The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-12
RUMBLINGS OF THE RAIL.
SURVEYS FOR THE MEMPHIS s. AT.
LANTIC NEARING COMPLETION.
An Enthusiastic Supporte of the En-
terprise Raises His Voice to Encour-
age Memphis in Her Pledged Sub
scription.

Mr.. w. V. Sullivan, prom inent young
lawyer OF Oxford, Miss, was in the city
yesterday, but completed the business that
called him TO Memphis and left last night
for home.
Mr.. Sullivan is one OF the Mississippians
who have been moving every legitimate
lever to secure the Memphis & Atlantic
railroad, formerly known as the Memphis,
Oxford & Columbus.
During his brief stay in this city the
young man called upon local workers in
thesame cause and obtained all the avail
able information, in order TO satisfy those
with whom he has labored, and who are
sure TO nterrogate him rs to the status OF
the enterprise and the prospects for build
ing. An APPEAL reporter met Mr., Sulli-
van at the Peabody during the afternoon
and had quite an interesting conversation
with him on the subject OF the proposed
railway.
"What is the feeling Of your people con-
corning the cnterprise? was asked OF the
visitor.
'Thcy are becoming little FESTIVE UNI
itI lllt tUloIftu utidNY thu me- sup
pose the same conditions in matters OF this
ind prevail throughout the entire coun-
try. There have been so many stcaliugs
and frauds generally practiced upon them,
by getting up subsidies for railroads and
giving nothing in return, that whenever
anything OF the kind is proposed il is re-
garded with suspicion. In great many
eases this is ominently wise and well
taken, and many communities would
have been much better of ii little OF the
suspicion harbored now had been allowed
sway before the favorable votes were
taken. But in the present instance there
can he no reasonable ground for it, The
Memphis Il Atlantic railway enterprise is
a corporation OF Tennessee, Mississippi
and Alabama business people. They
have contract with sterling
construction company TO build and
equip the road for so much money,
with the privilege Of bonding 1t ior
so much more. Not a cent OF the sub
scriptions is to be paid over until trains
are running regularly over the entire line,
and thus inaugurate the benefits sought ia
be obtained in the building OF the road.
Upon this reliable understanding the in.
corporators went TO work and found the
people all along the route from Memphis
w hnitlNNNh INV iNl Nf-NIl'laAAfhs w y
little oppositson was encountered, and this
rapidly gave way before intelligent argu
mrnt from the projectors; in consequence
nothing stands rs barrier against
construction work except the fail
urc OF Memphis to hand over the
amount she pledged herself TO raise. Righ
OF way has been secured; good fellowship
awaits the enterprise no matter how soon
il appears, and oil eyes are longngll
turned toward this city II was originally
promised that construction work would
commence September II, and when dc
fault was about to be- declared by some o.
the towns or counties eager for tue road
and had made subscriptions, but dispose,
s<sx-o allow no foolishncss, il required NOR,
campaign work to hold them in line"
"What Is your opinion rs 10 the ultimate
building Of the roadP'
81 believe II will be built not only 4
Tuscaloosa but 10 Brunswick, on the AZ
antic, and thus become great scaboar'
line. While your city is rather slow Il
coming 10 time, ! am too familiar with III
energetic entcrprising business men {
think they will allow the invaluable roa
10 fall through on, 10 them, n paltry 500
600. Were the money rcadyto he handle,
over tomorrow, by security within tc
months from that date trains would h
running and Memphis would have hun
lrrds OF thousands Of dollars Of new bus
ness laid at her very door. Tng ArrEAI
which has done great deal for the cntel
prise. has not said word amiss about III
country added TO Memphis territory"
"llow could the road possibly be hui
in ten monthsg
"By simply putting forces Of men
work nj intervals Of twenty miles alon
the entire route. In this way, when th
twenty-mile sections were completed, a
would be finished"
"what has been done, II anything,
the WAY OF construction workY'
Surveys for the permanent line haN
been made from Tuscaloosa 10 point th
side Of Oxford. The surveying corps Is
large one, under Engineer Mickle, az
Is pushing ON 10 Memphis. expect III,
will bo here within the next few week
The work is done "a n hnality; notliil
preliminary about IT,"