The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-30
THE BRIDGE.

THE BRIDGE.
The great bridge that is TO be built |
across the Mississippi river from this city |
to West Memphis is certain to be far
reaching in its effects 1t will in time
concentrate here all the trans Missis-
sippi railroad systems as the leading bust
ness center on an isothcrmal line that is
remarkable for the eycnness OF its temper.
aturc and its exemption from heavy SHOWS,
floods or storms that impede travel. More
and more il is beginning to be appreciated
that time is money, and that especially in
the handling OF freights, unimpeded high
ways are what is most desirable in the
farther development OF the continent.
Memphis has waitcl long time for the
evidences, SO often predicted by public
speakers, OF her advantages Of posi-
ton. The ten railroads now run
ming in here are among the best
Of these, but the bridge is TO be the best
OF ALL II will complete an unimpeded
highway with many valuable and contrib
uting branches from the Pacific 10 all the
leading cities on the Gulf and the Atlantic
Coast from New Orleans to Boston. The
bridge is full Of promise. There is no es-
timating what il will 10 for the city, what
it will DO TO enlarge its possibilities in
trade, and change it from great inland
cotton mart to a greater inland commercial
mart, wherein merchants OF all branches
Of business and OF all grades, will find
quick markets and salts wing profits.
Thirty-fve years ago Rochester, n. v,
was the center Of the -four trade; today
that center is at Minneapolis, Mimi, away
up in the Northwest close to the hyper
borcan regions OF Winnipeg that then
was part OF an almost tracklcss wilderness.
Cincinnati was then the center OF the pork
packing business. /. Now that center is at
Kansas City. which We can reach in as
short timo rs We can the commercial
capital OF Ohio, so long known rs
"Porkopolis" Chicago, then budding
into city lite, il now the rival Of New York
and the metropolis OF the Northwest
ThcN changes ia movement and growth
are the results Of free people blessed
with free trade between the States. Their
energies unhampored, they have shifted
from one TO another selected center, al.
ways considering the conditions OF pro-
dnc,ion and OF Situation with view to
the unimpedcd transit and handling OF
those productions In the early days, be.
fore railroads began to force themselves
upon public attention, the great rivers and
lakes were ayailcd OF and were means
of quickcning growth and encouraging set
Element Then nature pointed the way,
and her way is followed still. 1t is only 1
question Of n little time before the
way she points from the North Il
the South will DO ayailed OF and
the East and West lines from st.
Louis and above aud beyond, which
are often impcdcd by snow and flood,
will be compelled 10 Yield 10 the safer lin,
that along the thiriy.fitI parallel always
affords unimpeled travel and traffic. The
Gould system has already indicated this.
II now runs into Memphis and is thus
rcndy to moot all the cklgcncics OF heavy
and severe winters by finding a ready out.
let aud the facilities Tor connection here
with other systems going to all parts OF tho
continent This will become the head
quarters Of that system, and so Il will Of
tho Nctilcion system, tho Louisville a
Nashville, the East Tennessee, Virginia 4
Georgia and the Huntington system,
which reaches from Chesapeake Ray
TO san Francisco. Chicago was first lake
city and Cincinnati aud 81, Louis wor,
river towns" before the railroads mad
them what they are. Kansas City Is the
marvellous, aud therefore the greatest, 70,
suit OF railroad concentration. II Is alto
gcthcr railroad town" The Missouri
River cuts hut a poor figure Ia IL history
Aud 80 Memphis, which for sixty year
has been = river town, Is changing, and
/ with tho bridge completed Is destined 3,
bc railroad center, riyhlling all ihos,
north Of Il and beyond tho Ohio River
because Of the insupcrablc advantages o
climate along the Panllcl Of latitude that
affords the bcst gharintcc OF unimpcdc 9,
: traffic from san francisco to New York
Tho bridge thus soals the destiny oi Mem
( phis Us the future great city" Of the Mis-
/ siSsippi Valley.
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