Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.

AcnANuAONi NtoJ O~Ns AASAS
seems to be a strong probability, if not
an absolute certainty, that the bill for
the construction Of the railroad
through the Indian Territory, from
Ft. Smith to Wichita, Kansas, will
pass this session of congress. The
house committee on railroads and
canals have unanimously agreed to re-
port the bill to the house, and Col.
Slemmons, of Arkansas. is charged
with the duty Of making the report.
There has been quite a spirited con-
test for the right of way, and four
bills have been introduced, each seek
ing to obtain it. The Memphis inter
est has been we'll protected by
Col. Young, aided by Senator
Harris and the Mississippi and Arkan-
sas delegations, and particularly byCol.
Manning, who has devoted much time
to assisting Col. Youngin harmonizing
opposing factions. After two months
of unavailingstrif it was finally agreed
that Col. Young, Senator Harris, Col.
Manning and Col. Dunn, with such
others of the Arkansas and Mississippi
delegations as might desire to take
part in the matter of compromise
should decide which company should
have the right Of way. This resulted
in the presentation of a bill by Col.
Young in which the majority Of the
incorporates are stockholders, or
officers of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fee railroad, which, Of course,
gives that company the control of the
proposed road. This was deemed
necessary for several reasons, Of which
may be named the following: That
company has abundant mean to build
and equip the road; the Eft. Smith
aud Little Rock road is in accord with
the A.. L. q S. f., and will consolidate
with them, or so harmonic as to unite
as one line the A. t. & S. f. has a
branch from its main line at Newton
down through Wichita to the line of
the Indian Territory already built
about 80 miles in length. 1t also has
connections through to the Pacific
coast, and is building now from Al
buquerque, New Mexico, to Guaymas
on the Pacific coast, and from
the city of Mexico, via Ell Paso,
to Albuquerque, and also from
Santa Fe to San Francisco with per-
haps a branch to San Diego). These
lines are all under contract, with large
forces at work upon them, the stock
all subscribed, and a three years limit
upon their completion; but it is fully
expected they will be completed in
two years. The basis upon which
Col. Young and Senator Harris and
the other members named, agreed
with this company was the agreement
Of the A. T. Il s. f. Co.. to build the
road through to TT. Smith and to make
such agreements with the Little Rock
e. TT. Smith and Memphis x Little
Rock roads as to secure through pas
senger and freight traffic without
change or break Cfbulk to Memphis.
These agreements have all been per
fected and are in the hands of Mr.. g.
A. Hanson, who was the mover of the
scheme and has been incessant to Sc
cure its accomplishment. The A. T.
q S. f. promise that, if from any
cause these combinations are broken,
they would build independent lines
through Arkansas to Memphis. The
effect of this railway combination will
be to make Memphis the distributing
point for the bacon, -four and grain
from the west to the south as we'll as
for the sugar, coffee, fruits, etc, from
the South to the west. 1t will also
break the power OF the Iron Mountain
road over the Texas trade by opening
a competing line via. Fl. Smith to
Galveston and all connecting points.
This is not all-these gentlemen have
already put on foot a scheme to 90
forward, as soon as Memphis is reach
ed by this western line, and build an
air line from Memphis to the Atlantic
coast, Brunswick, Georgia, being now
the favored terminal point. Investi-
cations have shown that this is by far
the shortest route to Europe for cot.
ton aud grain, and that it can be
carried through at comparatively high
rates and still defy competition by any
other route on account of reduced
mileage by rail. Memphis has a
silver lining looming up under hei
dark clouds. SALTUsM oHEGAN.