New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-07
THE CITY OF CAIRO.
Rise md Progress of Oniro-The Levees-
Beneft Received by the War-Business
Men Getting Rich-The Two Great OBJ.
stueIes 20 Progress-EIprcss Monopoly
md Grog shops-FriendIy Advice.

tAikOt MhIch o. iouV'
An attempt to make o city at Cairo, Illinois,
was made in 1873 According to Mr. Dickenss account,
Mark Tapley who never was happy except in distress
was one Of the parties o helped clear the Delta Of
timber was very sick and happy and the plan was aban
doned. 81. Lc:is, having population OF 200 or 100
was too much for IL. Thirty fears ago q Stacking
hotel was built the point and there were lew Other
shops and lodging houses. Very many people had
10 stop here TO change boats. II not considered
safe Years aiterward, when skeletons were found in
digging they were considered to DO the remains OF
murdered travellers. In lsis, the first newspaper'was
established. rs editor was A. II. Sanders, who be-
came general in the Amy, and now is postmaster at
Davenport. His papor ran only year ana hali.
Had the ground been high Cairo would to-day be the
largest city in the West About 1850 the Cairo City
| Prenerty Comuany organized and a small ievee
built but the first lot sold In 1888. Then they Duit
the levee the Ohio side good and strong at an ex
pense o. at least half million OF dollars. English capt
ialsts were largely Interested and among them were
Mr. Peabody and Mr. Golden Anerward. springheld
folks bought lots and Abraham Lincoln was one HIS
widow the ground where tue Louisiana House
stands Still the water would soak through the ievees.
and the space between the triangle made by hen each
side Of which is about two miles long would be covered
with standing water. In times Of Hood or overflow
the water would be from six to twelve feet deep ana
came 10 the caves OF many one.stoTy houses.
| when the railroad was finished, the town began 70
grow bu, business houses were confined 10 the ONO
Ieyec Al the commencement of the war the popula-
ton was about 1900. Some streets were bailt up a
little within the basin, but when there were hard
/
place 10 place In skfs. Then they built sidewalks
from lg 10 ten feet high They had two steam pumps
goirg. but they could do little good except wien inc
water was low. They were useful TO pump out summer
When the hour cane the majority was for the South.
aud It is understood that the Rebels invited To
occupy the town but Geo, Preniis, got tbe sr Then
they set up wailing-ther pros porous little city va.
20 De ruined But they had shut up and they grinned
ana bore It. Then the few Republicans began to be
respected The gathering Of the vast number Of sol
dlcrs united with the river business gave the town
new life. All kinds Of business Gourished. Those who
had dragging along years debt and without
hope n plenty DO. Every man. with fair ntten
ton Ia business got rich Several have retired with
10 astralger Il was horrible place Even the large
hotel with the public In the center. whence wind
stairs 10 the roof scntand stl sends I'll late hours of
the night tobacco smoke and voices Of drinking men
into every room smoiherng and lorbdding sleep and
yeImin used 10 abound without bounds Misery was
plea misery. Mr Tuplcy has had successors by the
miOn who were j0lly-nOt while in the town, but
when they LEFT 1t. St Il il fair 10 say. and II is
strange TO say that the health Of the town always
good.
/ tie streets with roll which had accumulated the
Mississippi shore. outside of the eyee An iron track
was laid and locomotive put on. by which
Commefeial'hye was hIei up on an average of nine
feet Tie work paid for 10y taxing the property
benefited and was profitable TO oil parties. They could
have dry land the year round and the increase In the
value Of lots and houses exceeded the cost Then they
filed up oross-sreots, aud now tie city Is rising as II
from delngc. This process makes one'story houses
out Oi tUure 0i stoti't uhltrr iufN
as many are, AID every square has deep hollow
some day It will be flied. The cellars being already
dug. walls only will be required.
BY the last census the population OF Cairo was l2 6j5
The revenue Is $1,000 direct tax. 2iOO0-the rest
is raised from fines aud Licenses The debt is $1,000
Last year the special assessment fOI filing streets
$4,000 There are many firsi'eass business houses
and elegant residences aud the suburbs equal to
.6se oi Almost any other prosperous city. There are
large well stocked With goods. particularly with
groceries aud presume II VII De now to the hotel
1 l.t tftl
for sale. The Hall of the Chamber OF Commerce, used
by the Board Of Trade. Is NICE large roo where the
merchants meet for business. From TO 20 large
steamers call during the q hours and leave every
evening for Memphis and NewOfleans. Boats also
run in connection with the Ohio and Mobile Railroad.
which terminates at Columbus, 20 miles below Cairo.
The number Of passengers Is large, aud the freight
traffic Is immense. Although the retail trade has
greatly diminished since the war, the Southern trade Is
Of equal II not Of greater value.
class city. there ale two very great obstacles The
first arises from the excessive charges OF the Railroad
and Express companies. which make and keep tho peO
pie Of the surrounding country mseraby poor and de
press every energy. heavy business should be done
IN supplying Chicago with early vegetables aud many
came from the North TO 20 into Mo bunness but II
should be known that such have chance Five years
ago. il was found mprohtabe; with each year the
charges have increased 10 ueh extent that nobody
can carry on the business except at dead loss.
gentleman who from Pennsylvania and settled At
villa Ridge II miles from Cairo raised patch OF to-
matoes last year. and sent four boxes 10 Chcngo TO ny
the market aud receiving account Of sales, ho
was - cents In debt A column could be hed with
accounts nearly as bad-sOme would be worse There
is no profit on anything but high priced fruit.
The people Of this whole State aroused and such
has their and Indignation, that they
have trumphed 10 the extent Of forcing the companies
to make replies the Of which is they carry ing
ns cheap as they afford Is proved by their small
dividends. But they have been followed up by men as
sharp as themselves which s the principle that no
horse Is so fast bnt another beat him. and now
1t charged thai the managers swnding the stock
holders TO an awful extent by running express cars on
their own account to which they parties from
which they receive immense sums hence the innocent
khoders deprived OF business which belongs 10
them and consequently, dividends while the people
are bled tO death. Thus Ii will be seen, as repeatedly
has been stated in this correspondence but which peo
pe could not that IL Is the express which Is the
grand villain. The stockholders and the people may
expect the most astonishing developments OF rascaty
II is said that several managers have found II oonyen
lent TO resign; but this VIII be Of benefit unless the
whole business il ripped open for more hungry swarm
viii follow.
OF course. people so far from market are easily
ground into the dust by the transportation companies
uaton which has the Of trade, TO make improve
ments. to educate their families and to develop the
country
| The other obstacle s the immense number OF grog-
| shops. compute that every fhh house Is liquor
establishment aud that Ave families and tho transient
travel support one OF these pits which lead down to
death. Then there are enough bil'ardtnhles IN the
city build and support college. The whisky interest
always has ruled. During the war they bat The naval
station for this very reason, and II was 40. fully
100000 To drink has been fashionable. Tie aces
OF young men, on going into business, have changed
ffom healthfu color TO blister red. then to wine.
then to purple and at last 10 mahogany. This is the
b.oated state the neck gets thick. the jaws square,
| aud the eyes bioodshot.
They had a thestcr which was well conducted. but 1t
had In vo under gr0g- uOVerful