Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-16

The Proposed Mississippi Val.
ley Navigation Company.
The Meeting ON 'Change Yes
terday.

ihtt tftuiuks iuouccs W W kiFo sho Pto
ceedipgs at greater length. The object
Of the meeting was fully sci forth in the
following report presented by commit
tee appointed at previous meeting:
To the Chamber Of Commerce. Memphis;
Your committee appointed by the
Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday
evening last, to present TO q subsequent
meeting of the Chamber Of Commerce
the practicability Of the plan Of the new
enterprise OF Captain DeHaven for build
ing and establishing in the New Orleans
trade line of low pressure steamers,
built upon the new and improved mod
els and also TO report upon the proba-
bility and praclicabiity Of getting up a
sufficient amount of stock to complete
said enterprise, beg to report upon its
entire feasibility; and that after looking
into the plans and explanations OF
Captain DeHaven, after carefully weigh
ing the advantages which must accrue
to the city of Memphis, and the entire
country tributary thereto, have no hest.
fancy in confidently advising the cordial
cooperation of every member of the com
munity interested in building up the in
terests OF our city aud section, aud OF ex-
pressing our faith in its ultimate and GER
tain success; and we most cordially in
vite the taking o. at least a portion Of the
stock by every business man of this city
and vicinity. We beg also, furthermore,
TO report the special importance OF the
enterprise to each and all the railroads
centering in Memphis, and to epjoin upon
them the importance of owning fair
portion OF the stock.
GSigned] WIN. r. Moore.
JYo. r. WATKINS
The above being adopted, Capt. De-
Haven proceeded to elucidate the plan
he had in view, of placing the new line
of steamers in operation, and referred
to the effect the enterprise must have
upon the commercial interest of Mem.
phis. He alluded to our splendid geo.
graphical position and natural advan-
tages, and said he thought this was the
most desirable place for building and re.
psiring steamers on the entire Mississip-
pi, or even the Ohio, and that plenty of
excellent timber for ship.building pur-
poses could be got in the vicinity of
Memphis, and if this undertaking was
commenced here it would at once add
from ten to fifteen thousand to our popu-
lation. he wanted the people of Mem
phis to take hold of the enterprise he
represented at once, as other cities were
anxious to get hold of it, and mentioned
among others that of the city of Paducah.
Considerable discussion followed the
Captains remarks, which was generally
participated in by the business men
present. Mr.. Samuel Gates referred to
the determinations made against Mem.
phis by the various railroads and packet
lines, and looked upon Captain Della
vens enterprise as the only means of
correcting the evil. He hoped, there.
fore, our people would arouse themselves
to the Importance Of prompt and vigor-
GUS measures to better our condition.
Captain Lee looked upon the apathy
and Indifference pervading the CONNER
cial circles of the city as inexcusable.
He said that we had allowed our local
packet lines to die out, and quietly surren.
dered the trade they brought us to other
markets. He also alluded to the advan-
tages Memphis possessed as tobacco
market, and yet no steps were taken to
secure that trade. while at GAINESVILLE
there were more market transactions in
tobacco in one day than there were in
Memphis in ten years. If the people
would only shake off their lethargy and
20 right to work, Memphis would one
day become one of the greatest cities in
the Union.
Judge j. I. Swayne spoke in glowing
terms Of the new enterprise.
superintendent Robertson, of the
Memphis and Little Rock railroad, fol-
lowed ia a telling speech. He said he
had only been a resident of Memphis for
about a month, having come from Little
Rock to this city, but he had the inte-
rest of Memphis at heart In Little
Rock they had ticket Office, and when
the merchants went to purchase their
goods from Little Rock they went to
Louisville and New York, and not a
single merchant came to Memphis. |
Louisville held out greater inducements
than Memphis, and by this means got |
all the trade He then referred to the |
great natural advantages possessed by |
Memphis, and then went on in thor
oughly practical and sensible manner to
refer to the great advance made by At
lauta, Ga, since the war. That city had
increased just one-half larger than it was
before it was burned down by order of
Gen. Sherman, and all this had been done
through the energy of its citizens. Four
years ago they had nothing but blackened
to work on, and now they have
4 fine, fourishing city. he then referred
10 the excellent railroad connections in
and around Selma, and said that if the
citizens Of Memphis did not exercise more
energy, their trade would be- tapped at
every point He wanted them to take
advantage of the grand resources which
nature had given the city. If they only
gave encouragement to such enterprises
IS the one they were then discussing, the
nnnnirr in and around Memphis would