The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-03
Van Benthuysen's Protest.

and greatly amused at the action of your
press and OF some Of your citizens with ref
erence TO the Memphis bridge. Astonished
at the want Of proper information on the
subject and amaze d at their being the dupes
Of q thoughtless politician, ambitious Of dis
tinction regardless Of expense to others and
OF railroad company actuated solely by
selfish motives, while pretending TO be serv-
ing the interests OF your people.
A railroad bridge at Memphis will be the
most damaging public improvement that can
fall 10 the lot Of Memphis.
do not mean that It would be damaging
simply because of being owned or controlled
by railroad companies. refer TO a railroad
bridge to be used by railroads only and am
satisfied, as two bridges can mover be built at
this point, that the people OF Memphis do
not fully appreciate the danger 10 their city
attending the construction now OF such
bridge as shall not provide all the safeguards
and features essential TO their interest.
A railroad bridge makes Memphis n way
station no material In its construction will
be purchased there; the skilled employees
will be taken from this part Of the country
for its construction, and the tolls will pass TO
the bondholders scattered all over the globe,
and II Is apparent TO any one who will reflect
that the present ferry transfer leaves more
money in Memphis than any bridge will ever
contribute.
| DuroiiB WY itoNt ho
business OF consequence. more than now ex-
lists, and yet Memphis clamors for railroad
bridge. ] thought Memphis wanted provis-
| ion for foot passengers and vehicles OF every
nature, 80 that the opposite side OF the river
should be built up and densely populated
ard thus contribute to the wealth Of your
citizens, and by this means obtain the only
advantage that can ever arise from the con-
struction Of bridge. This is not the
only feature Others have thought nee
essary. IL Is thought by some
that o double track, TO avoid abuse Of
| its use proper hight and arrangement OF piers
so as 10 present the least possible obstruc-
ton 10 navigation were Of great importance.
A second bridge will never be built during
the life Of the present or next generation,
| and therefore, the chance TO secure those ad-
yantages should be secured beyond perad-
venture The owners OF the present grant
have been willing TO add all The features 10
their plans, but IL appears that your people
prefer railroad bridge simple and purely
for railroad purposes and they ought 10
know what they want
By investigating the subject, you will find
that the piers of tho bridge at Shreveport
have already created islands in the river.
In their blind advocacy OF the Kansas City
Railroad company's bill, every feature nee
essary for the welfare OF the city is disrc-
glrded. Will the railroad company yolun-
iarily adopt these features II their bill Is
passed. Wait and sec.
Let US examine the records Of Congress
and sec what manner OF people they are and
the probabilities Of their doing so.
The following extract Is taken from let
ter written by Charles Merriam, treasurer OF
the Kansas City Railroad company. 10 Gen.
Nettlcton. Its president
''Supposing the bridge 10 cost q, 900, 900,
issue therefor $2,OOo.ooo OF bonds bearing. .
per cent interest Also, s2,00000o stock,
which Is 10 get q per cent when earned, any
balance over that 10 90 10 Goulds road and
ours"
You will observe that this Is n nicely ar
ranged plan and imposes upon n 5000. 0od
bridge A.OO0.0O0 Of burden. These are the
people who abhor speculation.
Here Is an extract from n letter written by
@. A. Whittier TO "Dcar Charles (Merriam)
Whittier being another Of the Kansas City
railroad tribe:
"Brico ID very inquisitive about this mat
ter, and rather indignant that we skipped In
} and secured what Is really the balance oil
power. II may be necessary 10 swectcn him
possibly better 10 include his system in the
contracts. bnt Il seems 10 me all important
TINT you should have control, and you car
have II by this method, at the same TINT
making the investment profitable for YOU
Companies"
Brioe objected 20 their nice little plan,
hence their desire 10 'swceten" him. II
seems, however, that Brice docs not tax,
'swcctcning" u this sort
: Here II an extract from letter written By
G. g. Baldwin 10 g. A. Whittier. Bear Ii
mind that Whittier il one OF the Kansas CITY
railroad people, and he says that Baldwin 4
our as,ociate In interest In this matter.
baldwin writing 20 Whittier about Ford
and his grant, says that Ford IN
order 90 make basis for negotiating the
|, bonds, Is endcayoring 10 make tariff con
tracts with all the railroads cen
iering at Memphis
We are also taking steps 10 hara~ then
, (which n illegal In Its present shape As W,
arc informed) and desire 10 put dampei
upon any railroad contracting. or even nego
tiating with him. II We can break them az
, the field Il clear. II not, we must Sce wha
We eau do In the way Of buying the charter
/ This enterprise II one Of tho most rcmunora
tive ones ON the carpet today. IL will pay
II Is pity 10 find lot oil men blocking oui
way"
, Herr L. q precious piece Of villiany, an 81.
} fort 10 destroy n mans property and faiter
on the Job.
These are the supposed friends Of Mem
. phis. IA there any citizen Of Memphis will
Ing 70 trust his interests In such handsp II
= | " any Nouucf tnat urts1 hAt ONtuTttu W
putting the existing grant into operation
when II has had 20 contend not only with
legal defects. but such obstacles M thesef
Tue owners OF the present grant are pro
} iecting their property, nre acting In good
faith and propose 10 do what n right but
nnd Il very difficult TO contend with hostil,
legislation and such creatures. 1.-THE pcopl,
Of Memphis want simply q railroad bridg,
these people seem 10 be the right kind u
have build II and take care Of II In the inter
est OF themselves.
In conclusion. beg leave 10 say that yot
have been assured by these people that Oh,
other railroad companies have Joined then
In their efforts, Let Us see how much truth
there 4 IN this statement
Gen Thomas, representing the East Ten
ncssce, Virginia Il Georgia, and Memphis 4
Charleston, tclcgfaphed 20 Washington, and
the dispatch Is now before the Senate com
mittcc, that my plans were fair and cquita
BILE aud that he hoped that all interests
would Join In this one plan.
9. z. Huntington, Esq, OF the Mississippi
Valley and Chesapeake 4 Ohio, wrote 10 thu
Kansas City railroad people at Washington
that he had made contract under the exist
ing grant, aud that that grant should not b
interfcred with unless Il was being improp
erly used.
lido not think the intelligent citizens o
Memphis need anything more, but II Il un
doubleday their interest 10 stop and rcfiec
and take counsel before u Is too late Yer,
respectfully, w. Van BnsrHuysKs,
Pres. Tenn. a Ark Bridge Co.
r, SIT you need or desire any evidenc'
Of our ability 10 carry out the grant We hold
| or place tho bonds necessary for construc