Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-06
THE X AS AND PACIFIC
RAILWAY.
Views Of Col. G. n. KCGheo in Re-
gard to the Eastern Terminus.
Memphis will be'AbIe to take Care Of
Herself,

and Charleston railroad, and general
manager Of the united lines from Mem
phis to Bristol, was in the city last week
on business. Knowing him to be one Of
the best posted, most energetic aud sue.
c%essful railroad men ia the South, a
LEDGER representative called upon him
at his hotel Saturday e~vesing to ascer-
tain his views IN regard to the chances
of the Texas and Pacific railway bill.
Entering his room in response to a cheer
full come H." our representative
found Colonel McGhee alone, With an
after dinner cigar and his baggage
packed ready to leave in an hour or .wo
for Chattanooga. He was very cordial,
as usual, and quite ready to talk about
the subject introduced, The following
is substantially the result Of the inter
view:
Experimentation l learn that
you are recently from Washington. Did
you confer with the friends of the Texas
and Pacific railway, or form an idea as
to its chances this session?
Colonel McGhee--I did. l remained
there several days and Investigated the
question as thoroughly as possible in the
time.
Rep.-We are deeply interested here.
as you doubtless know, and many of our
people are disposed to insist that Mem.
phis shall be recognized as the eastern
terminus as a condition Of their hearty
support OF the measure.
Colonel McG.-Yes, l notice that the
question which SCENE now to engross the
public mind Of the city of Memphis is
not whether congress will aid the con-
struction Of the Texas and Pacific Rail-
way Company SO as to enable it to COM
plete q line from the Mississippi river to
the Pacific ocean, but whether Memphis
shall be made the eastern terminus of
that line.
Rsp.-Well. many of our people know.
ing Of your experience and facilities for
obtaining correct information and form
ing correct conclusions, would like to
know your views on this subject.
Coloael MEG The two bills reported
to cOngress-one by Mr.. House. Of Ten.
nessee, and the other by Mr.. Matthews,
to the ssnats-have provisions similar,
or nearly SO, in the twelfth section OF the
bill, which provides for the extension of
the Texas and Pacific railEay to the
Mississippi river at a point to be Fixed in
the manner designated, which point
shall not be further north than the city
OF Memphis.
Taking = bill out ofhis satchel, Colonel
McGhee continued:
The bill provides that, in order to
" make and perfect the highway afore.
said in such manner as may do equal
and exact justice to all sections OF the
country to be effected thereby, it shall
be the duty of the President Of the
United States, within sixty days after
the passage Of this act, to appoint FIVE
commissioners, three of whom shall be
the three engineer officers OF the United
States highest in rank, and all of them
wholly unconnected with and free from
all personal or corporate interest in any
O.. the proposed routes between Texas
aud the Mississippi river, and also free
from all personal or corporate interest
in any railroad company from any point
On or connecting with the Mississippi
river aud the Atlantic or Gulf coast,
whose duty it shall be to examine the
various proposed routes between the
Mississippi river and the present con.
structed road Of the Texas aud Pacific
Railway Company; and after consider.
ing all questions Of distance, cost, and
transportation routes, 10 view Of foreign
as well as domestic trade and com.
merce, and also in view of an eligible
connection with the Atlantic seaboard.
to report where in their judgment tie
proposed addition eastward Of the pres.
ent main trunk line Of the Texas and
Pacific Railway Company shall connect
With The present line, and where it shall
connect with the Mississippi river; pro
vided, that the point of connection with
the Mississippi river shall not be farther
north than the city Of Memphis, Tenn. F.;
and that their report if approved BY the
President OF the United States, shall be
6nal and conclusive in determining the
location Of the eastern connection with
the Mississippi river"
Rep.-This would seem to be a pro.
vision in favor of no particular interest
or locality, but leaving the question open
for the point to be fixed and ascertain
according to the demands of trade anC
commerce.
Colonel NEG -Exactly so. Memphis
claiming as she does superior advan
tages over any other locality for the east
ern terminus Of the road, will then hav,
an opportunity to present her claims tC
a fair aud impartial tribunal, interested
in no conceivable way, either for the GOV
eminent or the company, but charge,
alone with the responsibility Of 6xini
that terminus, in the interest, and solel,
in the interest, Of the trade and CON
mercs of the gulf and Eastern Atlanti
ports.
Rep How docs Memphis compar
with Vicksburg2
Colonel McG.-Memphis has very ST
perier advantages over what she fears
her only rival, to.wit, Vicksburg Sd
r has already an established commerce.
reputation. In addition to her wat,
-