The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-20

inclosing letter To you from Mr. @. +.
Huntington, which return herewith. In
answer 10 your letter, | beg TO say, that
there Is not the least difficulty OF adding
10 the contemplated double track railway
bridge over the Mississippi river at Mem
phis two roadways aud two sidewalks. To
do this has been already contemplated by
Mr.. w. Van Bcnthuyscn, the president Of
the Memphis Bridge company, who has
asked us for plans and prices for the bridge,
10 be designed for double track railway
aud for railways and sidewalks outside OF
trusscg.
The additional cost Of adding the wagon
road and sidewalks 20 the double track
river bridge and adding roadways and
sidewalks 10 about 200 feet OF double
track yiaduct approaches 20 the bridge.
will be only nbout Si75, 900, which addi-
tional sum, Mr.. Van Bcnthuyscn thinks a
matter OF no consideration, 90 accommo-
date the commerce OF the growing city Of
Memphis.
hope that YOU and the citizens Of
Memphis generally will cooperate with
Mr.. Van Benihuyrcn in this great under
taking and secure it speedy and final COM
plction.
4 have incloscd 10 YOU a blue print
showing the outlines and elevations OF the
Ohio river bridge at Cincinnati, which we
are now building for Mr.. q. T.. Hunting
ton. The brdge which VIC intend 10 build
over the Mississippi river at Memphis will
lie similar In construction. ! remain.
yours truly, A. BoSkASo,
w. and c. T.. Phoenix Bridge Co.
The foregoing estimate Is from a COM
potent engineer, aud gives the exact fgurcs,
which he says are $4,000 a sum much
below our guessing experts. who guess u
will he 33i Of the whole cost OF the bridge.
And, sir, would say that Memphis
ought TO make strong effort 10 accomplish
Il. Now IA the time, and not In the future,
when the bridge IA constructed, and II u
in the hands Of men who owe Memphis no
allegiance further than their business inter.
csis arc concerned.
am surprised 10 hear men say We will
never want II. This u n short-sightcd
policy for growing city like Memphis.
There n vast territory 10 be reclaimed
Immediately opposite our front door, In
the 81. Francis basin. A good many are
inclined 10 look on II ~ a vast ircclaima
bic wilderness. want Of knowledge Of the
characteristics apn topography OF the coun'
try naturally catse them 10 think that
way. III SUSCEPTIBLE Of being cleared az
and brought 20 q high state Of cultivation
There II acrtatt enough Of good cotton
land In sad basin 90 ruisc cotton equal Il
onc.half Of the present crop raised In the
United States,
when men make statements they ought
90 try and snbslaDiiatc same with some def
mite iniormaton will try. The BASIN
Of the great Mississippi valley consist o.
the ~. fmnfn Yazoo, Tcnsas and Red
river The lkAthamcd three In the past
prior 20 tho construction Of lcyccs, pre-
scnicd the same characteristics OF wildnes,
a. the ~. Francis does now Compare then
NJ present, thote three lcvccd and one
without lcvopN aud you will find thoss
protected equal, II not FAR superior, TO the
rich valley Of the Nile. Protect the other,
aud Il iscqnal In fertility and susceptible o.
a high state Of cultivation, aud win add d
the commercial wealth OF Memphis thou
sands Of bales Of cotton and millions OF fee
Of lumber that she docs not handle at pres
cnt. The next question 10 10 met IA, VIII,
will do the great work, AMI what will y
cost
The United States government has beer
for ycan and u now working on the i'm
provcment Of the Mississippi river, aud III
plan, NJ laid down by the river commits
sion In conjunction with Il, u 10 close thu
basins have previously referred 90, With
out which u would be IA impossible 10
them 10 improve tliE river ~ iOg YOU " Inn
prove tho streets oi Memphis Nltliou