Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-09-01
Total mileage. 9,I82 9.eS2 12.Ise

Total mileage. 9,lS2 1882 1885 1913
L. will be seen that during the five years
mainly filled by the war, only $50 miles of
road were built in the entire outh, and Dor
ton or that amount really belongs to the
ante war period, lille in several Of the States
not mile was added. But in the next five
new road were Duiits and In ten years the in
crease had reached the grand total OF 6287
miles, making the entire southern mileage in
1875 nearly is 600 miles. This great achie, g.
ment in region left well nigh ruined by
war, and ever since suffering more or less
from CIVIL disturbances, was not accomplish
ed without great sacrifice and discouraging
difficulty. Most of the State gtyernmeutS
came literally forward and issued bonds or
guaranteed their pay ment 70 the amount of
many millions. The great financial depres-
sion following, added 10 previous losses, left
unable to meet their OBJ cations S and Sp 1bs
roads went 1uto inevitable bankruptcy. ala
bama became responsible Tor some SIS, 900 900
OF bonds, and has had 10 keize and operate
most of the roads for her own protection
south Carolina issued prodigious amour OF
bonds besides a quantity to the amount Of
N,OO OOO, which appear 10 have been fraudu-
iently put forth, and HIS been COM
PEELED TO compromise at from thirty 10
nfty cents on the dollar. North Carol ma has
issued over 80 900 900 Of railroad nds aud
has finally Arranged to pay from twenty to
d lty per cent. of Lheir face. The chief rOaGs ia
Georgia, indoi S ed b. the State, have failed to
pay Interest ON the bonds, and have been
turned over to receivers for the benefit OF tue
state. Florida issued 81 600 coo OF bonds for the
alone, but claims that there were frauds in
their manipulation, and proposes to Tepudiat to
them ARKANSAS, which ten years ago had bat
thiTty-elgnt miles of road, made liberal graDts
II lands, aud gave a bonus o. Sl2, oO0 mile be-
Sides, and 600 to roads without land
grants, and has now between
SOO and 300 miles Of lines in operation, And
SO we m ght go on to snow the heavy load of
debt, and the vast l. Dor and trouble Incurred
al through the south, In the heroic work of
DuldIns up the spl, ndid system OF l6 OOO miIss
OF railroads, some ITO in number, represent
Ing cost Of probably Elk hundred million
OF dollars, which now net the rich territory
Of the sunny south. They have passed through
trials and experiences such IS their northern
connections know nothing about, bat we be-
neve they nave seen their worst days. Toe
south is rapidly returning to prosperity, De
cause she Is learning thai In a diversity OF in
dustrtes, and in the development of Internal
resources lies her strength. Cotton Is no
longer almost the sole dependence, but large
areas are being devoted to corn, cattle, hogs
and other products. and more attention Is be-
Ing turned to bull ding up manufactures. Tue
railroads are nearly all now in excellent con-
dItlon, equipped with "palace cars" and all
long routes is made with admirable
comfort and certainty. The manage
ment of most of the roads has fallen Into
progress toward prosperity is being made
yearly. The Rdfnody AGE views with admrs.
ton what has been accomplished In this sec.
ton OF the country, in spite OF the most ad
verse circuu1 Instances, and is glad to lend q
helping hand whenever 1t can do so, by en-
couragtng our southern railroad managers in
their great work. Railroad construction in
the south is by no means finished; 1t may be
said to have hardly began. Immense ana fer
Tile aress still watG tor The iron horse to bring
them growth and prosperity and .our weekly
list or new, undertakings and projects show
that the people of the south are fully awake to
the importance OF increased facilities for
transportation. The end OF the next ten years
will see vast addition to the present rail way
mileage, and acorrespond ing increase in
wealth aud prosperity throughout the garden
region of the south.