Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-16
CAIRO, SATURDAY, SEPT. l6. 1865.
FUTURE OF CAIRO.
WANT OF CAPITAL.
How it Should be Invested.

The past four months have been to Cairo
what the coming four years will not be to any
city of which we have any knowledge. Into
euriap has been thrown golden opportunities,
but little of which we have been, and are now,
unable to hold. Sections of country which
had for upwards of four years, been closed in
as with wall of fire, have, in The interimin-
dicated. been opened up, and the population Of
such sections found themselves destitute of the
common necessaries of life. They had long
boasted OF otton being King, but they could
not eat cotton, and cotton and tobacco rcpresen-
ted almost their entire dependence. Thousands
upon thousands had so patronized their ward
robes, or in consequence OF the vicsstudes OF
war; it had become so intangible that their
nakedness was in danger of exposure. lmme-
diate demands for the essentials OF lte-cloth'
ing and produce-had to be filled as soon as
the authority of the Federal Flag was recog-
nized by the people, and the leading spirit of
the rebellion divested of his wife's hoops and
his own personal liberty. Our commercial
men were not slow in realizing the contingency,
and as far as in them lay of providing for 1t,
and many drafts made upon our commercial
houses were duly honored. Later, the Iron
Horse, which had been stabbed for four years,
was brought forth and made to breath as of
vorc, and soon his whistle could be heard as
he bounded oyer territory from whence no
sound, other than the revelry of soldiery, tread
of cavalry, / o, the explosion of ordnance,
had been heard for years. Then came an in
creased demand for goods, i'll exchange for de-
sired staples. The position of Cairo was
known to any The merchant or producer
fromthe South could not reach the North with
out passing through Cairo as through gate.
Having no desire to expend their little funds
in travelling further North many OF them pat
ronized Us. But soon the demand became SO
great that our commercial men were forced to
acknowledge their incompetency to fill the Or
ders made upon them. AS tie Railroads OF
the South are being rebuilt. and the hum of
industry again heard in the workshops, fields
and plantations Of the South, tic Southern
people become correspondingiy buoyant, and
tive faculties, and bright, allspcols future.
Cairo st,N sits at the junction OF thc Mis-
sissippi and Ohio Rivers, seeing the wealth of
the entire Southern country coming up, yet
not able to clutch it. She needs capital-she
needs it invested in the establishing of extern
sive marts, in which everything be pur-
chased, and in any quantity. A man, not a
fool, who walks our streets, visits our levees
and takes into consideration our location, can
not fail determining that, above all other places
in the Union, Cairo presents inducements to
capitaists--to those especially who understand
commercial business, and will esta blish whole
sale houses here.
Cairo requires, aye, demands, more whole
sale grocery, dry goods and commission houses.
She needs an agricultural implement depot.
Every department of the wholesale business
should be represented, and fully. If a South
ern merchant comes here for goods and finds
that he can obtain his groceries but cannot his
dry goods he will go where he can supply all
his wants,
The opening Of the Mobile and Ohlo r. R
presents to Cairo wide field for trade, and
were we possessed of such wholesale houses as
we should have, we could command the grea
ter portion of it. From the Tennessee River
country we already have a large trade, but as
the people of that section recuperate they will
expect us to increase our inducements for
them to trade with us, otherwise they will go
TO other markets.
In conversation with one of our wholesale
merchants on this subject, to-day, we enquired
to the chances of parties bringing large
stocks of goods here securing stores and store
houses He assured lis that there would be no
difficulty of that nature experienced. Others
like himself would pledge themselves to vacate
their stores and Immediately erect other and
more extensive ones, and then exchange. Our
business men, unlike those of most other points,
are not jealous, but on the contrary are ready
10 extend the cordial, unreserved hand Of friend
ship and fellowship to every man Of energy or
capital who settles amongst us.
This subject is far from exhausted, but we
have not the space to elaborate upon 1t, to- day,
and will refer to it again. In the mean time
we hope it may meet the eye of capitalists and
that they may see tit to test our veracity and
judgment in the premises.