Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-02-20
rDrroRIAL CORREsPoNDENCE.
NV or1ras.. resrasry u. ISIS.

The following article, which we in
tended sooner to reproduce In the col
umns Of the APPEAL, appeared In the
New Orleans Commercial Bulletin of the
9Th inst:
COMMERCIAL LEAGUE OF THE RIVER
FH CITIES. III
! In a long and interesting conversation
with Albert Pike, ESQ.,, editor of the
| Memphis APPEAL, we have been more
/ completely impressed wish the import-
apce Of such a composition among all
the cities Of the Mississippi valley than
ever heretofore. We learn that Memphis
is complaining OF exactly the same diffi-
I cuities which beset New Orleans. Her
trade is detected North and East by the
I superlor attractions Of rail routes. Her
merchants find their customers supplied,
z uD 20 their very doers, with goods from
! the cities OF Cincinnati, Baltimore and
I New York. The planters who should
! find their natural market Ia Memphis,
are deriving their provision Supplies from
/ other sources. In q word, Memphis suf-
! fers the same, or perhaps greater stag
nation OF commerce than New Orleans.
We did rot hesitate 10 express the opiu-
/ ion TO our distinguished oO1lfyere that the
cause and remedy FOR the evils were
! identified with the two cities. Each must
/ aduptthe same commercial system which
/ has wrought the injury. It is the supe-
] rior facilities of rail, express and tels-
I graph which have DETECTED the trade and
/ Intercepted the business and trAveIof
I each.
Each should at euce adopt 81 these
means Of rsgs.ning its lost trade. Mem
pEis should extend its radial lines into
Arkansas and upper Texas. She should
bring all her outside rail to an union
depot, and transfer her passengers and
freight 70 and from the river without
charge, delay or exposure. So long as
either city shall impose any transit tax,
whether Of time or money, upon COM
nercs, commerce will prefer the routes
on which there is no such tax
Memphis is, moreover, complaining OF
hign reuts and expensive food supply.
The city sells the market privilege, and
objects to the sale Of provisions ts citf-
zers by retail from the fistboats, and
possibly from private shops. We have
heretofore explained how these interme-
diary charges Increase the cost Of doing
business, and is il this which places
Memphis under a disadvantage ia her
competition with Cincinnati and Balti-
more. But the similarity IN the situa-
ton of the two cities named extends it.
self also to st. Louis, and, in some re-
spects, even TO Chicago. All these cities
are Interested in Importing merchandise
in competition with Eastern cities, and
No one Of them can do SO by Itself
Memphis especially has made a strong
effort 70 open a trade with France direct, |
but so far, we believe, without success.
This failure may be easily explained |
Memphis cannot sustain a line Of steam /
ers in 3 commerce with France, only |
because she does not sell French goods /
enough to do so. We mSy even admit |
that New Orleans and ST. Louis could |
not do SC. But IL all these cities should |
combine in the patronage Of steam lines |
to New York, Havana, Panama, Rio
Janeiro, Havre, st. Nszsire, Liverpool /
or Bremen, the!T joint cSrgOes, out and |
Ia, might effect for all what the isolated |
effort OF each must fail to accomplish. |
The practical plan would be for each of \
the river cities to take stock in one or /
more ocean lines from New Orleans. Let |
sach consign its caTgOes, whether of |
cotton or provisions, on through bills to |
tire New Orleans line, which would for |
ward them without com mission or other /
charge except for freight. 10 like man |
Ier the return cargo OF merchandise |
would be consigned to such river boats |
ss the up river cities may designate, to |
be forwarded at once on express Tina to |
their destination. BY thus conibining |
eargOes out and in--by thus adopting an !
overland aud ocean express transports-
ton, the river cities may purchase goods |
in the market cities of Europe st the |
lowest cash or credit prices, and bring |
them into the interior with the utmost |
speed and economy.
This system perfected among the great |
cities, which are, or which shall be made 7
ports of entry, and in q short time al /
most all the Western towns would ex- |
port, order aud receive caIgoes, or at /
least packages by these consolidated /
lines. II is obvious that while these |
cities and towns cannot succeed in max |
ing q direct trade by river even with /
New York, they may all combine their /
efforts and patronage with success.
The organization Of 3 direct trade /
with the West Indies and Continental
America Is equally important and /
equally feasible. In this enterprise we /
may anticipate that Chicago will readily |
unite and contribute her grain and other /
provisions for exchange against the |
grocery trade Of the South. We have |
given the indications that this great |
trade will no longer be conducted around /
Us by way Of New York, but will be put ]
fhFOUgb by New Orleans. Could our |
Cham Der OF Commerce do better shan |
appoint COMMITTEES Of Conference with /
the up river cities, that they may demand |
for Us such Congressional aid as We may I
need? We think the subject worthy Of I
consideration, and hope the press Of
Memphis, st. Louis and Chicago Will /
take up this subject and combine the |
river cities in a common effort TO regain |
and enlarge the river commerce.
We shall be glad to hear the views of
practical business men on the subjects
touched upon by the Bulletin.
The experience of other cities has
proven the impolicy of compelling pas
ssrgsrs by rail to make long transit |
through q city by omnibus, and of
heavy freight from one
depot to another, and between depots
and river, by drsy. Toe profits that
accrue to haekmen, draymeD, omnibus
owners and hotels, 5y the compelled |
Of freight, and the con-
veyznce and delaying of passengers, are
just 90 much tax imposed on commerce
and travel, and operate cut Of all prOpor-
tion to the amount of the tax to divert /
commerce and travel from the city.
Memphis has with reason complained
Of high rents; but that incubus on in
dusTy aud enterprise is now largely
The case is the same in
New Orleans, as We see by the following
ing extract from one of the morning
journals:
There is one encouraging feature OBJ
servAbie, that Of reduction in rents.
Good dwellinghouses can be hired for
the balance OF the season, or up to the LIST
OF November next, for half the prices OF
last year. Stores can be rented for one
quarter Of former prices. We learned
yesterday Of iour-story store in : cenr
tral location, fronting on two streets,
being rented for SIS per month. Last
yeaE the same property was leased at the
rate OF $500 per year. Rents must de-
cline In fact, they should Deyer have
been advanced TO Inc rates now ruling.
WILLIAM RUSSELL, Of st. Louis,
OvgnA1 |