Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-03
RH


Gazette of the 2Sth ult., in which we
find not a few Misrepresentation of
Memphis, her present condition and
future prospects. For instance, we are
told that everybody who visits
"Memphis returns with the same ac-
"count Of the dull, dreary monotony
that universally prevails in that
4" city-tenantless business houses,
lack of improvement and a general
4" lethargy seems prevalent throughout
/" that once prosperous and thriving
town." and, farther on, that Gin
spite Of her numerous railroads, and
"the advantage of a central location
90 on the Father of Waters, she finds
cher former prestige fast giving way.
I" In 1850, the population of Memphis
"was 1899. In 1860 it amounted to
"22,6 23, an increase of ID, 784 in ten
"years. We have no means of ascer-
" tanning her present population; but
" from observation, and report, we do
mot think it is greater than So 5000"
Nothing can be farther from the truth,
as it appears to us constant denizens
Of Memphis. There are a few tenant
less stores-a very few-nothing like
half as many as existed this
time last year; our streets have
all the appearance Of business,
activity and life; we have several no.
table improvements under way; have
secured the dry docks, which from
the first have paid a handsome profit;
have established a barge companyw with
a cash capital Of 100000; will shortly
open the Union and Planters Bank Ca
new institution with a working capt.
tai of 81, 900, 600; have re-established
the Planters Insurance Company, with
a cash and working capital of $780,
600; have two first-class life insurance
companies established within the past
three years, enjoying an almost aston
ishing prosperity; have the Selma,
the Mississippi River, and the Little
Rock Railroads in course of construc-
ton; and have a thousand or more
merchants, business men and traders
who cannot be beat for activity,
shrewdness or for practical results by
any others in the Union. This does
not look as if Memphis was going
back, standing still or declining. Our
contemporary has been taken in and
done for by some person who was a
failure in Memphis, and who regards
her through his own experiences. We
would respectfully inform the Gazette
that our population is now fully 3D.
600 to 10000, an increase in nine years
of more than 22,377 souls, or 1888
more than the increase with which
we are credited between 1850 and
1860, and this despite the civil war.
We sell this year over 100000 bales of
cotton, that will net us fully $50, 000,-
900, and our trade in other articles
will largely exceed $40 600, 600. This
is exclusive of manufactured articles,
of which we produce more than ST.
900, 900 worth per annum. This does
not look like idleness, dizziness, thrift
lessness or sh~iftlessness. We should
say not. Our contemporary is wide of
the mark. He states the very re-
of the fact. Memphis is to-day
regarded, and justly so, as the rising
city of the West. The railroads to
here and three already pouring
into her lap the wealth-producing
products of a country almost virgin
and but yet very thinly settled, and
her position at the head of perpetual
navigation on the Mississippi, all sug-
gest a future more promising than any
that ever was dreamed of by the most
sanguine Chicagoan. No, MI. Ga
zette. Memphis is in a most prosper
Gus condition, and is likely to be not
withstanding that Little Rock may,
as we hope she will, continue to in
crease, as the Gazette claims, at the
rate of 1900 persons every ten years.