Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-10
MEMPHIS & KANSAS CITY
RAILROAD.
Length 48I kiIss--TO be CON-
pIeted by March Next.
The Present Working Force to be
Doubled.
A Branch IN he pn;lt "a T;+tIa pool,
A Branch to be Built to Little Rock,
Little Rock Gazette, 9th.

phis railroad, is spending fow days
at his home in this city. Several days
since the Gazette reporter received
information that the road with which
Mr. Erb is connected, contemplated
the construction Of a branch to this
city. With view of acertaining the
correctness of this report, and to pick
up such facts relating to the road as was
possible, the reporter called upon Mr..
Erb at his Office yesterday.
Yes, said the attorney, your in
formation is correct. Our company
has positively decided to build line
to Little Rock, aud the business men
of the city may make their plans and
build accordingly, for it is certainty.
No, l cannot tell you from what point
on the main line we shall start. |
know, of course, but we are not yet
ready for the public aud other corpo.
rations to be advised of our inten-
tions."
"Will the branch come in from the
northeast or the northwest" asked
the reporter.
u cannot let you know, for that is
exactly what We are concealing."
rs work to commence on the branch
immediately"
mo; We expected to commence
soon, but the contractors are all behind
with their work. Mr.. Nettleton, the
President of the company, came down
the line to look after the work and to
see about the branch, and remained at
Walnut Ridge all last week"
But if the contractors pick up, you
will commence the brancl?"
Without a doubt. We are only
anxious to complete the main line.
Next comes the branch"
DO you honestly believe you will
be running trains into Little Rock in
two years2p
In two years? OH yes; am more
than positive our trains from Kansas
City will be here before the end of
next year. We shall, at the latest,
commence its construction next
spring"
What is your object in building to
Little Rock?"
ITO touch the roads centering here
and to do the wheat carrying and lum-
Der business. and also to make a new
line with the Paramore connection to
st. Louis"
What will be the distance to Kan
sas City,"
From Little Rock, about 40
miles "
"Well, Mr.. Erb," continued the
reporter, II should like to know any.
thing concerning your road that you
are willing to impart."
You probably know our line to
Memphis is an extension of the old
Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf rail
road. That is finished to Springfield,
Mo. South of Springfield to the
Arkansaw State line thy name is
Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis
On this division forty. one miles Of
track is laid, and trains commence to-
day running to the end of the track.
Lovelsnd Station. This point is
about eighty miles north of the
Arkansaw line. The track laying
force, owing to the fact that the con-
tractors are so slow, was last week
taken off and sent to Kansas, where
they are now laying the track on a
short branch road. The men will be
brought back by the first of next
month, by which time it is hoped that
the contractors will have progressed
sufficiently to avoid any stoppage of
track laying in the future"
AT what point will the line enter
Arkansaw2"
AT Mammoth Spring, Fulton
county"
This is Colonel Cobb's bonanza,
isn't itP"
"Yes, we have established Augusta
Station three and one half miles north |
of the Spring, and will make it the |
end of division" l."
How many principal contractors |
are there now at work."
"Three. The first is Patrick & |
Reid, of Concordia, Kansas, whose |
work extends from north of Augusta |
to point fifteen miles north of Pow
hatan, Lawrence county. The next is |
Henry Boas, whose work extends to |
Black river, where we make the cross
ing The third is Bethune, Smith & |
Go. Bethune, you know, was formerly |
with the Iron Mountain folks. Their |
work extends from Black river to the |
Mississippi river. Work is now pro |
crossing on every mile of the road. |
The total force, which is one thousand |
laborers and FIVE hundred teams, has |
been ordered doubled, and, in fact,
must be doubled inside of three
weeks"
Have you made a contract with
the Iron Mountain by which they are
to use a portion of your road for the
Memphis branch?"
Yes, we have a compact with them,
by which they are to run on our track |
from Nettleton to Memphis" !"
You are probably aware that the
Iron Mountain has filed papers for a
branch to Z TT Smith,"
. Yes, but / doubt if they build it.
They may, however, build from Beebe
across to Conway, as that would be a
big saving in travel"
In conclusion Mr.. Erb said. Our
entire track is to be steel rails, our
bridges iron. The distance from
Kansas City to Memphis is 48l miles,
and we shall get to Memphis by the
st of Morob navt "