Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-22
Importance of a Memphis Direct
Texes Connection.
Feeling Of the People AlOrg the Pro.
posed Line.
Facts and snggsstiSns-What may
soon be Gained or Lost.
PrSE BLurr. AK, Arm. 1873.

AAAlAk HEGM nNeGuN eNAAN AAAAC w a
business trip through Texas ard Arkan.
sss. and today obtaining a copy Of the
LEDGRR, | note with agreeable surprise
the energy our business men aud CAPT.
talists manifest in the subjee; of secur.
ing the terminus Of the Southern Pacific
railroad. The time is at hand which Is
10 forever decide this question, aud q
merchants cannot be too wstchiul Of
events bearing directly or ind reotlY
upon the interests OF Memphis. Your
recent concerted action on the subject,
and the speeches delivered by your
prominent men have been read and fully
commented on BY the people OF this our
/ sister STATE aRd we'll wlsher in all things
looking toward future development
aud commercial progress. 1t may not
be amiss to give you the result Of inior.
nation obtained at different points |
have touched at, the sentiments OF the
people on the subject, etc, etc. Haste
makes waste. is gn old but true saying,
and since we have been lazily dreaming
so long, may it not be well to be pru
deuty slow rather than incOnsiderately
last nov. The scheme was open to us,
and held out smilingly aud invitingly as
a lap Of plenty years ago; the rich fields
Of a country with neve tending resources
lay With all her untold treasures at our
door begging, and while we serenely
dreamed away the years upon the banks
Of the mighty Mississippi in the good
city Of Memphis, those treasures were
coveted and lawfully seized BY another.
You will say IN reply, I'VE admit ell this,
but we did not have the money; the war
had impoverished us, and we had come
to regard all railroad schemes as wild.
cat; besides, we needed our money in
our business" All this is trne in
part only. You bad the money to spare;
and ifyou bad often been feeeed by wild.
cat schemes. Why did you not organize
among yourselves, aud by concert OF an-
ton aud uoited capital, build for your
selves the very works you now deem 30
important, and which you must have
seen then as well as now? We stumble
upon truths slowly, and experience
cOzes By stages more or less easy, aud
so you are nov very justly much con-
cerued about the action congress will
take With regard to tie Southern Pacific,
aud more particularly securing to Mem.
phis at least a branch connection. Be
pleased to remember you have Deighbors;
look also 8 little toward them, for they
have busy heads and hands, and may be
changed from friends 10 enemies on this
Issue. The advice Of those who warn
against opposition 10 all other points
memphis being excluded is both wise
and just, for If Memphis fails TO get the
connection BY government aid, the very
necessity Of things will give it 10 her
without, and that without either material
damage or delay. / am not at all posted
in these matters; they are out OF my line,
bat while | hold myself open to ques.
ton, | cannot forbear the bold assertion
Of my conviction that the money could
and would be raised within thirty days
after the matter was definitely settled
that either Of the competing points had
been selected instead OF Memphis.
Looking over a file of late papers /
end the following from the Denver
Tribune:
As nearly as can be learned, il is the
intention Of the Atchison, topeka and
Santa Fe company to push their road
through Immediately TO a junction with
he South Pacific railroad, now past
Fort Yuma on its way through Southern
Arizonia to Tuscon. This connection
bsirg made, the eastern end Of the road
will be extended from Wichita, Kansas,
TO Memphis, Tenn forming a southern
route 10 California foil three hundred
miles shorter than Colonel Tom Scotts
proposed lise. A number Of Boston
capitalists have formed a pool OF s., 1000.
O00 to give this enterprise a start, and
that portion Of the work living between
the Aichison, Topeka and Santa Fe road
aud Tuscon, Arizona, will be pushed for.
ward with all the vigor that skilled en-.
cheering and plenty Of money can give
Where the new extension will leave the
present line Of the road has not yet been
decided, bat more than likely ct some
paint between La Junls and Pueblo
The article goes on 10 say: THE
building Of this new line will open up
two routes to the South as well az to the
East. 1t is expected that the new line
will pass through many Of the principal
towns Of New Mexico, including Santa
Fe. Las Vegas and others. The pro-
posed line up the Arkansas toward the
California Guleh and the San Juan coun.
try has been abandoned, the railroad
company intending 70 devote all their
resources and energies 10 the eoustruc
lion Of their great rans,continental
line"
l also learn from another paper that
the Colorado papers are full Of this
scheme. that work will be actively pur.
sued on the extension Of the Atchison,
Topeka aud Santa fe, aud contrac )
actually let for the line from /. Junis.
Colorado, southwest 10 Las Vegas in
New Mexico. Also that surveying par.
des are nov in the field, and the com.
pany already began grading through the
hatOn Pass ia order TO secure the char.
Ter BY bret occupation. The New Mexico
legislature, 1t seems, has recently passed
very liberal laws fayoring this and other
railroad schemes penetrating her terrific.
! ries.
Now let US look nearer home and ace
what will be the result ia case we fail 10
get the proposed connection; and in
order 70 do this we must notice all The
lines Of railroads radiatiug through tbe
country vest Of and directly or indi.
rectly connected With Us. The Little
Rock, Mississippi River and Texas rail-
way Is now. and has been for ~sever.I
years, running from Arkansas City tc
Pine Bluff, a distance Of se~yeniyibres
miles. This line, also under one man.
agementi is completed about tWeHtyihree