The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-09
The Commercial Imp Ortance OF
Memphis.


If we count the Chesapeake, Ohio
and Southwestern and the Louisville,
New Orleans and Texas as two reads,
aud they are separate except go far as
being controlled by the same parties
is concerned, Memphis has eight rail-
ways, two on the west and Six on the
east side OF the Mississippi.
The former, the Kansas City, Spring
field and Memphis and The Memphis
and Little Rock connect the city with
| the Northwest and Southwest, as well
as all intermediate points. The East
ern lines are the Memphis and Charles
ton, or the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia, the Louisville and Nssh.
vile, the two Huntington roads above
enumerated, the Mississippi and Ten
nessee, leading South, and the new
Memphis, Birmingham and Atlantic,
Of which but little has been built.
All the railways we have men
toned, except the one last named, the
Fort Scott and the Huntington lines,
are new. The others were built to
Memphis years ago when the city wac
an important cotton point and market
for planters of the vicinity. The
Chesapeake aud Ohio and the Louis
vile, New Orleans and Texas form
part f through line, and Memphis
is simply On important station, al
though nominally a terminus.
The Fort Scott and Gulf, in connec-
ton with the Birmingham road, is
aiming for the coast. Now what value
has the city as commercial point,
and what will be the il huence OF the
new, as well as the older, railways
upon its future? This is an inquiry
which has of late been frequently
made.
Undoubtedly Memphis is surround
ed by fertile country and can attract
considerable trade. A large quantity
of cotton comes to the place to be sold
and the river business is large. In re.
gard to this latter traffic we can set 1t
down that each year lessens it, for
fewer coats are every year found upon
the river and the railways are fast
reschiDg out into the territory hereto
fore dependent upon the steamers on
the Mississippi and its tributaries.
1t is to the railroads that Memphis
must chiefly look for assistance in
building up aud retaining its trade.
Are these railroads interested in doing
this, and will the result be to attract
additional lines? We think that this
question must be answered in the
negative.
The railways which extend south
from st. Louis and Chicago are more
interested in attracting the taffic to
those cities, and besides this the
planters Of the South are more likely
to buy supplies in Kansas City since
the Folt Scott line was opened. Then
the Huntington and the Louisville and
Nashville can earn more by taking
the business east than to the river.
This can also be said of the East Ten
nessee, Virginia and Georgia.
AS the river trade lessons and the !
railways press on to the West, new
extensions from Memphis being prob
ably undertaken, the tendency OF the |
traffic will be to paes on through TO
the coast, and the Northern and West.
ern cities. On all sides OF the city are
other ambitious placer, Nash Vile,
Little Rock, Louisville and New Or
leans on the South.
Memphis will undoubtedly always
be an important city and will grow to
tome extent, but the course OF trade
will be through to the markets beyond. |