Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-11
The Wholesale Grocery Trade OF Nash-
VILE.

Vile.
Amidst the rapid but substantial pro-
cress of the wholesale trade of Nashville
in all the departments of mercantile bu-
siness, during the last few years, no branch
has outstripped the grocery business. In
this the Increase has been very heavy, ana
does not seem to have received any mate
rial check by the financial reVerses OF the
times. This city, being situated at the
opposite ends of the great and cheap
line of water communication, from the pro-
ducing region and original importing and
home markets for the principal commodi-
ties that enter into this trade, and being
surrounded by vast extent of country
whose interests make dependent upon this
point for supplies is blessed with unusual
advantages and facilities for carrying on
this trade. These advantages enable our
merchants to compete successfully with
all other points for the trade of that wide
and populous domain, including Middle
Tennessee, northeastern Alabama, north
ern Georgia, East Tennessee and large
extent of Southern Kentucky The hbe
rality and enterprise of the Nashville mer-
chants, connected with their proverbial
amerity, integrity and punctuality, will not
only retain but extend this circle. The
extraordinary cheapness of water carriage,
from New Orleans and Cincinnati, and the
extent Of the trade, allow the merchants
of Nashville, to offer these commodities
here, at very slight advance on the orig
inal invoice prices. 1t is impossible for
these facts and facilities ever to be over
come or superseded by railroads, as the
cost of transportation on these can never
be placed in successful competition with
river freights. While the trade in the
lighter grades of merchandise, may be
modified, and its channels varied by the
construction of railroads, the ponderous
grocery commodities will adhere to the
old routes. We take it, therefore, that
there is no prospect of q diminution or di-
version of business in this department; but
that all the circumstances point to its per-
manent and gradual extension.
We are too well acquainted with the po-
stive, imperious and absolute nature of
trade, to believe, for o moment, that
newspaper or any other human power, can
create market or direct trade at and to
points where the interests of purchasers
does not lead them. 1t is purely ques-
ton of dollars and cents, and wherever
bills can be made on the best terms, there
trade will inevitably go. If the merchant
of Knoxville can get a supply of sugar
from New Orleans, by way of the Florida
Keys, and Charleston or Savannah, at less
cost than by different route, their sugar
will come to them by that route; and so, by
way of the Mississippi river to Memphis,
and thence by railway; and SO to Nash-
vile, and thence likewise The whole mat
ter hinges upon a few dollars or few
cents, in the ultimate footing up of the
bill. For all that region of country above
particularized, we feel confident that Nash
vile possesses decided advantages over
duy oIhcr poluI. Anu we leel JnaJ we
are performing a service to consumers in
that region, in calling attention to the
fact, rather than to favor the interests
especially of this city, or its merchants.
1t is true the advantages are reciprocal,
that an extension of trade, radiating
from this point as focus would promote
the growth and the general interests of
the city; but we should be the last to pre-
fer a claim of this sort, unless it were
founded on the solid and immutable laws
of commerce.