Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-27
OUR TRADE IsrEREsTs.
A Circular from the Officers OF
the Chamber ofCommerce.
something for The business
Men 70 Read ana Penders

may be read by every business man and
| property holder IN the city; 80
The officers OF the Chamber Of Com.
meres feel Il their duty. bat regret the
necessity Of having to address you in
this public manner in regard to matters
vitality affecting your interest and the
prosperity ofonr city. asfo .
Many Of you have cheerfully come
forward and contributed your share to
sustain an institution The like Of which
10 important in all well regulated com
mercial cities, and around which the
business men eau rally, and, by united
effort, accomplish great good in opening
ADD regulating the channels Of com
merce. on which your prosperity so
greatly depends. Some, whose interest
dictates different course, have with
held from the Chamber of Commerce
that moral and material support which,
is 90 essential TO its interest. Others,
who are more careful Of cur mercantile
prosperity, became members Of the
Chamber, and have been entitled to all it's
privileges, but, we regret TO soy, have
failed to pay even their annual dues,
alleging that the Chamber was not
"iive " institution. We would ask all
such, ifthe institution can be made alfce
IL its members fail to attend and con-
tribute TO impartipg that interest 10 its
meetings which is so desirable. Great
allowance should be made for the extra
ordinary monetary pressure and depres-
sion of trade through which we have
passed for the last year, wrecking the
NRunes of some, and involving otherss
II is believed that we have now, seen the
bottom Of our adversely, and that we are
again on the ascent, and if Providence
continues to smile, as, it has for few
weeks past, on the efforts Of our plan.
tiers. you will soon have it in your power
to place Memphis in her former prosper.
GUS condition. In unity there is
strength" and without o united effort TO
control the trade to which our city is emit.
tied BY her geographical position, we may,
expect other cities to take that which of
right belongs to us. That we have during
the past year lost large part of the trade
to which we are entitled,is plain to every
merchant OF our city. This has to some
extent been caused by a want of capital
and embarrsssments ofour people, but to
large extent by the want Of united
action of our merchants. This must con-
tinue as long as we act for our individual
self and do nothing for the general good.
The Chamber of Commerce is the place
around which we, can all unite in, that
course which will again place US on the
road to prosperity, and we appealto you,
as it is our duty to do, to extend the
necessary assistance by your presence,
at all meetings, and the payment of
such dues as remain unpaid. If that is
not responded to, the officers Of the
Chamber will feel it to be their duty to
announce that the business has ceased
as an organization. This result we have
feared for many months past, but were
unwilling to announcei it, hoping that
revival OF interest in the general good
would make Il unnecessary. The down
fall of the Chamber would in our opin-
ion, affect the prosperity of our, city to
an extent that she would not soon re-
cover from. II is true, the business Of
the Chamber, by the inaction OF lis mem
bers, has been meager for months past,
but it has been regarded as a rallyIng |
point whenever any public enterprise
made it necessary for our merchants to
come together. s Il es@
The officers of the Chamber feel that
they have done all in their power to keep
up the organization. The hall, ooe -of
the best in the city. has been at alltimes
kept in suitable order for meetings aud
the reception of visitors; the statistics
of imports and exports have been kept
with regularity and correctness; meet
for the transaction, of business, and for
mouths past the response has been too
meager for the requirements OF meeting
under our bylaws This has been hui
initiating to the officers aud a few who
have seen the effect of their failures; and
we now make this last appeal and ask
you to unite with us in keeping alive an
institution OF the greatest importance to
the prosperity of our city, and suggest
that the members, and all those who de-
sire to become members, meet us at the
hall Of the Chamber, on Wednesday, FIRST
Of July proximo. ~ 0~
1t is proper to state that the payment.
of the dues, by delinquent members,
will afford ample means TO pay all in
debtedness and defrsy hll expenses for |
the current year. lfthat is not done
the Chamber must cease to exist, and
our people must bear the consequences.
No half dszen or dozen enterprising
members eau keep it alive. 1t requires
a united and continuous effort of all
our merchants, traders aud properly |
owners 10 impart that success
and interest which its importance
demands. That Memphis, as a cotton |
market, is equal to any in the world is q |
we'll known fact. That il can be made |
as good market for the sale of tobacco,
wheat, corn, etc, etc, is equally certain.
Our position on the great commercial /
highway," aud our connection with the |
interior by lines of railroad makes this |
an admitted fact, and il only requires
the united effort Of our merchants, which |
should be made without delay, to pour
into our city a trade equal to the time
Of our greatest prosperity.
Much complaint is made about loss Of \
trade by excessive rates Of freight by |