The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28

Hot Springs was small pumpkins when
Diamond Joe paid his iist visit 10 the
place. lie had made q lot OF money In
wheat, and, having worked hard in tho
meantime, found his health was not what
II should be. A friend told him there was
some wonderful water Mt Hot Springs. lie
went there, saw the springs, bathcd in the
water, was made we'll and concluded that
some day Hot Springs would be popular
health resort. lie concluded 10 tap the
Iron Mountain Railroad with q narrow
gauge road, for prior TO 1872 people who
wanted TO reach Hot Springs were
compelled, after they dscmbarkcd from
trains on tho Iron Mountain road, 10
reach Hot Springs by stage coach, aud
neither the coach nor the road over which
IL travelled was In the best condition
| Diamond Joe obtained charter from th,
/ Legislature OF Arkansas which pcrmitie,
him TO charge each passenger on his ron,
at the rate Of 10 cents por milo until the
road was brought within the limits OF Hot
Springs. Diamond Joe continued 10 charge
10 cents q mile until a couple OF years ago,
as the terminus oi his road was Just out.
side the limits OF Hot Springs.
A couple Of yeas ago tho Legislature,
cgged on by philanthropisis who felt GER
tain that Diamond Joe was making too
much money, compelled Mr.. Reynolds 10
carry his road into Hot Springs aud 10 re-
ducc hls rate to . cents per mile. Being a
man who IN open 20 reason, when Il IN
backed with sufficient authority, he
obcyed the order lie has not lost money
by tho change, for the crowd that visit
Hot Springs IL annually growing larger,
and every atom Of Il IL compelled to travel
TO and from the Springs ON Diamond Joo's
railroad.
His little railroad. Il Il believed by men
who have studied IL, has melted him for
fifteen years the sum Of 100000 per an-
mum on nm outlay Of $500, 900, n fair profit,
at least, as railroads 20. Diamond Joe has
never been disturbed In his monopoly, but
for few months OF last year he perhaps
felt that II WIS in some danger. The Mem
phis, Little Rock & Indian Territory Rail.
road obtained what Il supposed 10 be tho
only feasible right Of way for an
opposition road Part OF II lay
through a gorge iiily feet broad, with
rucks towering ON each Hido 20 nights
ranging from 100 90 200 feet. The route
was surveyed. and there were signs that
the company really meant business Then
the Missouri Pacific stepped Ia. Tor rca.
sons known 10 the latter road aud 10 the
Hot Springs Railroad, aud perhaps 10 Dia.
mond Joe and Jay Gould, the Missouri
Pacific, Of which system the Iron Noun
tain Railroad isa part, had never shown
any desire TO interfere with the Hot
Springs road, but when tho Memphis q
Little Rock showed signs OF building.
the Missouri Pacific woke up. The latter
road made break for the gorge, o. a mat.
ter Of course. The ease was taken into
the courts. The Memphis & Little Rock
w0n. Then the Missouri Pacific searched
the surrounding country, and found a
better route than the Memphis & Little
Rock had selected. Then the Memphis &
Little Rock. discovering that u could not
sell ils right Of way, concluded not Ia
bold, and Diamond Joe still has q inonop.
o.y oi travel into aud out OF Hot SPRING,
aud tho road will pay, as usual, 100000 q
NpuF.