The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-27
A Prediction of Twenty Years Ago
Fully Realized.
Arrival of President r. II. Wilson
and Party Last Night.
Mr. Wilson Talks Entertainingly to
an Appeal Reporter.
How He Pinned His Faith to Memphis
When Her Friends wero shaky, and
Has Never Had Cause to Regret
the Investments Made.

Mr. r. T. Wilson, president Of the Louis.
vile, New Orleans a Texas Railroad, ac-
companlcd by his sons, NJ. o. Wilson and
r. T. Wilcon, Jr., arrived in the city last
night on his private eur, by the Memphis
4 Charleston Railroad. aud registered at the
Gayoso, where he was subsequently, seen by
an ArrEAL reporter.
Mr. Wilson seems TO enjoy the secret OF
perennial youth, and, though his hair is
white there are no other indications OF
declining years. Ills bearing is as erect, his
intellect s vigorous aud alert aud his con-
sutution evidently Us robust as Il was
twenty years ago, when he first selected
Memphis rs the future great city OF the
South.
What do think about McmphsY" he
said chcerily to the reporter.
well, haven't changed my mind about
her IN ten or twelve years, when expressed
my opinion that she had the brightest future
OF any city in the South. Those were DAYS
when everybody dospaired Of Memphis; IL
was just after deadly season OF disease
Even then | insisted that the territory
tributary 10 Memphis, and her acccssi-
biliiy Ia the bcf agricultural region
Ia the South must make Memphis a great
WY llult mas NlhultAltu my lfttilfiOn.
All that Memphis needs 10 raise her 20 pro-
cmincnco among Southern cities is the cult.
walton of the rich soil In contiguous States
aud the settlement thereon of thrifty aud
industrious agricultural population. That
Is coming very rapidly now. Within the
last four weeks the Louisville. New Orleans
\ &fcNas X ulroad has carried To Mississippi no
less than loo negroes from North Carolina.
all OF whom may be considered as factors In
helping Memphis achieve her destiny. You
can't quote me too cNtnyagantly as 10 my
opinion OF Memphis"
Apart from your own views what II
thought Of Memphis In New York financial
clrrlcsf'
"ln New York financial circles Memphis
stands irst among the Southern cities. Your
leading firms have no trouble In getting all
the money they want there ut aud per
cent, and Memphis securities arc considered
gilt edged"
"What about the Souls gcnerallyg'
''lhc eye of thc Northern investor, which
heretofore lookei Westward Tor invest.
mcnt, N now turning to thc South, and this
Change Il being accelerated by legislation
hostile 10 railroads In Iowa, Nebraska. Min.
ncsOta aud other Western States. That sort
of thing sc1rcs on capital al an if,lcscrfhable
rate. hut IN addition 30 all this, the
country Il iusi waking up o. fbe vast
nilncml aud agricultural wealth of the
South, aud capital e coming 70 develop
ii by natural law A. irruvocnhle as the law
that wafer must seek its level. THIS L not
only my opinion, but that OF cmii.a,
Eastcrn capitalists particularly men en-
gagged Ia iron industries such a. Mr.. A. &
Hewitt Mr.. Carnegie and others Mr.
Hewitt aud an English Iron manufacturer
who accompanied lin on his Southern tour
ulc q opinion that Chattanooga u destined
tu hc the irln center oi the world but |
don't agree with him. While | am con
WINGED that some southern point will one
day be the axis ON which all iron industries
will rcyolyo do not now think Chattanooga
will be the place. should say birmingham
would come nearer filling the bill. At any
rate, therc 4 no denying the fact that un-
told prosperity awaits the South aud Mem
phis Is going 60 have the Hons share
Are you going To build any more roads
shorilyg'
NO, not this summer We have contracts
out ior iDO miles Of feeders 10 the L., n. o. 4
T. The line from Bayou Sara 10 Slaughter,
~ miles will be complete In few weeks"
Mr. Wilson II a very companionably gen
tlcnan of agreeable manner, aud altogether
a very pleasant personality TO Interview.