| From the Memphis Appeal |
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| January 11, 1862 |
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| Railroad Connection |
| In Council last night, Ald.
Kortrecht proposed a series of resolutions inviting the Ohio and
Mississippi railroads {Memphis & Ohio RR and
Mississippi & Tennessee RR} to offer propositions to the city,
for connecting their roads through the streets -- no locomotive to run
on such connecting roads. |
| Ald. Townsend was opposed to
any such connection, or to any connection of the railroad and river.
Through freights would be sent along the roads, or by the river, and
people would have to go to New Orleans to make their purchases. Before
now this had been done indirectly -- a warehouse was erected near the
depot, that warehouse had notice when freights would be sent, and it
often blocked out the freights of the Memphis merchants. |
| Ald. Farmer moved to lay the
resolutions of Ald. Kortrecht on the table, which was done on a vote. |
| Ald. Kortrecht moved a
reconsideration of the vote. He protested against the hasty action of
the Board, in forestalling inquiry and investigation, and giving the
people no opportunity to express their wishes. He was convinced that no
advantage was gained to any city by blocking up, by legislation, the
routes in which business would naturally run. If this place is adapted
for business, it will come here, and no arbitrary legislation will
increase it, but the contrary; for trade would follow other routes where
such obstructions were not opposed to free and untrammeled
communication. He wished the matter referred to a committee that it
might be fully investigated. |
| Ald. Townsend was unwilling to
allow this privilege to the two roads, unless a plan could be put in
operation which would compel the roads to give the freight of Memphis
merchants the same facilities as were offered to through freights. |
| Ald. Kortrecht agreed that the
condition was a fair one, and if any preference were given the freight
of the city granting the privilege asked for ought to have it. |
| The vote was reconsidered, and
the resolutions offered by Ald. Kortrecht were adopted. The chair
appointed Messrs. Kortrecht, Townsend and Patrick the committee. |
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