Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-27
FORT SMITH EXCURSION.
Our Special Commissioner In Ar
Kansas = What He sees In the
sWamps and on the High Lands
Betw cen Memphis Little
Rock. Etc.
little Rock, Sept Is, a N.

Between memphis aud Little
Rock, Etc.
LITTLE Rock, Sept 26, 9 a N.
Your correspondent is one of the
Memphis and Fort Smith excursion
party and drops a hasty line on the
wing. A ride of three hundred
miles through Arkansas in former
years would not have been consid-
cred a recreation. When Andrew
Jackson had the military road built
across the bottoms west of Mem
phis, a trip to CrOwley's Ridge and
back was an exploit to be emem-
bered. Now the passenger can cross
the Mississippi river at Memphis
in the parlor of a magnificent
sleeper without the slightest jar or
inconvenience, and thirty : three
miles west may step out at an eat
ing-house in the wilderness and get
as good a supper as he would find
at any railroad station in the East
or West The Memphis party was
larger than expected and was min
gled with a full regular train of pas
sengers, some of them business men
at points west, and many of them
just returning from the Centennial
and eager to get home. There were
four full coaches, besides baggage
and smoking cars. At Forrest City
the jam became SO oppressive that
another sleeper was taken on, and
every berth was instantly taken.
The train ran at a moderate speed
through the bottom to Madison, a
distance of forty miles. Those who
had heard SO much about the
roughness and danger of this part
of the road were surprised at its
smoothness and sOlidity. 1t has
been greatly improved under Colo
mel Pritchard's management, and if
his policy is carried out it will
eventually become as fine a roadbed
and as safe as any in the country.
This assertion will only seem ex-
travagant to those who are nm
familiar with the facts. After pass
ing Madison we struck a section of
the road on which new rails were
put down by Colonel Greenlaw in
his day, and the change was in
stantly perceptible and the cars ran
as smoothly almost as if on some
double track trunk line. These
rails were brought to this country
from France by Fremont for his
Texas railroad project, and picked
up by Colonel Greenlaw. 1t is a
notable fact that not a single pas
senger has ever been killed on the
Memphis and Little Rock railroad,
and comparatively few accidents or
casualties have ever occurred. Great
care is exercised by the manage
ment and employees, and a very
large and profitable passenger and
freight business is successfully
conducted.
We arrived at Argenta, opposite
Little Rock, about two o'clock in
the morning, remained in the
sleepers until after daylight and
then crossed over to the city for
breakfast and to look around. We
met x-Memphians at every turn
and felt quite at home.
! called at the Herald and Ca
zette offices, and found Mr.. Nc
Lean, formerly secretary of the
Merchants Protective Union of
Memphis, at the desk of the former,
and Mr.. Charles Coffin, late of.
Memphis, as editor of the latter.
The papers here seem to be doing
well. Many of our party went
down to UrQuhart's oil-mill-a big
institution, On our return we will
see the rest Of the city.
Mr.'Spain Jay, the ticket agent
Of the Little Rock road, who came
over with us and made himself, as
usual, agreeable and popular with
everybody, will 60 with us to Fort
Smith. Major r. L. Cobb, former
ly OF Memphis, but now of the Lit
tie Rock and Fort Smith railroad.
also goes with us. But the conduc.
tor says, "All aboard"
j. II. M.