Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-06

at Humboldt; the Mississippi Central al
Milan; the Nashville, Chattanooga aud
St. Louis line at Mackenzie, going d.
rect to Louisville. and having an outlet
to the Northwest as we'll as to the North
and East from that point, and there con
Meeting with one of the leased lines of
the Pennsylvania Central.
Rep.-But hal is not all2
ColoRel McGhee--I was going on to
say: Memphis has also the Mississippi
River and Paducah road, now almost
finished, which gives her a direct connee.
ton with Paducah, and the system Of
roads rsdisting from that point. She
has also the Mississippi and Tennessee
road, which penetrates the heart of Mis-.
sissippi and leads direct, With its connec.
tons, TO the city Of New Orleans.
Thus it would seem that Memphis
could present herself in the most favor.
able attitude possible, to a board selected
altogether 10 the interest of the com
merce Of the country.
Rep--WhAt would you say in reply
to the argument sometimes made, that
the Texas and Pacific railway company
is organized aud being promoted in the
interest of the Pennsylvania Ceutral2,
Colonel Mega glance at the map
aud table of distances will show that
freight or passengers going from the
Texas and Pacific via Memphis, SHOULD
a line be constructed to this poiut)
would be Of as much benefit to the
Pennsylvania Central, striking one OF its
lines at Louisville, as if sent by way Of
ST. Loais. For it must not be forgotten
that the Texas and Pacific would get the
haul from Marshall, Texarkana or JEFF
%ferson, whichever point was selected, TO
Memphis; whereas, if sent by way of st.
Louis, neither the Texas and Pacific
nor the Pennsylvania Central would get
any part of the haul between Texarkana
or Sherman, as the case might be, to S..
Louis. Thus the Texas and Pacific
would lose the profits of the haul be-
tween $50 and 800 miles, which would
not be gained by the pennsylvania Cen
trail.
The distance from Memphis to St.
Louis is 377 miles. The whole distance
from Texarkana to St. Louis is 400 miles.
Neither the Texas and Pacific not the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad Company
owns any interest in the lines between
Texas aud St. Louisa fact, which, if
doubted, can be easily sseertainad.
Rsp.--It has been said that Yicksburg
would most probably get the eastern con-
u%eclion because of its closer proximity
to the Texas aud Pacific road, aud be-
cause of the fact that the line connecting
her Herewith is partially completed.
Colonel McG.-No intelligent man
who would look at the facts as they are
could doubt for a moment that with or
without the aid Of the Texas and Pacific
rosd. Yicksburg will have the connection
long before the main line can be built,
with all the aid the government can give
to the main line.
Rep.-Whst are the aims and chances
Of New Orleans?
Colonel McG.-It is now also a set
tied fact that New O.leaus will have q
connection, for she is building a line
very rapidly, and with the aid given to
the New Orleans Pacific by a recent act
of the legislature, the early completion
Of that line becomes a fixed fact.
Rep.-But would it be so apparent to
the commission that Memphis would
have a connection?
Colonel McG,-Perhapl not. There.
fore When it is considered that Memphis
has superior commercial advantages over
Vicksburg, and that. as a distributing
point, she is more central 10 the eastern
Atlantic coast than Vieksburg, these
facts would largely Increase the proba-
bilities of Memphis being fixed upon
as the eastern terminus.
Rep.-Would not the greater distance
cost the government more2
Colonel McG.-It would not, because
that part Of the liue is to be constructed
without the aid of the government. A
majority Of the commission are United
States engineers, and their professional
reputation would insure their votes
being cast 10 favor Of the NEST impor.
tant and advantageous commercial
point. If Memphis has the advantage
as she claims she has-she need have no
fear OF the result. If she has not the
advantages she claims, then the road
ought not to b. constructed to Memphis;
for a line designed to benefit the South
primarily, and at the same time promote
the interests Of the whole nation, must
not be located anywhere in the advan.
tsge merely Of any particular city or
town.
Rep.-It would seem, therefore, that
the wiser policy for Memphis to pursue
is to aid in the passage of the DILL as it
is.
Colonel McG-Yes, sir; and to be
prepared to show the commission, when
organized, the advantages she possesses
over all other points. For it is most
manifest that in the face Of rival claims,