The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-02
TIE MEMPHLS RRIDGE.

II T. impossible TO conceive OF any answer that
can be made 10 the strong arguments presented be-
fore the Committee ON Commerce. Monday, by the
sicamboatmon aud Others against the proposed
bridge over tho Mississippi at Memphis The OBJ
icctions urged by them must receive the support Of
every man In the Mississippi Valley; aud Congress
will scarcely cast them aside unless the railroads
have more influence thcrr than We believe Tire
steam boatmen wisely rcfraincd from opposing the
Idoa Of bridge nor did they base their objections
on the complaints Of men engaged IN the navlga.
ton Of the river and who, the bridge people might
have pretended were hostile 10 railroads. They
quoted, instead from the report Of the Mississippi
River Commission whose views on the subject Of
the river, from an intimate knowledge the membcrs
have Of H. are the best This report declares
after q thorough examination Of the subject, that
on account Of the condition % the river at Mem.
phis brdgc cannot h. built there without Inter.
icrlne with the navigation 81 the river. whose
span y Lee than 1000 feet and under scvcnty.nve
feet above the level Of high water. II any other
plan is permitted II will -acrlhce the Interests Of
tho Federal Government which has expended
millions 10 Improve the navigation Of the Mlssis
slppi. aud much Of u al Memphis Of the steam
boat men. haycmen aud othcn engaged In tho
river trade Whose budneo. which they have been
carrying on Tor year.. will be seriously nicrfcrcd
with and crippled II not destroyed. aud with the
people. who will thus be deprived 81 their only
free outlet Ia market which assures them oomys
itlon aud proiecilon from the high change, 81 the
raiiruadx Al Of these. the government the river
men. the people are 10 b. sacrificed. The millions
invested IN river improvement the millions saNcd
the people BY Low utes. are all 10 hc thrown away
bccau.s the railroads would like Ia build cheap
bridge al Memphis and ave themselves few
thousand doliaul We would BE- siad 10 zee a bridge
At Memphis or at New orleans. but We do no, b.
iicve that N ret one al Interests should h. alan-
doncd and sacrificed. The people Of the Missis
sippi Valley. who arc 20 vitality Interested In the
trade Of the liver to whom II 4 worth millions
should ~ " II that al they have far gained by
the opening and improvement Of the Mississippi
L. not szcrAcca to the psrzlmony aud cheap idoss
of rallruad Memphis "a the very center u the
river system. aud s. Louis Cincinnati Louisville
and New orleans would equally sufer from an oh.
striotlon 10 navigation there -Noe Ofoiai T,ms
D7aosai
There Is not an objection that has been
made 10 the building Of a bridge across
the Mississippi river at this point that has
not previously been made In the case Of
every bridge that has been built across q
navigablc stream In the United States
They are ehesinuts, every one Of them,
aud covered with the bunoi local jealousy,
Of prejudice and trade rivalry. The
bridge at 81. Louis has proven 10 be an alb
solute necessity 10 the immense tonnage In
ircighis that enter aud depart from II
every day. II has done morc 10 quicken
the growth Of that city than any other one
thing. and the pcoplc, convinced Of this,
have for some time been contemplating
the building Of u second. Louisville
has It's bridge, Cincinnati has four
and Pittsburg eleven, all but one Of them
more In the way Of navigation than
the bridge contemplated at this city could
possibly be. The railroads centering herr
have grown In numbers and their business
o such proportions that a bridge l. noces.
sary. II would enable them 10 save n
great dcaloi time aud consequently great
deal Of money, and II would TO the ship.
per be a matter Of day, oiten two. In the
receipt Of frcighis or getting them 10 dcsii.
nation. So Tar rs the hight Of tho bridge
Is concerned that will be regulated by the
Secretary Of War. and the length Of the
span also. IIe will SEQ 10 II that II Is
built according 10 rlsus and spc-
cihcaiions Of his approval. aud that Il
will not interfere 10 prevent or
cripple the iyor navigation. We ven.
iurc 10 say tina, Memphis Ia NJ much con.
ccrned IN Tia, rommrrcc ~ any other city
on tie river. In proportion 10 population;