The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-09
STILL IN JEOPARDY.
HOT FIGHT YET TO BE MADE FOR
THE MEMPHIS BRIDGE.
Capt James Lee, Jr., Veteran In
Steamboating, Cannot Understand
Exactly why This Should be True, and
Expresses a Few Clear-Cut Opinions.

any means.
Intelligence from Washington yesterday
was to the effect that hot fight was yet Il
be made by the projectors Of the enter
prise.
When an APPEAL reporter called upon
Superintendent John II. Sullivan, Of thC
Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham
railroad, yesterday, for anything thai
might interest the public, that gentlemen
took from his pile OF mail letter signed
az. ii. Crothcll," and dated Washington
u. G. Mr. Corthell, il will be rcmem
.bered, is one Of the engineers in charge d
the bridge, the other scientific mind beinl
Mr.. q. X. Morrison. Both these gentle
men were here during the sittings Of tn,
army corps OF engineeIs, sent here by tn,
Secretary OF War 10 hearfurther arguments
pro and con, on the bridge, inspect the To-
cation and look into other preliminary
measures. When the board concluded it,
labors, made up its report and adjourned
Mcssrs Corthcll and Morrison also left,
the former going to Washington.
The letter turned over 20 TuE ArrEAI
man announced that ave are going q
have hot fight here referring TO the
bridge. This naturally provoked the rc-
portorial inquiry, "What arc you going d
do about it, Mr.. sullivan was unable 10
state distinctly what course would be
adopted, II any, for the reason that il had
about passed the fighting point All now
depended upon the boards report and the
Secretary OF Wars decision. Conyersa.
ton on the Enterprises history ensued,
during which Mr.. sullivan related an in,
cident that occurred during the Senate
committees consideration OF the bill. A
sieamboatman was arguing against the
spanning OF the river by a bridge ut this
point, and urged rs an objection the ina.
bility Of large and palataI steamers TO pass
with safety. Capt llaantick was the gen
tleman. Senator Sawyer heard the argu.
ment patiently and silently until this OBJ
lection was intorposed when no inter
Tuptcd with the inquiry, Ill; why don't
you build your boats smaller" As the
captain expressed II, there was no argu-
ment that could prevail against that opin.
ion OF the senator, and he ceased.
The suggestion Of smaller boats remind
oil the reporter Of Capt James Lee. In.
who had previously expressed the opinion
that the day Of the large river craft was nj
an end. Leaving Mr.. Sullivnn's Office.
Capt Ice was sought and found nj his
Office ON Madison street Fortunately for
the visitors purpose, that gentleman was
not worried over the details Of his various
enterprises, aud extended such cordial
greeting that prclminarios were waived
and the ruling subject opened up ut once.
captain, why are YOU scamboatmen
~ persistent in the demand for a bridge of
wide spansf' inquired the reporter
II was not aware Of the fact that | was
ON rccod M an answering advocate of
such bridge responded the captain.
I'm Tact, u memory serves me well, / am
not un record one way or the other. be.
cause have deemed Il best 10 avoid nm.
due activity on either side. You under.
stand that ] am only running n line Of
local packets, and n 80 foot span would
suit me ~ well ~ 100000 one"
The captain Was then informed Of Mr..
CorthcWA letter Ia Mr.. sullivan, and asked
Tor his opinion Of the matter.
81 do not believe IL is so serious as
that, said Capt Ice. THAT boarl was
sciccicd because Of tho peculiar fitness 81
each member ON Il for the task assigned
They are, each and all OF them. thorough.
~ capable, men Of exalted scientific AT.
tainmenls, and not likely 10 be- swaycd 10y
arguments from n class 81 business men
Who know nothing further than
desire 10 protect their own In.
tercsis IN the only way they see
open. Neither arr tho membprs
OF that board men who would throttle
and Iii one Interest 20 promote another.
All The Arguments available were pre-.
scented before the Senate committee before
The bill was enacted into law, yet they
did not prevail My opinion Is that the
board was sent out by the Secretary OF
War morc ~ courtesy 10 the river men,
who bad been guaranteed q full and
lair hearing before the final settle
mcnt Nothing new was offered for
consideration, though those experienced
army men are ~ couricously attentive that
anyone who did not know them would
suppose he was rcvolulonixing their con.
Ncuors and iudgucntsby his arguments. 4"
v hat do yon think, then, will be- the
na'nv # the boards rcpoug"
ooh, they will more than likely rrp1rt In
favor oi go foot span, though Il may he
Increased 10 sOo feet ~ a a1r. Of cnmnr,.
mis-" cor l,OD or 200 feet DO not uu.
dcrtnnd what objection there can be- 90 n
span Of the former length II has b,.n
urged that this IL bad point for briIyr
Of any kind. This IL based / suppose
upon the Tact Of q sharp bend above tbs
city, When 10 h Umcmhprod that this
bend will hc fully one mile or morn above
The bridge it b. difficult lo understand IA,
plea. Boats have plenty Of time and lis
lance IN which 10 recover and adjust
themselves Tor passage between the picts.
aud this d all the boalmcn drrid. or
should dread. Take long iows. now. In
behalf Ui which the strongest arumruts
wcfc made. have been steambuating Am
my life, and DO not remember 10 havp
aeon one moIC than $50 feet long mas
here. II they have, they arr very lew and
ht NiNcen, aud They need not DO com
lfilcd 10 pass TIE bridsn sideways. Inmy
uPihlph' lhh opposition 10 the bridge !,
h'h' against The conviction that railru,ls
Wo seeking. and crossing the vnirr
.ouitcH, ana thus taking ihr luauoas
hihgfio i1rccd "a 80 10 the bb,ts. Uut
uiis b. an ngr Of apidiiy In transportation
~ well ns other business aiIairs p,oplp
are not going 20 spend sisOr a'von dnya lu
Journey irom ~ Louis 90 New Orleans
Nhcn they can make Il In thirty.cipbt
nouns. Neither are they gUingio wait that
long and longer for freight when
They can receive Il quicker. Take n
drummer, iof example Why, II De wcrc
20 hear That some fellow had come from
New York 20 Memphis by telegraph. he
would Tie his samples In n red handana
ulsVgafd consequences and Try the same
mean. 10 traverse distance. This puts an
chufely new aspect on the case, which
uhosc matior-oi. IN q miuynfrii know anil
appreciate, AM they arr not going 10 70.
Inevitable" WV
what do you believe should 10 the
!. hight Of the bridge9'