Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-22
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.


If it is necessary to have the ter
minus of the Texas and Pacific rail
road on the Mississippi river, in
order to have a truly Southern Pa
cifc road not above the thirty-ffth
parallel, it is not the less essential
to this end that this terminus be at
such a point on that river as furn-
ishes the most ample and direct
railway and water communication
combined, with the South and
Southwest for transit and distribu-
ton. The map shows but one place
that falls within these limitations.
That is Memphis. 1t is the only
railroad center on the Mississippi
river having direct railway commu-
nication with all parts Of the South,
east of the great river, and connect
ing with all the Southern Atlantic
seaboard and with the Gulf Of
Mexico. Its waterways connecting
with the Southwest and Northwest
are just as complete as its railway
connection with the South Atlantic
seaports. To serve the South from
any other point on the Mississippi
river effectually would require the
entire reconstruction of the South
ern railroad system. This in
the impoverished condition Of
the Southern States and peo-
pie could not be accomplished
Even il another railroad cen
ter should be established on
the Mississippi river south of
Memphis, neither Kentucky, Vlr-
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee
nor Arkansas could be reached as
directly, as easily or over as short
routes of travel as from Memphis.
Besides all this, in selecting Mem
phis as the terminus of the trunk
line, the Northwest is incidentally
served, From no other point on
the river not higher than the thirty
fifth parallel could that section of
the union SO directly receive from
and transmit over a Southern line
to the Pacific. So patent are the
facilities Of Memphis as the eastern
terminus of a Southern trunk by
virtue Of its artificial outlets for
distribution and reception belong
ing to it as the only Southern rail-
way center on the Mississippi river,
as well as by its ~converging and
diverging waterways, that to omit
terminating a Southern trunk line
at this point is virtually to refuse
the South the besefts of a Pacific
railway for the present and for a
long period of time. Not until the
entire railroad system of the
South is reconstructed and an
other railway center is established
on the Mississippi south of the
35th parallel, could this section de.
rive any practical benefit from &
Southern route to the Pacific. The
advantages would be so partial, ant
confined to SO limited an area o
the South and Southwest, CONNER
cially as well as agriculturally, tha
the present generation could no
anticipate any a%ppreciable result
from this enterprise. We, however
wish to be understood as utterl
free from any jealousy as to othe
suggested termini on the Missi;
sippi river. In urging as the essen
tial feature of any really Souther
road across the continent its term
nation at Memphis, we regard on.
selves as speaking for the interest
of the whole South and Southwes.
If Memphis is not, by virtue of ii
situation, its water and rail COMMIT
nication, the best point from whic.
to dispense the benefits of a South
ern Pacific road, we recognize tina
we have no right to urge the claim
we do. That a branch to New Oh
leans ought to he provided for W
concede. But il is clear that Ii
expedieucy of this branch rests NJ
on her facilities for distributing I