol
at Nashville, and which will admit of
as high degree Of polish as any marble
on earth. In addition to all this, it will
bring Us coal in abundance, and thus en-
able manufactures to prosper among us.
1t will also bring US poultry, butter,
eggs, beet, vegetables and hay from the
rich farms of Middle Tennessee. In
fact, everything brought here will be
raised upon or dug out Of the soil Of the
State, and find a market within the
borders Of the State. By these means,
property along the line of road will be
increased in value, and, consequently,
the revenues raised the State, in the
way Of taxes, will be but q light
burden, if burden at all, upon the
Taxpayers Of the State at large. In view
of these advantages to be derived to the
trade Of this city, cannot and will not our
merchants put their heads together and |
raise the required amount OF ty thou |
sand dollars? If they will go to work at
it in earnest the smount can be raised in |
three hours. OF cotton alone that road |
viii bring to this city thirty thousand |
bales, to say nothing Of what it will do in !
cheapening provisions, by enabling the |
people along the line OF road to come |
in competition with the northwest in |
supplying articles Of food, and such as
render aid in building upmanufactories.
The rich country through which the
read would pass is grooming this wear
with heavy crops Of cotton and grain,yet
the farmers will be forced TO send it TO
other markets because there is no direct
railway connection with Memphis. If
Memphis would be a great and prosper
Gus city she must reach out and draw
to her at least all the trade which Iegiti-
mately belongs to her by virtue of her
location.