Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-12
Interesting Communication from Con.
gresSman Young upon the Sub.
ject - A frank Line to
Memphis.

is seriously damaging to these important
branches of the business Of the country.
and should be speedily terminated by
decided action on the part of congress.
While not presumiDg to dictate to eur
representatives, we have no hesitation in
expressing the opinion that the interests
OF both government and people will be
oes. subserved by continuing the tax on
these articles as ct present, and the Off
cial announcement Of such policy by
congress at the earliest practicable
moment.
TIE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The following communication from
Congressman Casey Young was read:
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, February 25, 1878. I
John S. TOOf, ESQ.,, Memphis. Tenn;
DEAR SrR-I received your telegram
yesterday morning, bat have delayed
writing until now in order to obtain such
information touching the subject OF your
inquiry as would enable me to answer it
advisedly. There are, as you know,
several bills before congress to provide
tor the construction of a Southern Pa
ciic railroad. The friends of all Of them
profess to be anxious to reach the Mis-.
sissippi river at some point to connect
with the railways leading eastward to
the Atlantic seaboard. have always be.
lieved, and yet hold the opinion, that no
bill should be supported by Tennessee
congressman that does not designate
Memphis as the eastern terminus of the
road Tor which they provide. My judg.
ment is that if a road were constructed
to any other point on the Mississippi
river, and especially south Of US, it would
work great injury, if not absolute rain.
to Memphis. Entertaining this belief.
| have urged the friends Of what is
known as the Scott bill to declare ex.
plicitly that Memphis should be the OBJ.
jectlve point eastward, and not leave the
question in doubt or dependent upon any
future contingency; but they have met
me with the objection that such a pro,
vision would provoke the opposition OF
the members from Louisiana, Mississip.
pl, and part of those from Alabama and
Georgia, and thus render doubtful the
success of the measure. In this conclu.
sion | do not concur, but on the contrary,
1t is quite apparent to me that the Mem
phis line will command more strength
than any other. Indeed, l do not be.
lieve that the members from Tennessee
North Alabama, Eastern Georgia, Ken.
lucky, North Carolina and Virginia
would or ought to support any bill which
does not contain this provision. The
Sapp bill is the only bill providing for a
trunk directly to Memphis, and-other
things being equsl-this is the only one
which, it seems, the people of Memphis
should favor. | know bat little of the
parties who are personally interested in
this measure, and cannot therefore
tell at present what amount of inAu.
ence they can bring to bear in its sup.
port. 1t am called upon for any
advice in the matter, | should say that
if the people OF Memphis take any
action at all, they should insist upon the
construction of a trunk line to Memphis,
without in express terms indorsiug any
particular bill, so as to be in a condition
to give their influence and support to
whichever one would be most likely to
successfully meet this indispensable re.
quireme1t. Should a trunk line reach
the Mississippi river at any other point
than Memphis, a mere branch would, in
my opinion, be of but little benefit to us,
aver should one ever be built, which is
extremely doubtful. | am quite sure
that no bill can be passed which provides
for the building Of any branches at gov.
eminent expense. | am fully convinced
that | ought not to give my support TO
any bill which does not make Memphis
absolutely the eastern terminal point of
a trunk line. | should be glad to have
some expression OF opinion upon this
subject from the Memphis chamber Of
commerce and cotton exchange and its
citizens generally, | should be glad to
furnish asy other information in nv DOS.
session whenever it is desired. | have
written this hurriedly, but to serve to put
you IN possession Of nv views. Very
truly, your friend, CASEY You've.
The following resolutions we're then
adopted:
Resolved, That the chamber OF com.
merce reaiirm its former actions in re.
gard to the Texas and Pacific railroad,
in again indorsing the bill introduced
into the senate Of the United States by
Senator Johnston, of Virginia, aud which
bill was also introduced in the house Of
representatives BY Mr.. Willis, Of Ken.
lucky.
Resolved further, That to secure a Pa.
ci6c railroad, in fact as well as in name,
the terminus should be on the east bank
Of the Mississippi river.
Resolved further, That our representa-.
tive, Hon. Casey Young, be requested to
secure for Memphis such eastern termi.
nal headquarters, and that his official
and personal efforts in every honorable
way be used to accomplish such results.
Resolved, That a copy of these reso.
Iqtlons be presented to Hon. Casey
Young.
Resolved, That a committee Of Eve, to
be called the Pacific Railroad Committee,
be appointed by the chairman, with full
powers to do whatever in their judgment
is deemed necessary to secure for Mem.
phis the eastern terminus Of the South.
ern Pacific railroad.
Chairman Eisemsn appointed the fol.
lowing committee Of the Southern Pa.
eihc railroad: Messrs. A. j. Kellar, J.
W. Clapp, W. W. Guy, J. 7. Trezevant,
ID. I. Porter and Henry G. Smith.
The meeting then adjourned.
An illustrated Lawsuit.
To-day the Circuit Court was hearing
the remanded case of Refer VS.. Daman,