Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-19
THE COUP D'ETAT OF THEL, Nae.
S. RAILROAD.

The topic of the day in railroad and
business circles in Memphis, Nash
vile, Atlanta, Louisville, Cincinnati
and other cities is the utter breaking
up of Colonel Coles splendid railroad
combination and the piece of strategy
by which this was accomplished, and
the Louisville and Nashville railroad
becomes controller of the Nashville
and Chattanooga railroad and master
of the Southern railroad situation.
No wonder that Nashville was as
founded when it was found out that
Colonel Coles prospective through
line from st. Louis to Savannah,
Georgia, where it was to
connect with a line Of
steamers to Europe had fallen to
pieces. Louisville, of course, is de-
lighted, while at Cincinnati there must
be weeping and gnashing Of teeth
Such gigantic stride at consolidation
has never before been made on the
chess board of Southern railroads.
1t is impossible at this distance aud
from our standpoint to foresee the
result. 1t is understood, however,
that Col. V. X. Stephenson, the origi-
nal president as we'll as builder of the
Nashville & Chattanooga railroad, sold
out to Dr. Standiford, president of the
LIN. & G. S. r. R., and that the en-
tire line from Hickman, KY, to Chat
tanooga will now change hands. Col.
Cole is man of big brain and of great
forceOf character executive ability
In the last few months he made such
bold and successful moves as to win
the title of King Cole. 1t seems
however that all his great plans have
been thwarted. He is a splendid gen.
tleman as well as railroad man, and
we sincerely trust that his personal
fortune is not injured by this seeming
failure. The success of this scheme
would have made Savannah a great
port, and done much to develop the
resources and the trade of the South
DR.. Standiford, however, may do the
same thing. and we think he will dc
more before long by reaching across
the Mississippi river at this point and
assisting in the construction of line
to tap the railroad system Of
Texas at Texarkana or Jeffer
son. One thing is assured fol
the present, the great Cincinnati
Southern railway just completed at al
immense cost, will stop at Chattanoog;
or, as some one has said facetiousl.
at the Stanton House. Cincinnati spen
the last dollar she could raise to builC
this road, and is in no condition 70 ex
tend it further South. Chattanooga
and Nashville cannot possibly gail
anything by this change, and it re
mains to be seen how Memphis vii
be affected. We hope for the best
DR.. Standiford's policy has general.
been fair and liberal, and we think h
cap now afford to be more libera
than ever before. One effect vii
probably be to cut off through ex
press business from here to NeV
York by the Southern route
Thirty miles Of the route, that is
the gap from Stephenson t.
Chattanooga will be owned by tn
louisville, Nashville and Great South
ern railroad. The Memphis an,
Charleston railroad will be at it
mercy, or at least, at a great disadvan
tAge. 1t is quite out Of the question
for the Memphis and Charleston t
build a line around or over Lookou
Mountain. There is a misunderstood
ing between the Southern expires
company and the Louisville railroad
company, or rather, ws should say, a
open warfare. Henceiorth there ca
be no competition in the express busi
ness between Memphis and the easter
cities unless under the old contract
Many other questions will arise whic
cannot be settled for sometime t
come. 1t is limited or suspected tina
Jay Gould or Vanderbilt may have
hand in this business. Further de
velopments will be awaited with grea
interest. We can just say that Mem
phis has little to loose, everything t
gain.
TO-DAY, the 10Th of January, is tn
anniversary ofthe battle ofMill Sprinl
F.-I 4 l., A. pe,.a.- ,,,,1 10, n nv, Xoll