Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-09-09
z rrAnE VIII BELeIUm.

For he Memphis Appeal
The article Of "Civis,7 Published some
weeks ago in the EsquiHu, on the Belgium
question, although carefully compiled, hard
ly as complete as the friends OF the enterprise
desire. The interest The question has excited
has awakened a train Of thought, with some
statistics that may be interesting to your read
ers. and I give them as brief as possible. /
shall call your attention in The first place 10
the treaty between the United States and Bel
rium. the first and most prominent article be-
me that which regulates steaa communiea-
ton between the two countries, and is as fol-
lows: Vessels engaged in regular navigation
arc exempted from the payment OF tonnage,
anchorage, buoys and light houses. Articles
Of all kinds, the transit Of which is allowed in
Belgium coming from or going to the United
states, are exempted from all duty, when
the transportation through the Belgium Terri
tory. is effected on the railroads Of the safe.
This article is an important concession, in
favor Of foreign commerce, and is an evi-
'enoe Of the disposition Of Belgium TO advance
a liberal intercourse with the commercial
world. Vast quantities Of colonial and other
produce are transported through Belgium 10
re Rhine, thence to Germany; and in eonnec-
IN with this, Jet me say 70 our German msr-
chants, who intend importing direct, try the
yrtue Of this communication with Client, via
Antwerp, and you vii, find the advantage they
p1ssess over other cities, on or contiguous to
the North sea, as channels to Germany. This
also is less expensive than the more indirect
md cfrcuitous route Of Holland, or by the EIbe
p Weser. / find that I viii not have space
efficient to enume ate the many liberal arti-
cles Of the treaty Of date March 30, 1896, but
viii say they an bear the impress OF a liberal
md enlarged policy on The part Of this inter
country.
In the article Of " Ciyis " he states that the
raw material imports into Belgium from hs
United States, amounts in the aggregate to
l5.529.265 pounds, the residue from England
Holland. The figures are as follows
England, I4,20s,76 Holland, 2.733 259i
France, 8 s,5I6; Hsnse Towns, 79.66s; Hayti,
7s,O55; Brazil, 1881; other points 20,594-
Now. Messrs. Editors, why should we let this
golden opportunity slip? Have we not facili-
ties Of capital ana energy equal to this occa-
What a magnificent project to supply !
Belgium with her total consumption an
gross imports. 52,s33,1l4, an importation
hat tauies with our annual rece PTS. 2.
o1e-tenth OF the crop Of the country. T.
can be done, and certainly is worthy o.
consideration; md here let me say to orosk
srs.a who predict the ultimate fall in cotton,
hat If Belgium, with its little patch Of terri
-o-v, OF the eontemptible ares Of 1913
square miles, can consume one-tenth Of cur an
nual production, what may net, the friends Of
the staple achieve BY a liberal line Of policy,
and an energetic display Of wealth and indus
trv. TO enlarge the sphere Of king Cotton,
and BY home capital, place themselve above
he influence OF % English Bulls and Bears
Vow for instance, Belgium receives oae-tentb
II our crop, half % viii b passes through Eng
fsh hands, thus In this one operation inhusne-
inc one-twentieth Of the crop. Sup Ose you
divert this to direct trade, YOU make . sen
sIble action upon the market at once, and give
health and tone TO the shipping interests; and
anticipation Of the objections OF some who
viii sav-Where is the capital to come from
answer in the cotton only give it direction;
ship it in German and American bottoms,
men Of wsn Known capacities, whose drafts
would be as good in Belgium as they are to
lav In Memphis-and fortunately for our city
have many Of them who have the means
and the win-only get them started. Like al
Enterprises, il requires a beginning, and once
headway, viii practically prove its owu
Importance.
Look at the cotton interest and the low
realized by its sale, and imagine the in
creased price when time has extended the con-
sumption over the world, as in Belgium. You
an exted the area Of grain; II moves with the
Ike Of the pioneer; it is " cosmopolitan" Cot
on is sectional you may extend our broad do
bu. foreign soil offers no inaucement 90
Q King Cotton = his operations are confined to
Of latitude, Of which the South is the
,oHvsrzing point; his area has drawn to a
zrand center, while the consumption is steadi-
y-susely progressing. In 1883 we exported
10 Belgium merchandise OF the value Of S.
10000, in 1854 $ ,200,O1O, an increase Of
..weuty-eight per cent, since which time the
have not materially changed. This is
a trade worth striving for. Well.
-au ask-What method do you proPose2 What
10 you deem a feasible plan? This is not my
have endeavored TO give a few
~tatisties with such crude ideas as have i'm
themselves upon my mind, after a sur
-sy Of the subject. ANY action in the premi
as I leave to others; to start she ball, however,
would suggest, a. preliminary, the lorna
ion Of a committee II correspondence, then
UGH steps may Be taken as they may deem
lrsc-icsble. Furthermore, let the community
axe a lively interest in the success Of the en-
and study its bearings, and you may
assured there is more " out come than
hey could possibly conceive Of B.