The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-02
MEMPHIS FUTURE.
President Hadden's Prognosticat atoms,
Inquiries on the Part Of Visitor
Arouse the President.
A Responsive Chord is Touched"
and the Music is Warm.
He Takes in Everything with the
Keen Eye Of Business,
And Speaks Earnestly and Intelligently
on all the Important Topics Which
Concern the Taxing District
and Its People.


aroused on the subject OF the Taxing Dis
trict, he can crate, in private way, for
hours.
A visiting gentleman, who is prospect
~rIng for important interests in Memphis,
called upon the chief executive yesterday
afternoon. AN APPEAL reporter was also
there. When negotiations were termin-
ated favorably for the visitor, he instituted
inquiries about the future of the city.
That touched the responsive chord in Mr.
Hadden's breast, started his mind and
tongue q moving, and here, in substance,
is what he said:
FUTURE or THE TAXING DISTRICT.
"Relative to the future of the Taxing
District great deal could be said; each
succeeding year convinccs all OF her citi-
zens OF the importance and eligibility Of
its location, not only as regards the site OF
the city, but also as regards the surround
ing country. Other surrounding business
convinces the intelligent mind, that this is
the point for a great city. Year by year
Its trade increases; It's inhabitants also in
crease rapidly. We are now upon the
thresh-hold of great prosperity and en-
hancement OF our reality. The rteries of
trade are so extensive, not only in our own
State but also in all the.contiguous States,
that the prosperity Of this city does not
depend upon the trade that is drawn with
in 100 TO 200 miles radius.
Zone great step for the advancement Of
this city seems now TO be almost realized,
to-wiu The building Of the bridge across
the Mississippi at this point. This seems
20 have been a subject that engrossed the
attention Of our citizens many years ago;
this impression was intensified bya speech
delivered in the Cotton Exchange eighteen
or twenty years ago by George Francis
Train. i remember 10 have heard him
make this speech, saw him draw a bridge
on the blackboard and heard him portray
the benefit that the construction of this
bridge would insure 10 the mississippi
valley. lie spoke OF the matter, not 80
much rs Memphis enterprise, but as an
enterprise that would be trans.continental
in It's results. by the construction Of this
bridge, we may safely say that the volume
OF trade in this city will be doubled within
Eve years after its completion.
THIS BRIDGE WILL De THE FOCUS
toward which all railroads, east and west,
will concentrate. The building OF this
bridge will, after so many years, afford
Congress an irresistible argument for the
necessity OF building levees on each side
OF the river from Cairo 10 New Orleans.
Imagine for one moment these levees built
and thereby redceming all the oyeriiowcd
land upon the sides Of the river. This land
all in active cultivation, and cotton, corn
and wheat raised upon II, all being sold
and handled by our merchants. This is
sure 10 come within the next decade.
"The next most important matter 10 iacil-
itatc the trade and commerce Of this city,
Is a good union passenger depot. Two are
contemplated in this city, one in the old
navy yard under the auspices OF certain
railroads ccntering In the upper part OF the
city, the other in the southern
part OF the city. We encourage our
railroads TO enter into these enter
priscs not only for the benefit Of the
general public, but also from their own
pecuniary consideration. have other
assurances that these depots, one or both,
will be built within the next few years
Speaking Of railroads and depots. our city
ut all times extends to these enterprises
all the facilities for the transaction Of their
business into and ont OF the city; pave
good streets TO their dcpois, 10 as 10 tax
commerce ~ little as possible. II Is
Very tArN lpI llt lNklHNluit OF lot ilc
City Council 30 pass laws and ordinances
~ restrictive in their nature that railroads
cannot live. The construction of railroads,
the proper adjustment Of freight rates,
--fic., is what builds up cities. Imagine
this city without a railroad, although
situated upon the banks Of the greatest
river In the world.
WOULD THE CITY IMPROVE ASY2
Gas an official, have always advised
the policy Of giving all the railroads In our
city all that they want, provided that they
would settle any damages with indiyid.
uals."
In order 10 draw him out further tho
reporter took the lead in propounding
questions and suggestions In order to give
the visitor as thorough an insight into 10.
cal affairs.
"But We have not vet seen the last Of
new railroads, have wc2' was asked.
"Not 10y a long Jump" said he. "Sov-
cral other railroads will be built TO this
city. What railroad would do US more
good than the Memphis, Tuscaloosa &
Atlantic2 Did any railroad ever make q
iairer proposition TO a city than this organ
ization has made, to-wiu Assure Us oi
100000 subscription and We will build
YOU road running from your city 3ij
miles through the richest country In the
SOUTH Our people officially made this
pledge, and they should raise this $780,
90 aud let the road.bc built. The city Of
Memphis, In the increase Of freight aud in
the benefits derived from the additional
trade from a new territory that would be
brought 10 our city, would pay the sub.
tcription in two years. Another road that
should he built, aud will be built, IL the
one from here 10 ToIarkana, Tex.
Considering the future as indicated, all
our citizens must feel assurances OF the
future greatness Of this place. ! would fee
more sanguinc Of an early improvement Ia
the city, did | see more money being In
vested In manufactures. But this will fol
low, because men who arr competent man
- -niacturcn are being convinced more and
more that Memphis is the great dis,rib
pting point upon the Mississippi river, no
only for dry goods and groceries, but ais,
for manufactured articles. II would be-
wise provision Of the legislature 10 taxi
steps 10 bold unconstitutional convention q
d carly date ~ possible, 20 rs 20 chang,
Dur constitution, 10 that IL would per,ni
Vie enactment Of a law that would eXcmp