The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-06-28
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Richmond jane. rs, 1883.
MEMPHIS-ITS PROSPECTS, sc.

from Memphis, and here we mean to leave the
Ohio upon whose shoals both going and re-
turning we have lost great deal of time. Our
patience is worn out with it, notwithstanding it's
many beauties, and we can endure il no longer.
seize leisure hour to write you a few oh
servations upon Memphis and points in our
route.
Our sojourn at Memphis was longer than we
had intended it should be, owing TO disappoint-
ment as TO the time of the passage of boats on
their upward voyage. This gave us some
time to survey that Aourishing city and ex-
tend our acquaintance with its courteous
and intelligent people, who have by their
elegant hospitalties won for themselves the
warm eulogies and grateful recollectisns of
the members of the Convention recently as.
sembled there. Memphis is growing with as
much rapidity as any city of the South West.
Ii contains about $4,000 inhabitants, and
bears all the marks of thrift and rapid increase.
1t is located on the Mississippi at the mouth
ofWolfriver on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff
The old town was near the mouth of Wolf
river; the new commencing close upon the
old, extends down the Mississippi, and indeed
is not distinct from the old except in the mod
ern style of its architecture. 1t is only with.
in few years that Memphis has been ad-
vancing with the rapidly characteristic of
the growing cities of the West. To the vast
productions of west I Iennessee which annu.
ally swell its commerce, Mississippi and Ar.
Kansas addinn In, - koo h.
come one of those important points that by
consent are looked upon as perma-
nent and controlling centres of trade. The
commercial enterprise of its merchants is
highly creditabe to them, and there is evident
Iy that kind of sagacity and public spirit d.
recting the affairs OF Memphis which will Sc.
cure for her degree of prosperity and opu-
lence that will place her high in the rank of
great western cities. There are two things
we would do for Memphis Immediately if we
had the control of her public matters; We
would supply her with water and We would
establish a pfo,nenade shaded by rows 6ftrees
at the top of the ievee.
MempL is is well laid out and the work of
grading and improving is going ahead rapidly.
The suburbs are adorned with some of
the most beautiful mansions we have seen any
where. The grounds about them are remark.
ablefor the taste they display. At one of these
princely residences the finest lemons were
plucked from the trees growing in the yard to
make the punch and lemonade for the guests.
Our Richmond citizens might find many ex-
amples in the surburbs of Memphis which
would be worthy of their emulation.
From this point Railroad is to be built to
Bowling Green, Kentucky, and from thence
other roads are to be built via Lexington to
the mouth of Big Sandy, where our great
Covington and Ohio Railroad will terminate.
Memphis and Shelly county have subscribed
100000 to the road. The road from Charles
ton to Memphis is rapidly going ahead, and
will be finished at an early day. Railroad
is to be soon completed from the river oppo.
site Memphis to Little Rock, Arkansas, which
it is supposed will form a part of the great
Railroad line to the Pacific. If it should not
be the main trunk, it will certainly connect
with it; and as !. can hardly be doubted that
Southern route will be chosen, the Memphis
line will be about as direct from the capitol
at Washington as any, and am inclined to
believe, that passing along the Virginia Cen.
trail line and Kentucky roads, it will be the
most direct. With these works finished, the
improvement of Memphis must be more rapid
than ever. They are indeed already exerting
their effects in very much enhancing the value
of land in and around the city. Men in ordi.
nary circumstances few years since, have
grown wealthy through the increasedvalue of
their lands.
There are very many Virginians and their
descendants here and indeed throughout the
whole Southwest and West, and am delight.
ed TO find them remarkably successful. They
are generally prominent and controlling men, !
and they completely vindicate the character
of old Virginia from the imputation of apathy
and fondness for ease; for they are amongs,
the most A4terprising and Industrious men
that are met with. Ia Memphis Virginians
are very numerous. Our old friend JNo. B.
MosELEY, native of Buckingham who learned
the art and mystery of the types in the Rich.
mond Enquirer Office, is one of the Editors
of the Memphis Enquirer and Eagle, one of
the most popular and Aourishing papers Of
the West. Major N. is very popular man,
and has held the lucrative Office of Sheriff for
the county for several years. Mr.. ]. H. NC.
MAHoE is chief Editorial contributor for his |
paper. He is a writer Of decided genius, q |
self made and unpretending man, whose pro.
ductions are popular and excite general inte
rest. Capt. BASKHEAD of Caroline, who |
commanded company in the Mexican War,
is the talented Editor of the Memphis Wing, |
a new paper established by himself and con
Quoted with spirit and energy. We wish |
these brother Virginians of ours all succsss.
Below Memphis are number Of Indian |
mounds, which history points out as the place
where De Soto crossed the Mississippi. He |
surprised the Indians encamped on top Of
those mounds and called 10 the chief to come |
down. The old fellow took time to consider |
and finally by advice Of one ofthe sages OF |
his tribe, answered, that if De Solo crossed the |
Mississippi without tho aid Of 4 csnee. he |