Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-01-23
mEmPHIs--ITs POSITION, ADVAN'
TAGEs AND PROSPECTS.

mEmPHHs--ITs POSITION, ADEAN'
TAGEs AND PHOSPECTS.
The following description Ct our city is from
a correspondent Of the Raleigh IN. c. Churel
IaisHigenosr;
Much might be said about this imPortan
and fourisbinE city. Few persons, to iudg'
from my previous c~0ucepuons OF ~ hafe mueI
idea Of its size and commercial resources. Sit
ua'ed Oh a high bluff on the Mississippi
where tie river at eli times furnishes abundant
depth Of water for the largest class Of steam.
boats, Is trade, unlike that OF many inland
towns dependent on water communication, sui
fers no interruption from The varying seasons
OF the year. The great river here is so vide
% deep and 50 ever navigable, that we md the
papers speaking Of the place as tt actually
situated on the coast-nIhe part OF Memphis p
arrivals, departures, business, general intelli-
renee, etc. az II ia communication with the
whele world. Al FIRST was not a little sur
pFised at all this, though needl-ssly 50, for the
fact, which a moments red sction would have
brought to mind thatthe United States Govern
ment established a navy yard here a few years
ago, now abandoned as such, but at the time IN
tended as a place for the construction Of ships
Of war, furnishes a sufficient proof OF it, ac-
feasibility at any time to vessels OF almost any
class, and that &c differs from ports, in the
common aceeptation OF the term, mainly in
he more inland character Of its position.
When Ct is remembered that, through the en-
ergy and enterprise Of her merchants, Memphis
hes come 70 be regarded az a better market for
cotton than even New Orleans, a glance at
the map viii at once discover the favorable
nature Of her position for the building up Of a
large commercial city. Nearly midway be-
tween s.. LOuis above and New Orleans be-
low, with ne town Of much size or Importance
between her and the former TO carry of the
trade from the up-coun'ry, and a vast cotton
growing region between her and the latter,
wlieh, 90 say the least, at equidistance, would
naturally seek her more favorable mart as
an outlet FOR it's produce, she enjoys RdVan-
tsges little inferior to either Of them, and is
destined to become, a. no distant day, If not
the rival 0e both, at least one of a great trio,
that is likely to ind a serious eompstitnr in
no other. On the Northwest, within the bor-
deTs Of her Owl State, she has between the
nearly parallel streams OF the Mississippi and
Tennessee rivers on the east and west, and the
degrees Of 80 and 81 north latitude, on the
north and south, a vast homboid Of country,
which pours its entire produce into her mar
ket, and depends on Der mainly il not entirely
Tor supplies. This fertile region is Of itself
most sufficient to support a city, but when
we take into connection with it a very
large portion Of the State lying still far
Their 10 the eest and traversed BY rail-
roads terminating at Memphis. together
with all the extreme north OF Mississippi
and Alabama, and then all the north east
ern part Of Arkansas, which sends its pro-
duce, especially cotton, down the White and
other rivers, and then up the Mississippi again
TO this place for a market, rather than take it
down TO New Orleans, it viii be perceived
hat her trade is now necessarily large, and
that, increasing, as il must, every year with
the increase Of the country and with the still
Improving marke+, which her own accumu-
iatng wealth will enable her 10 offer, cannot
eail, in time, to build up one of the most
important and hourishiHg cities Of the west
err country. The number Of inhabitants in
June last was found to be forty thousand, ex-
elusive Of six thousand more Of float
ing population never included in the regu-
lar census returns. This almost necessarily
creates q busy scene. A stranger is at
once impressed with the superior character
and more cit--liks aspect Of the place. There
is a stir and a hustle, a life and activity pre-
vsiling on all sides seldom witnessed south Of
the northern cities. In The more busy parts it
is about as difficult to push aud edge and ell
bow his way along the sidewalk az it is in
Broadway. In others again one almost i'm
AGNES himself adoat upon a young ocean Of
cotton bales. Twenty millions Of dollars
worth Of this single article is said to have
changed hands here in the last commercial
year. At preEent it is seen on all sides, aad
from the now rising price 1t is probable that
the amount for the current business season
will be much increased.
The public buildings in Memphis are not
imposing. The places for public worehip ex-
hibit little real church like design nor Is the
often arrested by the superior style aud
beauty Of private residences; but in the way
Of noble blocks Of buildings for stores, and
other business purposes, few cities, in what
once the United States, alas, IFoja fnif,
excel Memphis. Take away the marble palace 4
and a few other distinguished blocks, and, in
proportion to her age and size, she will not
suffer in q comparison with even New York in
respect,
The river is here three-qusrtsrs of a nile
vide, and from twenty TO thirty feet deep.
Owing TO its extreme cireuitousness, 1t winds
Is way 20 the ocean IN a course Of nearly one
miles, though the whole distance to
IS mouth 10 a direct line is probably not more
han five OF ak hundred.
Il is Christmas, and the usual festivities are
yoing on; pleassntness and good humor are
almost every countenance here in this
f~lBrefched ensi1ue3 Sogfh,D where, if we had
ess personal liberty, taking the whole popu-
alton together. there is at least less Poverty
ind fewer long faces. Long faces? Not many
ong faces here. Il is among the working cias-
'es that these are commonly seen, and there is
rot much to draw the faces Of our working
classes into any disproPortioRats length at this
line especially.
The churches are appropriately adorned with
.vergreens. "The Gr tree, AID the pine tree,
the box cone together to beautify the
,lace Of Gods sanctuary" Calvary church
s decorated with uncommon n~eatness and
Row elegantly have her daughters
wined those wreaths OF neYsr-dying green,
.mbl5matic Of the eternal life as at present
to light How aptly do those white
oses, more purely white BY the contrast with
eep, dark shade Of the cedar aud aTbor rita
which they are ~intermixed, symbolic
be purity that should ever mark the fair,
flowers Of the Christian temple J
airily have they suspended and fes-
those garlands from point to point,
nPressing the whole scene with the spirit of
ra~cefulness and beauty How lumiuously
oes that star Of living fame, over the chan
81 windows, formed OF gas Jets, speak Of the
.ght that lightath every man that cometh into
be world /!