Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-01-18
4 TRADE LEAGUE OF our RIVER

q
We cannot. a. g rule, undertake 10 return aru-
ciss not found suitable for publication.
TRADE LEAGUE OF OUR RIVER
CITIES.
On this subject the New Orleans COM
meroiol Bulletin Of the 18th presentssome
idaas which we consider highly deserv-
inc n attention Of our business men. 1t
saws: We do not mean anything polin-
cal or sectional. We have no idea OF a
Hanseatie association or a A0lverein.
We mesp to recommend q legitimate
conferenee among the river cities by
which they can combine certain facilities
of expectation, importation and inter
communication that must operate for b
advantage Of each. The isolation of sep
arate interests, the rivalry Of an imagi-
nary competition, should be obviated.
The river cities should harmonic and
combine upon any proposition OF a.
common interest; and to do his
they should confer together. There
is not 8 city on the Mississippi or Ohio
rivers. from New Orleans TO Dubuque on
the one. or to Pittsburg on the other,
which IS not deeply interested in restor-
ING the trade Of the Mississippi outlet.
Not only should the provisions, coal, iron
and manufactures Of the upper country
command the NEST direct and cheapest
communication with the world-mRrket,
hut the commodities imported in eX-
change should be allowed the utmost
facilities Of speedy and frequent commu-
nication. The commerce Of the eoun-
tries south with the productive and ex-
handing regions above US is far from en-
loving such menns Of intercourse as its
Importance deserves, and it is the mutual
interest Of all to encourage and develop
that commerce by every practicable
means
Indeed, the people Of the United
States scarcely appreciate the value OF
the vast continent, with its productive
islands, which furnishes the world with
productions almost peculiar to itself
Our whole trade goes to Europe. Our
provisions, and the raw material OF our
great staple, cross and recross the Allan
tic. We thus encounter the competition
of eheap labor and Of a fertile soil, en-
ployed in producing the same provision
orops that we do. The South seas afford
q market capable Of being made far more
prohtable. Let US develop this continent
tai commerce. 1t is the true home mar
ket of Americans. Let Us transfer the
competition with European capital Ia
Dor and productions TO U own side of
the ocean, and throw upon u cOmpeti-
tors the cost and burden we have here
tofore been compelled to bear.
To comprehend these great interests
and to organize the mean Of promoting
them will require q conference between
all the cities Of the Mississippi and Ohio.
They should send Populations from the
chambers Of commerce and councils of
each, to devise the means of attaining a
common object. But these consultations
should by no means be confined to navi-
cation. It should comprehend every
facility Of rail, express and telegraph,
both overland and oceanic.
Without expatisting upon that which
every merchant so well comprehends,
we may enumerate the points upon
which such 3 conference should be held
/. The removal at federal expense Of
all obstacles to river navigation, includ-
ing the bars and mud lamps of the Ba-
lie, with the falls at Louisville and st.
Anthony.
2 The organization Of through freights
from the upper cities to foreign ports,
with close connections and immediate [
transfers, importstions in bond, and, in
q word, the combination of cargoes ex- ]
ported from or consigned to the various I
river cities upon the same bottoms. J
3. A petition to congress 70 adopt a
continental policy, securing for Ameri- {
can interests the preference in all Ameri- I
a markets, reducing OF removing the {
impediments which exist 70 a free COM
merce with the tropical and Intercepted
regions.
We shall not assume to do more than
remind the great interests addressed, Il
that they have been separated by war :
and political excitement that the cities
OF the upper rivers have been compelled v
to circumnavigate New Orleans to reach q
ports south Of that city, and that they !
to that extent abandoned the great n
to which they have owed so p
much Of their prosperity. They can
still enjoy all the advantages Of 4
their eastern connections, but the value =
Of the Mississippi as the great regulator u
Of their freights, as their effectual protec- Z
ton against railroad and canal combina- :
lions, cannot be estimated. Designed by G,
nature 70 effect the interchange Of the t.
productions Of two great regions, it con-
like the ocean, a highway which =
may not be monopolized. II this great ).
design has been interrupted by tempo n
rszy and incidental obstacles, it would a.
be . criminal negligence on the part Of y
hose interested in this immense COM
TO omit any measures Of physical, st
or municipal improvement ne u
,essary to redeem and realize its magni- n
scent destinies. zoe
let US hope, therefore, to see some con- br
erence and compact among the Missis- %
ippi cities which will revive the Missis- =,
trade. What say u merchants Of
be exchange, our chamber Of COM a
nerce and our common council to send 81
committee on q visit TO cur commercial
Of st. Louis, Memphis, Louis ct,
lille and Cincinnati q? ce