Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-28
Il. VvHITMONE,
Publisher and Proprietor.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.


Memphis is on the thirty-ffth
parallel, midway between the Gulf
and the Northern lakes. She has
roads running to Charleston, Louis
vile, Mobile, Nashville, Cairo, and
is connected with various import
ant points in the North, South and
the East, as well as with Little
Rock and Fort Smith, in our own
State, in the West. She is above
overflow and is rarely visited by
epidemics, and then only for brief
period. In a military point of view
and for the rapid transit Of the mail
bags, Memphis with her myriad
connections with the railroads of
the country has great advantages
in her favor. No city in the West
can equal her claims in this respect.
Again, her geography and typogra-
ply are strong physical claims for
the terminus-within easy reach of
all the important cities of the Union
by railroads already built and others
projected-situated on a high bluff
on the banks of the Mississippi
river, whose waters are navigable
the year around; with railroads ra-
dating to every city on the Allan
tic coast and surrounded with the
most productive soil on the conti-
nent, and possessing a mild, salu-
brious climate, she furnishes a po-
sition rot possessed by any other
city on the Father of Waters.
Until the wrangling in congress
over the terminus, we thought that
the question had been settled long
ago in favor of Memphis; it is set
tied in her favor, and has been for
many years, by the common sense
of the country.
Take down the map and you will
observe that with Memphis as the
starting point, a straight line to
Longview, Texas, will pass through
a section of country not surpassed
in fertility of soil by any country
on the globe-it passes through the
White and Arkansas river valleys,
Pine Bluff, Camden in Arkansas,
and Jefferson, Texas. From Long
view east it is an air line to Vicks-
burg, with only about one hundred
miles of road to be built. A small
outlay would connect with New
Orleans. The Iron Mountain con.
meets at Jefferson, Texas. When
the road between Pine Bluff and
Little Rock iscompleted Fort Smith
and Little Rock will have an east
ern connection with at Pine Bluff,
and u southern connection through
the Iron Mountain road. Chicot
will tap it at this point through the
L. R., NJ. R. and T. r. r., and at
Camden, through the 0uachita and
Red River railroad, by way of Mon
ticello and Warren. Thus it seems
that not only has nature conspired
to make Memphis the eastern ter
minus of this road, but the various
roads that have been built and are
now in contemplation have been SO
disposed as to be feeders to the
grand trunk line, thus placing all
the important cities of the country
in close connection with the same
without prejudice to their future
interests. Ii this road is located
on the principle of the greatest
good to the greatest number, the
claim in favor Of Memphis is incon.
testable. So far VIC have not heard,
nor do we believe sound OBJ lection
can be urged against the establish
ment Of the eastern terminus al
Memphis.
IN every respect the Location ol
the road from Memphis to Long.
view, TT. Worth, and III Peso, in
Texas, thence to San Diego, on the
Pacific coast, will be productive ol
more good to the whole country
than any other route, and, what +
an important consideration, with
out prejudice or injury to other
localities. 1t will develop q scope
of country, every foot of which is
rich, alluyial soil, and capable Of
producing a bale Of cotton to the
acre. TO the people of the great
! Southwest and Mexico it will afford