Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-04
ANOTHER RAILROAD PROJECT.
The Memphis, Fort scott and Colorado
Railroad

EDIToRs APPEAL hand you herewith
the Fort Scott Herald, OF November 2lst, con"
tanning articles relative to the Memphis, sort
Scott and Colorado railroad. This question
is being thoroughly canvassed here. The
discrimination against this county by tue
powerful companies owning the roads that
now move the produce OF this vast graln-
growing county make these people exceed
lngly anxious for direct communication with
Memphis. And there are considerations
which should excite Memphis to bestir her
self In this matter, and that at once. The
Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf railroad
is now proposing an extension OF its line
from this point to Van Buren,, connecting
with the Little Rock and Fort Smith road.
in favor of Chicago. You can see
the necessity for Memphis to
move in this matter. Examine your
geographical position and you can seeat once
the force of these suggestions. Let this con-
nectlon be made and 1t directs the trade OF
northwestern Arkansas from you, and if this
road is built as far as Van Buren, it will be
continued to Texas. thus cutting off that
trade. The proposition is to build a narrow
gauge road by way of Springfield, Missouri,
and Jacksonport, Arkansas, to Memphis, thus
making a direct line, and passing through a
country whose local trade vii! make the road
paying investment. But the largest item
IN FAVOR OF memphis IS lHo grain Urdu6 lndG
1t will bring there. This route will take the
Kansas and western Missouri grain to Mem
phis, because it will be the shortest way to
waterway. | give you these items, and hope
it may not be long before Memphis will be
connected with this great field. Truly yours,
NJ. L. BROWN.
Fort Scott (Kans.) Herald: 'The Herald
has heretofore taken occasion to lay before
the people of Bourbon county the reasonable
objections to the voting Of bonds in aid OF
the Memphis railroad. If the same clrcum-
| stances existed to-day as three months ago,
we should feel it our duty to continue to OBJ
| iect to the voting of bonds. Recent develop
ments in regard to our shipping facilities
from Fort Scott warn US that our city and
county are at the mercy of corporations that
choose to be the enemies of our interests as
people. 1t is our duty to protect ourselves
| at any reasonable cost, and it iG, therefore,
| eminently proper that We look at the facts,
and weigh the considerations IN favor Of GO
| ing further in debt to secure most desirable
| thing. In another column we pint COM
| munication from Or. Sunderlin on the sub
.iect, in which are set forth the various in
ducements for the new read. The commuul-
cation is worthy of a careful study. In addi-
ton to his points, there arises the potent
question:: Can we afford to vote the bonds?'
The answer can be tersely made: we can
| afford almost anything that will materially
improve our condition and prospects, If
this road shall be carried forward in good
faith, it will do for US all that Dr.. Sunder-
lin says ii willard more. 4 meeting was
held in the operahouse, on Saturday evening,
to discuss the Memphis, Fort Scott and Colo
RADIO railroad project. An expression of opin-
ion in favor of the road was made by Colonel
Wilson, Dr.. Sanger, Judge Waters, Isaac
construction OF this road is vital necessity to
this locality. So far as railroad facilities are
concerned. the present roads we have are
practically valueless to the people of Bourbon
county, and especially to the city of Fort
Scott. In the matter of freights, both ways,
the discrimination against our local interests
is pronounced. The roads have treated us
with bad faith continually, and our only de-
Tense against them Is to have the new road.
Thls being the case, it becomes the duty of
all citizens to look carefully into the advan-
tages to be derived from the proposed Mem
phis road. Our business men and farmers
are especially qualified by experience to tes
ufy to the extreme dizziness Of everything.
Business IS at q complete standstlll. Fort
Scott possesses the location necessary to mako
a city Of splendid Wholesale and manufac-
turing Importance. Oar merchants aud man
ufacturers are already shipping supplies
TO all points within q hundred miles
north, and three hundred miles to ward the
other points of the compass. With this new
road our commerce, agricultural and mechan-
ical products, will be pushed southeast, and
directly west to the Rocky mountains, COM
pleting our i'm portance as "a great center of
trade. Let any mau look the ground over
and he will be enabled to readily see the
truth of this assertion. 1t has heretofore
been shown how the new road will benefit
our country in the way of increased prices of
of produce and coal; and decreased prices of
lumber, semi-tropical products, etc. 1t is
hardly necessary to enter into discussion of
the utility of the proposed road. The ques-
ton for our taxpayers is, can they afford to
vote bonds to secure it? If they think they
caa, LEI them at once decide and put the en-
terprise into shape. The men who propose
to construct the road are ready to proceed
with the work at once. and let the question
be settled ono way or the other. The Rad will
be great advantage, and if it shall be built
there will be a new impetus to the business
of the city and county,