| From the Memphis Appeal |
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| October 4, 1861 |
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| The {Memphis &} Little
Rock Road and Bridge |
| In accordance with a polite
invitation, we took a trip to Madison, Ark., to see the bridge over
the St. Francis, which has just been completed. We found the journey a
very agreeable one, especially, as by the courtesy of Superintendent
Feger we were allowed to take our seat on the front of the locomotive.
From thence we could peer into the recesses of the forest as we were
??? along, and view the beautiful effects of light and shade among the
trees. Plants, ??? and moss offered many forms of beauty to the eye,
and ??? of autumn flowers were scattered in beautiful variety among
the green herbs and grass. Now and then the long-legged crane flew up
from the thickly growing woods in the swamp and stretching their large
white wings, measuring twelve feet from tip to tip, fled rapidly
before the thunder of the approaching train, while overhead the
turkey-buzzard soared with lazy wing. To one immured from day to day
in dusty streets, shut in with rows of brick and mortar, these sights
of nature and hot wild denizens, and the influence of the inspiring
breeze created by the rush of the train, were full of enjoyment. Under
the careful and industrious superintendency of Mr. Feger the track has
been greatly improved. In many places injured by the overflow of the
water in the time of flood, iron has been taken up and relaid on new
cross-ties, and hundreds of cross-ties lying along the road show that
still more extensive improvements are in progress. When the track is
thus renovated few roads will be smoother and more agreeable to travel
on, as the curves are very few, and for miles and miles at a time, in
one portion as much as twenty-one miles, the track is as direct as the
flight of the bee. Soon after passing the thirty-eighth mile post we
reached the St. Francis and crossed the bridge. The completion of this
structure marks an era in the construction of the road, and
considering the troublous times we live in and the difficulties the
road has had to contend with, we cannot regard its completion in any
other light than as a wonderful feat. It is no make shift affair, but
a good, well built, substantial bridge. There are six staunch brick
piers; one of them in the center is round and of considerable
diameter. The superstructure consists of three span, making a length
of six hundred feet. The center span, two hundred feet in length, is a
draw bridge, revolving on the large circular pier so as to admit the
passage of steamboats. The first train crossed it last Monday,
September 30. So stout and ample are the timbers and so well braced
that the deflection on the passage of the trains is almost
imperceptible. The iron track terminates at present just beyond the
bridge. On the right of it will be built a depot, the work on which
will commence this week, and near it will be a turn table. On the
opposite side of the road is a handsome and convenient hotel, kept by
J. P. Heathly, Esq., a courteous gentleman, who will supply travelers
with a good dinner. Between Madison and White river, at Clarendon, six
miles of the road are graded, at a point known as Crowley's Ridge. A
considerable portion of the distance between these two places is level
prairie, where scarcely any grading will be required. When the work is
commenced, with a full force, its progress will be rapid. Prudential
reasons, however, have caused the company to leave this portion until
the last. On the portion of the road lying between White river and
Little Rock, grading is progressing, and seventeen miles of the road
has the iron upon it. Locomotives and cars are running there and
facilitating the work. This portion will be completed by New Year's
day, 1862. When that is done, travelers will leave Memphis in the
morning, and travel to Madison, say forty miles; there they will take
stage and ride to Claretidon, on White river, forty miles more; from
thence they will come in a ferry to Duval's Bluff, on the other side,
and go by railway to Little Rock, forty-five miles more, making the
trip from Memphis to Little Rock in ten hours. The Little Rock
railroad has progressed slowly, but surely, and notwithstanding the
troubles that now derange all undertakings of a public character, such
is the indomitable performance of the men who have the direction of
this road, that the work will not be stopped. Whether it be much or
little, something will be done until the road is completed by patient,
untiring energy. The president of the road is R. C. Brinkley, who
"never gives up the ship." The superintendent is D. H. Feger,
who "knows no such word as fail." P. M. Patterson is the
treasurer, assisted by J. R. Harrod. One essential requisite toward
completing the road the company already possess -- they have iron for
every foot of the road, and as fast as the grading can be completed
the rails will be put down. |
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