Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-28
COMMERCE. AND MANU-
FACTURES.
Suggestions to the Chamber of Com
merce.

Il
ROAD y BREwERIEs, BARLEY-GRowIsG,
CooPERs' SHOPS, MARBLE YARDS, WILL
| Low-wARE FACTORIES, CASTOR OIL
WORKS, AND PAPER MILLS.
A short time ago the Chamber Of Com.
merce was urged to assist St. Louis in
extending the Iron Mountain railroad to
Helena That was bad policy. When
the branches of the Little Rock road to
Fort Smith and Shreveport, securing the
tide of travel to and from California and
the trade of Upper Texas and whole Of
Arkansas for Memphis, are completed,
st. Louis will be forced to extend the
Iron Mountain road in order to obtain If
possible the St. Francis and Black rivers
trade. Her interests will induce her to
progress without assistance, for q wise
people will build railroads for the expor-
tation of their own merchandise and
manufactures, and not for the importa-
ton of other peoples goods.
Instead of spending money in that way.
the interests of Memphis direct your
attention to a continuation Of the Missis-
sippi and Tennessee road from Grenada
to Meridian, where junction can be
formed with a road running to Selma,
Ala, and a large trade diverted toward
Memphis that is now carried by it on
the Mobile and Ohio road. Branches
joining this continuation could be run
from Gainesville, Macon, Lexington,
Artesia, West Point, Aberdeen and Okla
Iona, and the very heart of rich country
brought to your doors. The people and
Legislature of Mississippi, as soon as
that State resumes her former self-goy-
ernment, would assist this enterprise, as
it would be to their advantage to have as
many branches of road connecting points
across the State as possible. 49,
By the aid of the Alabama river, this
continuation from Grenada to Selma
would lead you to Montgomery, and
thence on direct road through Opelika,
Columbus, Macon and Millen to Sayan-
nah, Ga, the shortest route from Mem
phis to the seaboard.. Thus would be
wide region opened for the export and
|.
sale of articles manufactured here. 1909
| Let us see what those articles might be-.
A regard for health and vivacity OF
spirits ought to make the people of the
South use less water and more OF the
home -brewed beverage of their ances-
tors. What is known as London por-
ter" is the healthiest stimulant in the
world. 1t is used at the tables of both
rich and poor in England to help diges-
tion; and what q fat and hearty race the
English are-the men as round as pun
cheons and the women as plump as
peaches. Well, porter as good as the
London can be made in Memphis, and
sold all over the country for one-third
the price now paid. There are several
sites in the suburbs with springs of ex-
cellent water for breweries; and he who
erects one and conducts the brewing bus
mess with energy, will soon find himself
as famous and rich as Perkins OF Lon
| don or Guinness of Dublin. fsg.a
Breweries would introduce barley
growing among our farmers, and give
labor to a number of men as maltsters
The soil of Shelby and other portions OF
West Tennessee is peculiarly adapted to
barley. A gentleman who lately tested
| it produced forty bushels to the acre, and
with good cultivation a larger crop can
be grown. This surely is worth an expe-
riment
Cooperage would also follow brewsries
II would be necessary TO have casks and
kegs constantly made aud repaired; and
here would be another addition to the
wealth and prosperity Of the city. A few
coopers' shops once opened and under
way" their time would not be occupied
altogether in making and repairing casks
and kegs; they would soen turn out
tubs, buckets, coolers, churns, and every
descrir lion Of wooden ware" now i'm
pofted from the North. There is plenty
Of timber for this kind Of work close
around us; all that is required to give
IL life is a little capital, energy and skill.
Tennessee marble is said TO be as sus-
cepsible Of as ine n polish as any marble
| in the world. II Is found abundantly IN
the Middle and Eastern portions Of the
STATE. aud ought 20 be used extensively
in public buildings and private resi-
dences. as we'll as in tomb-stones, mo1u-
ments and couutera There is varie-
gated kind found near the Cumberland
river which is used mostly Tor mantei-
pieces, and is said 10 be very beautiful.
A DIR. Dickinson, Of Philadelphia, is n
present procuring large supply Of this
marble for manufacturers IN the City OF
Brotherly Lors," Who vail turn Il into
not ouly mantel-pieces, bat tops Tor bu-
rsaus, center-tahies and uashstands, and
realize large sums 90 their outlay, inge-
nuify and enterprise Why is there no