The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-25
ON TO TUSCALOOSA, ALA.
THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ANX-
IOUS THAT MEMPHIS
hall Help to Build the Projected Rail-
road by Paying Up Her Subscrip-
tfon OF $4,000 for that Pur-
pose.

To the Editor Of The Appeal
INDEPENDENCE, Miss, Aug. 22.-Much
has been said and written in regard to the
building of the Memphis, Oxford & Co
lumbus railroad to Tuscaloosa, Ala, there
connecting with the Atlantic. We people
along the line OF Tate and Marshal coun-
ties thought but little OF the project when
first spoken OF, but since the matter has
assumed an importance of such great mag
ntude to all, we hope and believe the en-
terprise will yet be pushed forward to sue
cessiul completion. We have watched
with considerable anxiety and peculiar
interest the correspondence OF late in re-
gard to the road and it really appears that
il hinges upon the action OF Memphis as
10 whether the road will be built or not.
Now ii Memphis is the pivotal point in
reality, the road will certainly be built,
because she can not ailOad to dshonor her
promises made in the early part of the
year, and she can less afford to
lose the advantages secured her by
the road, and the people along
the line and especially the friends OF the
enterprise living in Oxford and Columbus
are not going TO grant Memphis an im-
munity short OF strict compliance with
promise that caused them TO waste time
and money upon worse than useless UNI
dertaking should she fail TO come up as
she agreed to do. II would be q shame to
the name of Memphis and 10 what she has
heretofore claimed for herself TO fail to
help TO provide way TO open herself up
TO as large a scope OF country rs is now
pleading at her feet for closer contiguity.
She should not lose sight of the fact that
each road from the south or cotton belt
naturally attaches or carries with it an
idea OF central importance and is almost
equal to any two from the north so far as
the trading interest is concerned,
and II any one should doubt the
propriety OF private contributions as
means OF building railroads the
ultimate idea being TO raise them
selves in the scale Of Importance in all Of
their varied interests have only TO look at
the history of Fort Worth, Tex. There
is not city today, in all OF the southwest,
upon more permanent basis OF prosper
ity than she, and Notwithstanding she has
eleven roads, not one OF them has been
built without receiving from her dona-
ton in actual cash from $4,000 TO
$4,000.
Memphis certainly cannot think for one
moment that she would not be benefited
more than all others connected with the
project There may be outside con-
iingencics that she could give as q reason
for her lethargy that We know nothing Of.
II enthusiastically absurd 10 say Memphis
cannot raise the puny amount Of $780,
600, the amount promised by her citi-
zens, or that she has not living inherent
aspirations destined to make her the
proudcst city Of the south II she will only
guard and foster her avenues Of greatness
In time.
Not Slj0,O OF surplus money to invest
in an enterprise that would be returned "a
her in the iirst 10000 bales OF cotton that
would very soon be sent 20 that market?
Not slJ0,OO0 worth Of enterprise That
much OF either could be found among tn,
butchers, BARRIERS, bakers, and even babies
OF the place.
The most alarming symptom connected
with the case Is, other points have relied
implicitly upon the voluntary promises oI
Memphis-promises reiterated, promise,
repeated time and again; and at no time
not the slightest official intimation that
Memphis would not DO Just what she had
promised, until now, too late for othei
points 10 take possession Of the dilemma
and bend events and remove obstacles
smacks strongly Of conspiracy on the par
OF Memphis with the enemies OF the en-
torprise TO defeat II altogether.
FLYING Roll.