Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-10
RAILROAD TALK.
Mr.. Fred Wolfe, Financial Agent Of the
Erlanger Syndicate, Gives Some In
teresting Information
Concerning the Plans and Purposes Of
the Powerful Combination which
He Represents.


Erlanger syndicate, in which that gentle
man gave some highly interesting inform a
ton of the purposes and plans OF the power
ful combination which he represents in thi
/ country. After some preliminary remark;
the correspondent introduces Mr.. Wolfe a
follows:
He rises to point the chair where l ma,
sit with my faoe much more in the light thai
| his. Business men all fix the light that way
His hand is in sling. Too much protection
against smallpox, as | have just said. III
bows and waits.
Then begins the interview:
| "Sick, Mr.. Wolffe?'
"Rather have the smallpox" he grumbles
He adds that he has recently had protect
| i've bovine virus applied, and that it hal
| given an example OF a remedy as serious a.
| the malsdy 1t is designed to prevent. HI
has been laid up ten days, or practically tina
long, and in the meantime, SO he explains
| everything has been going at skies and
| sevens, and this final day of business pre-,
sents such an accumulation of business he
does not know what to do. "Never mind,
he continues, pushing out a box OF cigars
soon / shall be in New York, where forever
after l shall dwell with Montgomery as the
outpost of my residence" Meanwhile dis
patches are flying in around him fast. He
reads them, then talks on. After awhile he
gives me his attention, for 1 have seen tn at
he talking against time, while he conducts a
process called thinking, and blurt out:
"Mr. Wolfe, what do you propose TO do
with your railroad prospecs%
''To complete them with dispatch" he re-
plies, "and thus carry out the first and best
plan for the development of the SOUTH"
"And what do those plans embrace"
"Your question is over a broad field. In a
word approximately three thousand miles of
railroad each half crossing the other at right
angles, one going with the meridian, the
other with the parallel"
"Take the north and south line"
"From Cincinnati to Chattanooga over the
Cincinnati and Southern, the line for the
most part owned by Cincinnati, but leased TO
and operated by the Erlanger syndicate.
Thence southwesterly over the old Alabama
and Chattanooga road to Meridian, Missis-
sippi, nearly three hundred miles Then BY
road
NOW BUILDING TO NEW ORLEANS,
that will be completed in few months.
This line we propose to force into one of the
first places as the direct route of travel from
New York to the South and Southwest. To
that end its equipment shall be elevated to
the highest standard, and the schedule time
of its trains advanced beyond nythipg we
have yet had in this country. All of the
line OF this road has life mile by mile along
its route. l mean that every mile of coun-
try it traverses supports its own mile. See?"
Yes; but does the yet uncoupled link
between Meridian and New Orleans promise
to do that?"
81 should not speak definitely as to that.
1t is, however, so far assured that can an
swer in the affirm alive ON the main. There
will be a swamp or two not productive of
returns tor being penetrated. Nevertheless
the line is OF itself healthy, and for the most
part easy of operation, and no grades at any
place that reduces the profile of transporta-
ton below fair remunerative figure"
'And what do you propose that this line
will carry as through freight"
'Northerly from New Orleans sugar;
from the cotton country, that product, from
the North all sorts of stores and merchan-
disc, bound to the Southwest, Mexico and
the Spanish main. From the northern points
on its line, coal, iron and the products of the
rich mineral and agricultural country |
through which it passes.
Where will this road be operated as to |
matters OF executive direction?"
Cincinnati will be the headquarters of |
the whole system"
''Now, as to the factors.therein?"
"Well, this one is only side issue, as !
Colonel Sellers would say. Only side issue, I
in TACT
THE OTHER LINES AS PROPOSED
are from Kansas City, Missouri, over a line
low surveying and partly contracted for
through Missouri's rich coalfields and North
eastern Arkansas to Memphis; and thence
to Selma by line there in con-
lection with Mr.. Wadles interests in the Cen
raj of Georgia, and by additional construction
O Brunswick. The southeastern extension of
his line is to be completed within year or
little more. The line north and west from
selma is to be finished in thirty months" .
"And what is the object of such an enor-
nous road?- Would it not be fairer to the
INVESTORS to allow the country to organize its
enters, construct It's lines between them and
hen TO make one line by consolidation,
those resultant road would reach through
be assured points of Importance TO the ter
itory?"
"No, I cannot say that. The harbor of
brunswick is indubitably the best on the
oast and the natural result OF things is to
lake it also the most important"
"You propose 10 ship cereals from there?"
Eyes, and other products, especially cot
IN. Arkansas is now the second cotton
rowing State il the Union.
WE REACH TO THE GRAIN COUNTRY
the Northwest, and the livestock territory
20, whose problem of wealth no man can
CURE"
"You will have to build docks for ships,
srehouses for your merchandise, elevators
"That will of course be done. 1t is not |
that one man shall do that, or that 6
lie syndicate proper should do it. The ne
.ssities will of course have their response,
1t the work will be within the influence of
lie syndicate"
'How long is this line to be-"
"Approximating fifteen hundred miles,"
"Its grades"
"a maximum of not more than fifty feet"
bridge at Memphis?"
Not within the near future"
"Grants or anything of value from cities,
unties or towns?" :
Nothing OF importance"
d" Do you look for transatlantic. passen- !
rs?' ! !
"Not many, except as emigrants We ex- :
ct to have hundreds and thousands of !.
en-" I
Twill you sell them land?' $;
''Sell them anything. This line proposes
reach Montgomery. The fifty miles be- =
cen Selma and Montgomery, although |.
med substantially, as / understand it, by =
E Wadley interest, is leased by the Baldwin T
d Alexander interest-the Louisville and Z
,shvilIe and Great Southern in fact" T
" Well, what of that?" .
as that link to go in with what you spoke
as Mr.. Wadley's help to these" q
That is not important, l take it. Either y
y miles may be built, or its subleases, or y
nething"
may remark just here that this interview I,
TO statements was read to Mr.. Wolfe pre- !,
Jus to publication and Endorsed by him as
fact. He would not, however, give further
tails as TO the project of linking
SELMA AND MONTGOMERY. -
I learned from other sources that the
LANCER people are making every effort to
ain this fifty miles, and only the inter-
diate influences OF Mr.. Wadley, who
ms sails with the Louisville and Nashville fo
1 the Great Southern, as well with the e,
LANCER people, have prevented an eInelte. oil
To continue: G
Mr.. Wolfe, what is the rest of the plan?" G.
We'll, our Western branch. 1t will cross Y
. State of Mississippi to Vicksburg over bl
existing road thence it will build what W
not yet complete of the line to Marshall, VI
xas. 1t then proposes an association with th
Texas Pacific to reach a point on the be
Ii Of California. It's interests on the west A
part OF this line are with those of Ex- w
,retary Window, senator now" NJ
How much is embraced in that part?" III
All OF the road to be built from a point az
the Texas Pacific southwest to the Gulf
California That part of the road will
several hundred miles in length. 1t CO
verses a territory rich with auriferous Gu
tails and equally valuable products OF Gu
est, soil and mine. The port and /, as
decline to try to name it, and il
not yet put in the maps) is as good as /
inswick, and opens up a Pacific and At H1