Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-14

taps the Ohio river at Huntingdon, and
on Its way to Memphis touches Cincinnati,
Maysville. Dyersburg and Paducah. Like
a sponge, 1t will absorb the commerce Of
the country through which it passes, and
one Of these days trains will thunder
along every half hour. This road is a
great benefit, not only to the people along
Its line, but to the entire country, on ac-
count of the coal mines it will open. Coal
makes steam, steam drives machinery,
machinery does the business of manufac-
turers, and maRufactories give health and
tone to commerce. ] have never seen q
liner timber country, and this timber will
furnish the manufactures which use the
coal something tc do. By getting coal 80
or "a per ton cheaper, we can successfully
compete with Eastern cities in the way Of
manufactures"
Mr.. Quigley, Of Paducah, spoke next,
he remarked: at seems to me we are
here to celebrate the marriage of Tonnes
see and Kentucky. When I look back at
the past, remember this country as it WAS,
and look around me at an unbroken line
of railroad. L think what a wonderful
Imagination the old residents must have
had to imagine this gathering and its pur-
pose here to-day. l think Of Daniel
Boone and of Davy Crockett, and wonder
what they would say. / would like for
them to be here to-day to see what has
been accomplished. / would like TO
have Henry Clay here to rejoice for Ken
lucky, and Andrew jackson for Tennes-
see. This great highway is the means of
Transporting the sentiment and commerce
of nations, and such is this road at this
particular time and passage through this
country"
Judge r. ]. Morgan followed Mr..
Quigley by saying 1.-THE completion of
this road is a question of the greatest in
forest. We have dealt lately with politi-
cal interests too much, but the question il
now to look out at our material interests.
an enterprise that connects the Atlantic
with the Pacific. When this is done all
cur differences will be settled. Here the
speaker recite1 Owen Meredith's well
known poem, showing how hollow life
would be without the dinner, and per-
tectly agreed with the poet.) We are in
the habit of pressing ourselves too much,
and must not use the word we too much
after speaking of enterprises which have
developed themselves and are daily devel.
oping us. Whom hearing too much of
this l am wildly reminded of the lines
SO familiar;
Tickle me, Davy, tickle me true.
And in my turn I'll tickle you"
As soon as the laugh subsiled, Colonel
Barney Hughes wa yankod upon the
chicken coop and delivered himself of the
following: Gentlemen, l am not a public
speaker, though | own | am a tolerable
conyersationalist when negotiating a loan.
The railroad is the finest p0pulator known,
because it is not as slow as the other way.
Be considerable of the railroad and the
railroad will be considerable Of you. When
you want a special train TO ship n pound
of canary seed and can't get it, don't hold
an Indignation meeting. When the con-
ductor asks you for your fare don't pull a
six shooter and say, here it is;' because
the conductor don't own the road and
never will unless there Is q good local
travel. ! tell you what the conductor is
the most abused man in the world. l was
a conductor once and my sensibilities were
constantly shocked by rude passengers on
the train. | never went home happy
except on excursion days when only half
of them had tickets. A railroad is expen-
sive and must be worked like q nrm. !
When you buy a piece of land you can't
SAY TO it, now Two paid my money for
you, go TO work and yield me a crop.' |
You can't conceive the capital necessary
to Iun a road like this. l can't either,
but | would try if had it."
After the vocal fireworks came the
dinner, which was served in the mail car.
There was an abundance Of everything,
and no meal was ever eaton with a
keener relish. Every now and then
somebody declared that a cork
popped, but this is probably a mistake.
Nevertheless the empty bottle gatherer is !
richer than of yore. Glasses, TOO, were
heard TO clink in the midat of little human
knots gathered heFe and there, but it was
all mighty dark and mysterious,
After dinner President Hadden was
called up, and mounting the tender. he
said; when | Say that the country by
which VIC are surrounded is one Of the
finest in the Mississippi valley, / speak
from personal experience, because | have
travelled over every foot Of it on horse
back, followed every hog path and looked
in every hollow log, and / appreciate 10
the fullest extent the value to 1t ola great
railroad such as this. But as former
speakers have done this branch Of the sub
ject full justioe l will deal only with
homo affairs, Outside Of my own family.
nothing is dearer to methan the prosperity
of the city Of Memphis. l am deeply in
terested In all that concerns her. ReoOg-
nizing in the newspaper of city its most
powerful friend, l would like to see these
dumb advocates in the hands Of the poo
pie Of the whole State of TENNESSEE and
with this road it car be accomplished,and
some day the papers of Memphis and Pa
ducah will be found in tho hands Of every
man in the middle and eastern part Of
the State. In Memphis we appreciate the
importance of the vast trade that will be
lOpened up by this railroad, and we corr
daily invite you all TO come and soc Us.
promising you a hospjtsble welcome.
Bring your sisters, your cousins and your
aunts and trust US to entertain them.
TbiR haa been A happy day for US all, and
now let us separate with perfect good will
and a good understanding Of each other.
Come and see US"
IAN aboard warned the conductor,
and the train took the back track al
Covington the entire crowd, which had
been augmented ly about 100 from Pa
ducah and now filed Ave coaches, adj
journed TO the Big Spring, whore the
affable young Mayor, Joseph Townsend,
stood, dipper in hand, dispensing the
limpid liquid to the thirsty. Everybody
drank, thirsty or not, just for fun, and re-
gaining tho train remained on board until