Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-12
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
QUESTION.

THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
QUESTION.
The chamber of commerce met yester-
day afternoon and considered the quOs-
ton of a Southern Pacific railroad, which
has so long been aGitated and is still
pending in congress. The attendance
was large and the proceedings important.
A letter from Colonel Casey Young,
which appears in our local report, was
read, aud resolutions we're adopted in
dorsing the bill introduced into the sen
ate Of the Uaited States by Senator
Johnston, Of Virginis, declaring that tie
ea,tern terminus Of the Texas and Pa
ci6s railroad should be on the east bank
of the Mississippi, and requesting our
representative, Hon. Casey Young, to
secure for Memphis such eastern termi'
nal headquarters, and that bis official
and personal efforts in every honorable
way be used to accomplish such results.
A committee, with Colonel Kellar as
chairman, was appointed to work in the
interest Of Memphis under the resolu-
tons adopted. Colonel Kellar, being
called upon, made a very clear and in
teresting statement concerning the pros
pects of the Southern Pacific railroad,
and gave a concise history of the various
bills introduced on the subject in the
present and last congress. He, too, was
axious to have the road come to Mem.
phis, and intimated that be would be
willing to let Huntington come this way
as far as FL Paso aud make the connec-
ton there-anything to make Memphis
q terminal point. Colonel Clapp ex-
pressed himself to the same effect. Upon
this point we are inclined to differ with
Colsnel Kellar and other members Of the
Chamber of Commerce. HuntiDgdon's
road is but a continuation OF the Union
Pacific monopoly, which if built to
FL Paso could easily be extended to Aus
tin or San Antonio, and thence reach
tide-water at Houston over roads already
built. H~untingdon's monopoly would
then enclose this country in the shape Of
an inverted V, with the apex touching
the Pacific at San Francisco. Memphis
and all this country from Norfolk to Little
Rock would only tap the southern prong
OF that letter V at Ell Paso, as Memphis
now taps the Iron Mountain railway at
Little Rock. Norfolk and Memphis
would have no road or connection direct
to San Diego except over a branch that
Huntingdon might build aud would sb-
solutely control. The road already
built to the Pacific we know is nomi.
aally in the hands Of more than one
company, but practically that is only
so ss to the division Of profits. So far
as the public is concerned, it might al
we'll all be under one management, fol
their interests are identical and contin
usus. But whenever the Texas and Pa
ci6c road meets Huntingdon's at K
Paso, the extreme western point in Tex
as, there is a conflict Of interests, anC
the South is cut of from San Diego
aver as we are cut of now from Texa
trade by the discriminating tariffs ant
management Of the Iron Mountain rail
way. 1t may be said in reply to thi
theory that congress a make such lin
~itatiens in the bill to be passed thu
H~untingdol's road could not be used t
discriminate against the direct throup
route from Memphis to Ell Psso, but Ii
roads controlled by Huntingdon and b
associates have accumulated such va
power, in money as we'll as politics
influence, that 1t would be an ca,
matter to override or evade the law.
Memphis is only seeking Texas Al
Mexican trade a road from here to Sa
Antonio would answer every purpos
Such a road, however, would not be n
tional in its character, and would &C
tainly fail before congress unless presst
through by those who are inimicaI to
real transcontinental Southern line. v
agree with Colonel Keller, that there a
many interests to harmonic before al
OF the bills pending in congress a
passed. But q compromise with Huntiu
don would be worst Of all for the upper ii
Of Southern States. We are not certa
that a road direct from Vicksburg to 81
Diego would not be a greater benefit
all this part Of the country than a Tex
and Pacific railroad with an eastern t.
minAl point at Memphis aud a weste
terminus at Ri Paso. General John
Brown expresses himself very clearly
o letter to the Appeal Of this mornir
wherein be says;
Believing, as | do, that the completi
Of the Texas and Pacific line, so as
connect the Mississippi river with /
Pacific coast by the most direct Iii
would do more than any other one ent
prise eonld to build up the PROSTATE q