Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-21
THE PACIFIC ROAD.
Important Action OF the Memphis
Chamber Of Commercs-COn.
gress PetitIOhed to As.
sist In the Enterprise.

There was q joint meeting of the
chamber Of commerce and cotton ex.
change yesterday afternoon to hear the
report Of the committee, Andrew J.. KEEL
lar, ]. W, Clspp. W. W. Guy, J. 7. Treze
want, D. I. Porter aud 81. G. Smith, on
the Southern Pacific railroad" Fro !
the committees report. which was ado
ed, We present for consideration tie suo-
Joined extracts;
The Memphis chamber Of comm
appeals to the congress Of The Unit
States to secure the construction of O.
Southern traHs.continental railway 10
the Pacific ocean by the cid Of the gov
eminent credit.
A Southern trans.contineutAl railway,
to be such in fact as in name, mast be.
gin on the east bank Of the Mississippi
river, and thence BY a trunk road run 10
the Pacific ocean.
It's starting point or eastern terminus
should be Memphis, because the system
OF railroads Of Tennessee. North Ala
mama, North Mississippi Western Caro-
inas, Kentucky and Virginia concen
trate in a larger degree at Memphis than
at any other point on the Mississippi
river; aud, in the words of Colonel
Thomas A. Scott, IAN extension to
Memphis will give railroad connections
through the whole of Tennessee, Ken.
lucky, Virginia, and the States east
thereof
Memphis should be the eastern termi.
nos Of a Southern Pacific because it is
at a point on the Mississippi river of
perpetual navigation for the largest
steamboats,, unobstructed by low water
or BY ice. 1t is the northern terminus
Of Southern steamboat lines, carrying
an annual tonnage OF the products Of the
Mississippi valley whose value can be
estimated only BY millions Of moaey. 1t
can therefore be asserted that there is no
other point which can so we'll Gccommo.
date and embrace the interests of all the
States east Of the Mississippi river.
The Memphis chamber Of commerce
is justified 10 making this appeal in be
half OF the Southern Pacific road from
the Mississippi river to the Pacific coast
because it isa national work in which
every citizen of the republic has a direct
and important interest.
To the twelve million Of people living
between the Ohio river and the Gulf Of
Mexico, and between the Potomac river
and the capes Of Florida, it is a com
mereial necessity.
The Southern States caA most Justly
ask from the national government this
great work as al act Of justice since
there have been expended on the North.
ern States and Territories one hundred
and seventy Eve million dollars of public
moneys for public improvements, while
in the Southern States and Territories
the public moneys for public works have
been only nineteen million dollars.
The following resolution by Mr.. Clspp
was adopted:
Resolved, That the Southern t~ranscon.
tinental railway line should connect the
waters OF the Mississippi river by a direct
road from Memphis with the waters Of
the Pacific ocean; that we earnestly
urge the members of congress from Ten.
nesses to insist upon making Memphis
its eastern terminus, aud we appeal to
all the members of congress from the
South to aid in securing the construction
Of this great work during the present sea.
sion Of congress.
A resolution wal adopted asking the
mayor to call a public meeting at the
Pssbody Hotel. In compliance with
this resolution Mayer Flippin made the
following announcement:
10 accordance with the foregoing. a
meeting of the citizens Of the city will
be held at the time and place assigned.
and for the purposes indicated. 1t is
hoped that every citizen, who has at
heart the good OF the city, will be in at.
tendance.
JoHS R. FLlPPly, Mayor.
March 20, 1878.