The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-12
The NJ, B. & A. ROAD.
A PROTEST AGAINST THE PRO.
POSED CHANGE
In the Line OF Strengthening Out
Fulton, Miss, by the New
Owners.
IooRREsPoxDKSoE OF rHE APPKAL.l

VI AEEhAhsi
FULTON, Miss September s.-Your
spec al correspondent having visited
the counties OF Lse, Monroe and TIA
wanda deem it not out of place to give
few dos in regard to the only topic
discussed in this section, 10 wit; 1he
location Of the lac Memphis, Bir-
minghsm and Atlantic railroad. 1t
seems that before the sale OF this road
the line had been run and located
fCom Tupelo, Lee county, to the Ala
bama line, by way OF Fulton, in TIA
wanda county. This seemed to be in
accor lance with the charter, that says
the road must 60 in one mile of Full
ton, and that no other road can be
built within twelve miles of said line.
As soon as the new owners of The
road took charge of the survey they
commenced locating line from Tupe-
10 down Old Town creek, by way OF
Cotton Gin, leaving the chartered line
by way OF Fulton from TWEEN
iy to twenty-five miles, and tapping
the towns OF Veions, Shannon, 0ko-
Iona and Aberdeen, aud by this means
cutting off all the tesde IN that vast
slope of country east and north of ga d
liue, a distance of seventy five OF
eighty miles, as q mater of business.
These cities and towns become some
what excited over the matter, and il
common expressions are worth any
thing, they will urge the extension Of
the Illinois Central r.ilroad or the
Mobile and Ohio road into this unmo-
Tested territory, and as a matter of
course, divert this trade to New Or
leans or Mobile, to the detriment OF
Memphis. There is also q strong SEN
timent in this section 10 contest the
right Of a corporation to violate its
charter and go where it plCases, and
no doubt if it becomes the settled
policy OF the present company to make
the divergence now contemplated,
that every legal means will
be taken to force them to
the contract, and further
antag ouism to the company will be
inaugurated in the election for the
next Legislature, and every impede
menttbrown in the way that's possible.
Even the people Of Lee county, outside
of Tupelo, are almost solidly against
the change. The people of Fulton and
Itawambs county feel sadly disap-
pointed they fully expected the road
and was anxious 10 get in communiCa.
tion with Memphis, They have done
all they nd to get their country de-
veoped, 10 au int rview with some of
the Leading ones of Futon, among
them the Hon. David Johnson, now
superintendent CT the State peniten-
tiary, / found the latter firm in the
opinion that the road would be built
through Fulton as the charter directs
He gives as his ressous, first, that the
rich corporations were more strict in
obeying the law and fulfilling
their contracts than smaller ones,
and it was question OF doubt
in law whether they had The
right 10 locate and operate a road from
Tuptlo to the distance OF twelve
miles or whether they would not en-
danger the forfeiture of their charter
by stopping at Tupelo. Taking these
cor sjderstions in view, and also the
competition they would necessarily
meet by going the lower line, and un-
disputed control of all the vast terrific
ny passed by them on the main line,
with no antsgonism from any source
whatever, in view Of these and many
other facts, he was of the full opinion
the company would build by Fulton,
as the charter directs and is now To-
Gated. BY this route the right of way
through the county will he guaranteed
and drawbridge over the Bigbee will
be granted II possible. So time will
81 on tell what will happen. ROVER.