Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-04
THE SELMA
Meeting at the Chamber of
Commerce.
Speech of Gen. Forrest, Presi-
dent OF the Road.

dent OF the Road.
The meeting called at the Chamber O
: Commerce last evening was well at
, tended by the merchants, bankers anC
J business men OF the city. Mr.. Pickett
In the absence Of President Cherry, called
the meeting TO order, and stated its OBJ
Ject to be to appoint delegates to visit
Selma on the 6th inst. in response to al
invitation from the Chamber OF Com.
merce OF that city. He introduced Gen.
Forrest, who said that he had been work.
ing earnestly and constantly for months
past TO build the road from here
to Selma. He had raised $500, OOC
on the line of the road in way
OF subscription, and he had met
the greatest encouragement everywhere.
Okolona had subscribed $50, 900; Monroe
county as much, and every county and
town had contributed literally. Every
taing is in good working order and the
road can be built in six months from this
time. There is 10 question but that it
Will be done ia eighteen months. The
small roads from Selma to Cahaba and
from Macon to Greensboro, have been
purchased at one-fourth of their original
cost the iron is to be removed and
piscsd on the road from Selma to Oko-
Iona. The Chamber OF Commerce and
Board Of Aldermen of that city are
alive and busy in advancing the enter
prise and every where on the way the
work is proceeding vigorously. The
Georgia Central Railroad from Savannah
to Macon, has drawn an immense trade
to the latter city from Central Georgia.
They are now endorsing bonds to COM
plete the road on to Selma, and they
expect to complete it from Montgomery
to that city by next September.
II we of Memphis stand still and do
not move in matters that are vital to our
interests, while other cities GO forward
q build roads all around, hemming rs
In like q SPIDERS net, we will soon be
like the fly in the fable OF the spider and
iy-we will be caught fast, and while
unable to move, our life-blood will be
Slapped away from us. Other cities are
already bidding for The business of the
interior. He had seen agents from their
business houses everywhere he went, So
Letting and getting trade that properly
belongs and should come here.
Holly Springs sent 10, GOO bales of cotton
eastward this year. Memphis should
have received it instead. II the railroad
was built from here through to that point
we would not have lost this trade /; and
If st. Louis and other cities surround US
with roads, taking our trade entirely
away, we viii have ourselves to blame
for 1t. Mobile is doing all in her DOW.
er to develop and control the lines look
ing TO the coal and iron fields of central
Alabama. Her lands are rapidly in
creasing in value, and two g from
now that country will he of i'm
mense Importance. Capitalists are
already coming from Pennsylva-
mis- and OTHER Eastern min
ing regions, looking into the re-
sources OF the country with q view OF
purchasing and working the rich mines
it contains. A gentleman in Bib
county recently purchased a 200 acre
piece of land for $500, sold it soon for
$1,000, and $4,000 is now offered for the
same property, and all because of the
value of the metal it contains. Develop
that country and the country beyond,
and 9a will soon draw something from
it besides cotton 10 build up Memphis.
Do that and our merchants will not have |
3 t8o months business season and be
idle the rest of the year. II we are not
up and doing, but stsnd idle lOokers-on
while our very foundations are being
sspped away from Us, it will be entirely
our own fault.
He had been informed that 1t was very
difficult to get our business men to come
to the Chamber OF Commerce and con-
tribute to its sustenance and support.
Selma could get thirty or forty OF her
citizens and merchants together any,
time to transact theiY business, and at
the clOse of the war sae was q little in
significant town hardly known. But
she contained a live, active and busy
working population. She is 20 pros-
pering rapidly, and her enterprising peO-
pie are building houses, improving their
CITY, developing the country around
them, and working like beavers for the
advancement Of their city and to in
crease it's trade.
We must do something in the same
way, and not manifest an Indifferent
feeliug towards every public enterprise.
should eDGeavor to build up and fOs-
ter theB, keep up the organization of the
Of Commerce, attend its bust
ness meetings, aud make suggestions
for it's improvement. If we ridioule it,
refuse to contribute the small dues neces-
sary for its support, and fail to keep it
going, it will die q natural death, and
our city, when she becomes so
poor that she cannot sustain
such an organic alton will surely be 10 q
condition, and Memphis will
certainly deserve to become as dead an
institution as the Chamber of Commerce
will be. It is the only means you have
of sending the united voices of your
business men owe the country. Its in
huences are greater than you imagine /;
it's records and statistics are alone OF
great value to your merchants and citi-
zsns, and also people abroad. 1t gives
tone, reputation and character to your
city, and you should surely continue it.
make it vigorous and prosperous-and
through it increase the influence of your
city.
Gen. Forrest closed by saying he had
here ali his life, had made money
here, and hoped to prosper in the future,
rs his business experience led him to be-
lieve he would do. He wished to eOn-
tinue q Memphian, but il she Jagged
and fails to take action in an en-
Of such vital importance to her
interests, be would be compelled to turn
his back on the place be had always
50 well and look to other sources
FOR aid and support. The road through
Alabama will surely be built, and il
Memphis does not want it to come here
other cities will be very willing to have
It leave her aside.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Nelson
o adopted authorizing the Presi-
dent and Gen. Forrest to appoint dele
gates to the Selma Railroad Convention,
J. w. Clspp, VIM. Fsrris, f. A. Tyler,
Gen. VIM. Wallace and John Everitt,
Eco were appointed, and others will be-
ADDED to the list to-day.
A motion to appoint 8 committee to
solicit aid to defrsy the expresses of the
delegates was then carried, and Minor
T. A. Nelson and w. B.
Gslbreath were SO appointed.
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