The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-29
NEEDED IN OUR BUSINESS.
THE PROPOSED Road FROM MEN,
PHIs TO TUSCALOOSA.
"A Factor Of Unreasonable Importance
to the Commerce OF This City-Lib-
eral Subscriptions all Along the Line
OF the Road.


The projectors Of the Memphis, Oxford
d Columbus railway are in the city, and
will meet the business men Of Memphis
Mt mass meeting to be held at the Mer-
chants exchange this morning at II
O'clock. The party consists OF Maj F. M.
Abbott, president; Judge J. A. Orr, vice.
president and attorney; Mai. J. II. Brink
or, prominent cotton buyor of West
Point, Miss; NJ. v. Sullivan, Ben Price,
Judge j. l.. Bates, OF Houston. Miss. and
Judge r. @. Beckett, OF West Point.
An APPEAL reporter called at the Cav
oso hotel last night, where the party are
registered, and requested some specific
information as to what had already been
done and what was expected from Mem
phis. All OF the gentlemen were disposed
TO treat the reporter frankly, and from a
conversation with Messrs. Price, Orr,
Brinker and Beckett, the follow.
ing information was elected: The
Memphis, Oxford & Columbus Rail-
way company was chartered by
tho Legislature OF Mississippi in the
year 1884. The incorporators lost no time
In organizing, and had a survey made
from Memphis TO Columbus, and with
their maps, pro6les and estimates set to
work to induce some construction com
pany to build the road. After many un-
successful attempts to get an jbOdy to take
hold OF the enterprise. a contract was
closed in November, 1887. with con-
struction company OF Chicago. who have
ample means TO build tho road. The Chi
cago people, however, insisted upon A
bonus Of 500, 900 to be subscribed by the
people along the line of the proposed
route, and a grant OF the right of way. In
consideration Of which they would under
take the task of building and cquippinr
the road aud placing tho same in running
order, not dollar OF the subscription TO
be paid until the road Is built, equipped
and running A contract embracing the
above stipulated provisions was accord
ingly signed, sealed and executed.
The president and directors of the road
met mt Memphis in January. 1883. and
submitted the proposition made by the
Chicago Construction company TO the busi-
ness men Of Memphis.
Al that meeting II was agreed that Mem
phis should subscribe 100000 and termi-
nal facilities. The members of the two
exchanges soon after submitted anotbey
PROPOSITION. 10 the effect that thew nre-
ierred 10 make their subseription si5OOO0
without providing Terminal facilities, This
proposition was accepted by the promoters
OF the scheme.
Every county along the line between
Memphis and Columbus whose county
goats have been toucbed has becp asked
10 subscribe. and thew have all responded
generously. LAFAYETTE county gives $50
900 in 8 per cent. bonds. The town ~
Houston' In Cbickaeaw county voted SOS
600. CLAY county subscribed SiOo COO and
Columbus. In Lowndes county $50 O00'
The original plan was 10 make Columbus
The terminus. but soon came \ pryposition
10 extend 10 Tuscaloosa. Ala. sixty miles
east Of Columbus. and 10 The C,b,vba
coal fields. sixtecn miles east az Tpsca-
loosa. Accordingly proposition was snb.
mitted 10 the business men Of Tuscaloo.a
for n subscription of slOO. 600. and In two
hours SIS, 900 had been raised by private
subscription, with guarantee oil 81! 200
more rom us most responsible business
men,
The coal heids oil Cahawba are said to
equniin extent and quality the famous
connellsviile, Ia, mines, the coke pro
ducing QUALITIES OF whose coal Is 80 rich
That Is transported as lar west as Denver.
" Memphis stands by It's pledges and sub
scribes tho requisite SLOT, OoO work viii DO
begun within sixty days, and the road
completed, EQUIPPED and IN running order
eighteen months alter september IL.
The territory TO be trayersed by the pro-
posed route !. nch In mineral and agri-
cultural wealth, and embraces vast forests
OF every variety OF timber: us cotton pro-
duciion Is estimated NJ lo0,Oco bales an
nualiy, hall OF which, Il not all, would be
brought to Memphis Tor sale and the pro-
eceds invested In supplies: Tho import.
ancc oil such road 70 Memphis cannot
be overestimated, and II Is TO be hoped
that the mass-meetipg TO be held af the
Merchants exchange at III O'Clock this
morningwiil he numerously attended, and
that all present viii contribute their ut
most toward the construction oil 90 valua-
bio connection.
NETTING AT THE KxcHASoE
Alta meeting OF the committee OF thirty.
appointed at the last meeting Of our
citizens to solicit subscriptions TO the Mem.
phis, Oxford 4 Columbus railroad, the fol.
loving proceeding, were had:
NJ Il Cr.wford. chairman az Tho com-