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

A COOL, CALCULATING VIEW OF THE
MEMPHIS BRIDGE AGITATION.
A Cold Biooded Citizen Says We Have
Great Force, But Not Enough to
Spread Out over the Nation.-Ho CAL
culates on the vexatious Delay.

"Where is the Memphis bridge bill?"
asked gentleman yesterday Of an ArpRAL
reporter. "You fellows spread yourselves
out oil over Il a few weeks ago. Now it
seems to have been lost in the shuttle"
His observation was conceded in, and no
resumed:
"You see, your Uncle Benny got hold Of
the cards, stopped the deal for the time
being, and now we have time TO read up
on Hoyle's rules governing the game. I'M
less we keep posted and employ cool, cal
culating minds, it's the easiest thing in tho
world to get completely off, II was big
fight you all made at this end Of the line,
and great credit Is deserved for its stub.
bornness, even II the game Is lost And IL
would be lost II were umpire. II had
the deciding OF the question, no bridge
should be thrown across the Mississippi or
any other great river Of the country at any
point along which Il is navigatcd by steam
ers. But haven't the authority, and the
observation Is merely q DEPRESSION. My
home and interests are In Memphis, and
cannot be accused of lack OF devotion TO
everything pertaining TO her welfare.
Bridges exist elsewhere. We need one
here. cannot have my rock ribbed rule,
and therefore ] favor the building OF the
Memphis bridge"
"what was behind your significant ref.
erenco TO the fight we made at this end OF
tho line2'
| VI didn't say there was anything behind
Il, but in reply to the question will admit
there Is. Washington is several hundreds
OF miles from Memphis. While you all
were working yourself up into frenzy the
big guns At the capital were pursuing the
even tenor Of their way. sleeping at night
when not engaged in game Of draw poker,
and knew nothing about the eruptions
down here. That statement don't sit
lightly on our justitlable pride, but don't
you see where am corrcctY The real fight
was at Washington, though the cool and
calm spectator Of the whole field would
have believed II here Our substantial, in.
telligent and representative business men
got together, passed strong preamble and
resolutions and forwarded them 10 Senator
Harris. What did they accomplish In
local, or oven State politics, such action
would have been q power, and deserves TO
be, for there II much wisdom behind Il;
but In this case II was spread out before a
whole nation, and there wasn't enough 10
20 around. II didn't even phaze our own
senator, no far as We have any record"
"Why shouldn't our influence have
some effect, when IL was for u purely local
institution
"Now, sonny, don't 70 OF half cooked,
like your representatives In Congress did,
for they were guilty Of that very thing. A
bridge across the Mississippi river IL not q
purely local concern. There was much
force In the protest OF the river men; for
that very reason, as you observed, they
did not oppose the bridge, but merely in.
sisted upon alterations in the size OF the
main span and hight. Why did they urge
these points7 The further down stream a
bridge Is built, the more II should strictly
comply with the demands Of navigation.
Where the river Is narrow, and coal OF
produce-boat tows have 10 be broken NJ
anyhow, the opposition TO bridges Is i'm
material. But here II is not no. The rive
men have right 10 demand free and un
interrupted passage for their tows. In IA,
next place. aud where your congressman
were particularly half-cockod when they
fred, is the absurdity Of the supposition
that Congress ls going 10 grant a charter
where one Is already outstanding without
/ lull IuNttUkhuOn OF ulrpOhllOu OF tnc
existing one That Ia not the way that
august old body transacts business. We
looked at the propositions from q red hot
local standpoint, they took cool and dis
passionate view OF II ~ a measure oil
semi-naiional importance. II makes a diff
ference, you see"
"wbat view do YOU take Of the pro.
position 10 make II n purely railroad bridge,
In the event II is ever made bridge Of
any kind7''
at In foolish, perfectly foolish. The
idea Of q mammoth bridge nj this point
being one on which railroad trains only
could pass II should DO prepared and
open for any kind OF vehicle, animal and
foot passenger, nj reasonable toll. ! sup
pose the parties favoring the railroad
bridge idea are interested In the ferry-boai
business and want II 10 continue uninter.
rupied. Because Arkansas Is now a com.
pantiyely wild aud uninhablled country
Just across the river IL no valid reason. A
lew miles behind that narrow stretch Of
swamp there Is broad cxpanse Of country
M fine M any upon which the sun shines.
And Il may be wen see city over there
yet " aided 10y easy communication In
person with Memphis No, lot M have q
bridge for MI purposes"