The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-13
18th A HIDDEN MEANING.
IAN BENTHuysEN's ARTFUL TELE-
GRAM ABOUT THE BRIDGE
he Promises a wagon-way, But Not OF
tho Character Contemplated in the
Local Agitation--"A Precious Piece
OF Villainy" Explained.

There is only one thing that can eiiectu-
ally silence Mr.. Van Benthuysen, and that
is congressional squelching. Whatever
charges may be raised against him, that Of
lacking staying qualities cannot be one.
II may be said that there are grave doubts
Of his building the Mississippi river bridge
at this point To this proposition the ma
jority OF Memphians will accede, but there
are few who still cling to a confidence in
him, as the following telegram plainly
shows:
New YoRx, March Il, lSSs
To the President Of the Taxing District Of Memphis
A number OF your citizens are asking
the additional cost OF a wagon way to the
Memphis bridge. Our plans include dou-
bic track and wagon way. The actual cost
is OF no consequence in such an undertake
ing, under existing circumstances. The
actual business now is ample to pay on the
additional cost, even il. that cost was sew
eral times as great as IL really is.
n w. VAN BENTHuysEN.
"a The foregoing telegram was shown TO
Air. John ii. Sullivan, superintendent OF
r. bic Kansas City, Memphis q Birming-
ham railroad, and President George III.
~ Neltletons recognized agent at this point.
N Mr.. Sullivan read II through carefully,
+ laughed heartily and said:
"a casual observer, who knew nothing
about bridges, but looked merely TO the
desire for wagon way on the proposed
n structure here, would be liable TO exclaim,
81 lie Is our man. Mr.. Van Benthuysen il
Dan artful gentleman, and any proposition
coming from him will bear close scrutiny.
ii I'll point out the secret meaning in his tel
4 cgram, and you can see where he tells the
4 truth and yet misloads lie states that
The actual additional cost is OF no conse-
quence, and from his standpoint he is
right. But what Is the character OF the
bridge to which he has reference? Moth
ing more nor less than the one at Kansas
City, short structure, and nothing TO
compare with that which must be built
here, il any at all. There the bridge has
double railroad tracks across il; these are
planked, and over these planks the ve-
hicles find n crossway. Both trains and
wagons cannot cross at the same time,
but owing TO the short distance
the Inconvenience and delay are trifing.
Would that plan work hereP The main
bridge and us approach from Arkansas
would not be less than two milesin length,
on the opposite side of the river would
have 10 wait for wagons already on the
bridge To cross, and vice versa. To man
age this successfully, men would have TO
he stationed along with field glasses and
signals, TO warn Of the approach OF either.
In this arrangement, the railroad people,
who build the bridge, would get decidedly
the wois. II il, ns most Of the yexatious
delay would tall TO their lot. Say, now,
that trains were only coming from one
direction, and that wagons could take the
other side. How many people would you
lind WHO dared trust themselves with q
team on such u high place, with railroad
train moving alongin such close proximity
There are very few animals entirely de-
void Of fear in such emergencies, there.
fore tie present fcrrying system would not
be iniorfcrcd with Ia tho least. No, sir"
continued Mr.. Sullivan, "that sort OF an
institution will not work, and is not what
the people want. The only way TO add
the wagon way is by adding II, rs a sep
arate feature, 10 the main supeSiructure
either above or below. This will require
an extra cost OF not less than 33i per cent
on the entire cost Of rlilroad bridge
Upon that basis neither Mr.. Van Ben
lhuyscn's, Mr.. Netileion's nor any othel
company can or will build the bridge"
REPLY TO Mr.. VAN BESTnuYsKS.
The following communication has beer
received
10 the Editor of The Appeal.
/ note In tho communication OF Mr.
Van Bcnthuysen In TuE APPEAL OF Oh,
81, commenting on the relations Of q. @
Baldwin and g. A. Whittier TO the Mem
phis bridge enterprise, the following:
whittier, being another OF the kansa
City railroad tribe" and again, bear II
mind that Whittier il one Of the Kansa
City railroad people, and he says tina
Baldwin Is our associate In interest in thi
mattcr;'" and adding, there is preciou
piece Of villainy," etc.
In reply 10 all Of this, permit me 10 "a,
that neither Mr.. Whittier nor Mr.. Bald
win belong 10 what Mr.. Van Benlhuysei
delicatcly charactcrizes the ''Kansas Cit
railroad tribe" nor Is there a line or wor
IN all the correspondence upon the subjec
indicating that such In the case. MI
Baldwin and Mr.. Whittier and 'ou
(thcir) associates In this matter" have n
relation 90 US In this matter, except O
owners or manipulaios OF the 30 Gale
Ford charter. "fho precious piece Of vi
lainy" Is not ours.
Jonx III. SULLIVAN,
Stunt X O. NJ a H. r. H.