The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-08-31
THE SITUATION.


o
1t would be folly to attempt to disguise
the fact that Cairo shares in the general
business prostration of the country. Our
merchants complain of dull trade, and
our mechanics and laborers Of the want
Of employment. There Is not an actual
stagnation, but in every department of
trade there Ii want Of thrift that can
not escape the notice Of THE most careless.
It II our own fault that this condition
ofaffairs exists among us. An activeuse
OF means at our hands would apply the
corrective. what these means are, almost
every citizen knows. From the immense
reshipping business done at our wharves,
we fall to realize our own because we do
not own the tonnage to accommodate IL.
The eamboats that take II from our
wharfboats and warehouses are owned in
st. Louis, Louisville and Cincinnati, and
work In the interest Of those cities, col
lecting money abroad for distribution at
home. Contemplate, for moment, the
effect that daily or even tri-weekly line
Of Cairo and New Orleans boats, owned
here, would exert upon our business. A
tri.weekly line would embrace elk boats,
the aggregate expenses Of which would
not be less than three thousand dollars
per day. More than one half Of this sum
would be expended in Cairo. The boat
stores and slarge:portion Of the fuel would
be bought here; all repairs would be
done here; the officers and crews would
reside here, and fully three.fourths Of
the money received by them as wages
would be put In circulation here. Furth.
ermore, our wharfboats would be kept
clear Of freights; shipments would never
be delayed, and q knowledge Of the exis-
tence of such line would control con.
signments in favor Of Cairo that now find
other outlets.
II IL, doubtless, our own fault that we
have not m arine way and ship yard,
dry.docks, ETC., In full tide Of operation
In this regard Cairo offers unparalleled
advantages. Any sensible man knows
what these advantages are, and, II he Is
honest, will acknowledge their existence.
New Albany, Madison and Cincinnati,
with comparatively few advantages,
carry on boat building and repairing
business, which, II transferred here,
would quicken our city into career of
prosperity OF which we have known
nothing since the close Of the war.
We cannot dismiss from our mind the
notion that a set OF marine ways, or, at
least dry.docks, can be secured here i'm
mediately, II our leading citizens will so
determine. AT the head OF ever.opeD
navigation, with a good harbor, and
timber all around US, we'll
boat building and repair bust
ness would prove prosperous here beyond
expectation. Ifonly ordinarily success.
full, at least one hu ndred mechanics and
laboring men would receive constant
employment, and through them at least
a hundred thousand dollars would be
ad led to our circulation annually.
Had we the line OF Cairo and New
Orleans packets, and the marine ways
or dry.docks now operating In our be-
half, we should know nothing of the
scarcity ofmoney, and business prostrs-
ton OF which the whole country Is com
planning. We would possess vitality
quite Independent Of the outside world,
and would 60 on prospecting, although
the country generally might be anguish
ing.