Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-17
From Paducah, Ky.


How ii piH 46ect Memphis-The
Necessity of our Merchants BE.
stirring themselves.
Correspondence Public Ledserl
PADUCAH, KY, August II, 1861.
By a printed circular which has
CHANGED to fall into my hands since my
arrival here, my attention has been
called to the fact that by joint effort
of the citizens Of New Orleans and this
point another movement has been set on
foot to circumyeut Memphis and, for the
benefit of Padueahians who expect by
an extension Of the New Orleans and
Ohio Air Line railroad, from Jackson,
Tenn, its present terminus, to Paducah,
to take all the trade of the country
lying in the immediate vicinity of that
line and as far down as the venturesome
New Orleanians will meet them in com
petition.
have no objection to this movement
of the people of Paducah, as / am one
of those who believe in public works of
every kind, and =" the more railroads the
better" And in calling the attention
of the mercantile public of Memphis
to the fact it is only with view that one
and all may be on the qui riue, making
vigorous efforts to counteract the in
luences that will be brought to bear
to outbid US as traders in the estimation
of the people who inhabit the scope OF
country from the Tennessee river to
Canton, Miss, and along the entire
route. Already St. Louis has made Sc
rious inroads upon our trade in White
aud Arkansas rivers. New Orleans has
recovered her influence ON the rivers be-
low there, and the Tennessee has been
almost monopolized by Cairo, Paducah,
Evansville, Louisville and Cincinnati,
as has the Cumberland ever since the
war.
Our railroads are doing what they
can by advertisement and inducement to
bring trade here, but they, except one,
are languishing, and as | understand
are failing for want of that push and
concentrated effort which made by the
merchants of ST. Louis and Cincinnati
and Chicago have made those places
something more than mere railroad sta
tons.
Our Chamber of Commerce should be
sustained by more than a spasmodic'el-
fort. II should be body, making itself
felt in all that concerns the life and ac
livity of Memphis, and should take cog.
nizance of these laudsble efforts of the
mercantile communities Of other places
and exert themselves in counter schemes
for their own benefit, and to preserve the |
trade they have achieved by so much |
labor and skill. It is only by exertioD,
never failing exertion, that Memphis has
been made what she is, and it is only by |
continued and still greater exertion that
she can hope to hold her own against ae
tive rivalry and grow to the proportions
hoped for her. As she increases in di-
mensions, the causes for increased &C
tvity will grow too. 1t depends upon
her merchants whether she will not an
ticipste her destiny and be prepared,
under all circumstances, for emergen-
cies, such as the enterprise Of merchants
in other places create for her. The
President and officers Of our Chamber
Of Commerce are energetic and faithful,
and If only they were sustained by the
merchants generally might hope to &C
complish something. Alone and unaided
they cannot stem the current that, as /
have hinted, will sap the whole strength
Of Memphis. Our people should learn
that the North has lsHg acted upon the
principle that without associated ef-
fort" but little can be accomplished BY
struggling for ascendaney
10 commerce.
enclose the circular alluded to, and
hope you will make such qualifications Of
H. or parts Of il. as viii serve the pur-
pose OF warning this community that
another effort is about 10 be made TO cur
tail our trade, and this time Ct our veey
door sills. Yours,
MFNPHlay ABROAD.