The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-28
FROM The COAL FIELDS.
THREE RAILROADS BEING BUILT
TO MEMPHIS.
Rapid Construction OF the Blrming.
ham Line-RumOred Sale Of the
Mississippi aud Tennessee.

mAJ ANs IL 1tAAH Is 'hAAA Va -AAANNt
of the Memphis, b rmingham and
Atlantic railroad, who has just re-
turned from a trip over the line, was
seen at the cifice Of the contrary yes
terday by representative OF the AP-
PEAT, to whom he expressed himself
as greatly encouraged by the progress
now going forward and the outlook
for the future Between 2000 and $500
men are now at work on the siXty-mile
extension from HollySpringst Tupelo.
Springs to Tupelo under construction,
A contract has been closed for 5000
tons of sixty p und steel rails from
the Edgar Thompson steel-works, to
be delivered in June and July. Track
laying will commence at Tupe'o in
June, and the road will be completed
and in operation from Memphis to
Tupelo, los miles, by September |,
1886. Vice-President Leake is now
in New York, contracting for rolling
stock to be delivered in August and
September, so as to bring next s a.
sons cotton crop from that territory
to Memphis, and Alabama splint coal
from the mines ON the Western Di-
vision of the Georgia Pac fic to Mem
phis. It is expected that the whole
line from Memphis to Birmingham,
$50 miles, will be in operation by De-
cember, 1887 Two engineering par
ties are in the field-one locating a
line between Fulton and the Ala
bama State line, the other party locat-
ing over in Alabama.
"Do you hear anything OF the Kansas
City scheme down in that part of the
country ?" wa asked.
"Oh, yes" Maj Temple rep led Il
do not doubt that they are in earnest,
but there is plenty of room for us.
They cannot cut us off from the coal
fields. When the line is built we will
have a haul of only 175 miles from the
nearest mine. II has not been fully
tested yet, but it is believed to be of
ample capacity Should the vein at
that point, however, prove to be
too thin to be proftably mined, it is
but twenty-five miles further to
ample fields, where there are now no
less than eight mines in operation, so
that coal can be shipp d at once, in
any..desired quantity, as soon as the
road is built. have looked upon
Memphis as key I the southwestern
situation for some years, and remem-
! Der to have written a letter in 1884,
urging upon the Georgia Pacific, by
which company | was then employed,
! the necessity for coming into Mem
phis." The letter referred to is copied
/ below as inl evidence of the strength
of Maj. Temples position, which has
been fully borne out by subsequent
developments.
THE LETTER.
ATLANTA, GA, March IT, At your
request have prepared map (Which
| send by express) of the Georgia Pa
cific railway, with existing and pro-
posed connections. The proposed
road from Tuscumbia to BDiarfield,
crossing the Georgia p cific near JAS
per, is simply d avn between those
points to show that the line connects
the Memphis and Charleston %ith the
Selma, Rome and Dalton, passing
through the coal field in it's | INCEST
direction Their ultimate location
do not know, but l am told that Biz
mingham is one OF the points named
in its charter.
| have marked the Memphis and
Holly Springs road az completed.
This is, l believe, not the tact, but ]
understand enough work has been
done to insure its completion. have
put down al the roads centering at
Memphis, and they speak for them
selves by g ance at the mar. In adj
dition there are the following pacs et
lines: Memphis and Arkansas river
Memphis and Cincinnati, Memphis
and Ohio river, Memphis and Nicks.
burg and Memphis and White river.
The map shows that the foot hills
of the Yazoo Delta do not approach
the Mississippi river between Mem
phis and Vicksburg. Memphis owes
its Importance to the fact that it i
situated on the Chickasaw Bluff
at the lowest point where they arr
touched by the river. MyimpressioI
is that the first bridge ruilt over tn,
Mississippi river south of st. Loui
will be at NJ mphis or it. Mem
phis is below the ice line, namely
Any impeachment to navigation b,
reason of ice.
If am correct in the opinion (anC
this is my opinion) that the Georgii
Pacific should go to Memphis, hope
the map will aid you in discussing the
subject.
The East Tennessee, Virginia anC
Georgia people have already occupied
the ground via Tuscumbia. We GER
tainly cannot affo d to give them Goa
destined for Memphis at the junctior
near Jasper, | taSe it TO granted tina
sooner or later the gap between Bir
mingham and Columbus will be filled
and that we cannot OPP at Columbus
4 My,choice would be to get control o
! the road from Columbus to,Starkville
via Artesia and the road from Grena
Goa to Memphis and fill the gap he
tween Starkville and Grenada, but
presume this to be out OF the question
The neN would be to get.GontrOl o
the MeR1his aud Holly Springs road
and fill tie gap between Holly Spring
and Columbus via West Point, a
which place we cross both the Mobile
and Ohio and Illinois Central roads.
1 leave Nou to count the number G
roads the Georgia Pacific wi | eros
between, aEd connect with, at Atlant.
and Memphs. Very respectfully ant
truly yours, R. II. nENPLE.