Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-20

CtttiUdtOF, last year, VIII DC iohS Ac
membered by the readers of agrieul-
tural literature, and with especial
pride by the thousands who endorsed
the opinions and theories of the young
Tennesseeana as against the Georgians.
Capt. GIFT is justly entitled to the
credit of being father to the present
movement. In October, '66, he wrote
the first article on the subject, which
appeared in the columns of one of our
contemporaries. In the following
spring he again took up the matter in
the Southern CttiUatOr, but failed to
make an impression on the public
mind. He then urged the citizens of.
Savannah to do exactly what the peO-
pie of Memphis have lately done
meet, organize, and do something.
No attention was paid to the matter;
so it was left to MEMPHIS to take the
lead, and right well has she done it.
The April number of the Overland
Monthly contained an exhaustive ar
ticle on the subject of Chinese laborers
in California; a description of them
and their employments was given,
which, meeting the eye of Capt. GIFT,
he procured it to be reprinted in the
Southern Farmer, and followed with a
strong article in the next month. The
papers containing these articles were
forwarded to Col. FLOURNOY, who at
once commenced the agitation of the
subject on the Arkansas river, which
gives Col. FLoURNOY the credit of the
first organization. The news of this,
contained in the APPEAL, encouraged
Capt. GIFT to make an effort here. A
hastily written call for a meeting was
circulated, which resulted in the meet
ing of the Both of June ultimO. That
meeting decided upon the Convention
of the 18th instant, a history of which
our readers have already had. Up to
the arrival of Mr.. KOOPMANsCHAAP it
was hoped that he would be able
to contract for any number of hands,
hence no organization of a company
for that purpose was deemed neces-
sary by the Memphis workers in the
affair. That failed, however, and
other machinery had to be put in
operation. Col. FLOURNOY as we have
already noticed has put his company,
through Messrs. T. II. ALLEN q Co.,
first in the field, other gentlemen have
moved in a larger company and with
every prospect of a speedy Orga MIA
ton and success.
Upon the success of the Arkansas
company much depends. The men
whom they employ must be procured
at a moderate rate of wages; they
must be adapted to the work they are
to perform; it must not cost too much
to get them. If these three conditions
are fulfilled in the first shipment, and
general satisfaction is given, then
will the ocean be bridged between
US and China, for hundreds of thou
sands more immigrants will find en-
ployment. We believe all the condi-
tons will be fulfilled for we have faith
and confidence in the man who goes
to China. Bred an officer inthe Navy,
cultivated, shrewd and thoroughly
versed in all that pertains to agricul-
ture and its wants he combines more
within himself than half a dozen other
agents put together. If a ship is
to be chartered he is at once a judge
other capacity and seaworthiness; if
men are to be hired his knowledge of
agriculture comes in play; if mer-
chants or officials are to be dealt with
he is equally at home.
1t is a question as to the route by
which our immigrants are to
come. Shall they be brought to
California across the Paciicand thence
overland to Memphis; or by the more
simple, though longer route, by sea
around the Cape of Good Hope and
to n of our seapOrts. 1t is possible
that the preference may yet be given
to sailing vessels by the longer route,
on account of the cheapness. Ships
leaving China after September, if
bound west, will take the favorable
monsoon, which will wait them across
the Indian ocean and around the
African cape at the rate of 80 miles a
day. In the Atlantic they take the
Southeast trade wind, which in turn
will send them bowling across the
Equator to meet the Northeast trade,
another strong, fair wind, which will
sweep them direct to u doors. And
il is 2 remarkable fact that there
exists a current which runs from the
coast of China, through the Straits
of Sunda, across the Indian Ocean,
around Good Hope, and from thence
toward the Brazilian coast, through
the Windward Islands, into the Car
ribean sea and finally pOurs itself
through the throat between Cuba and
the Florida Cape. Had Providence
any particular design in so regulating
the winds and currents?
The passage from China to Cali
fornia will, though the distance is
less, be tedious and long; as the very
winds and currents wehave described
are adverse to vessels bound to the
Eastward. In fact it will be found
that a vessel sailing West of New Or
leans will be at sea but a few days
than one bound East to
San Francisco. The former will
pass on continually followed and
moved by the steady though strong
tradewind; whilst the other will, ia
order to avoid that same wind be
compelled to sail to a high northern
latitude and buffet with the storms and
variable winds Of that region. 1t re-
mains for Capt. GIFT to closely study
these facts and decide as to the route,
and we rejoice that he is Of himself
competent TO the task. We would
the Pacific Railroad COmpa-
MES oftheir great rivals, the Clipper
the trade winds and ocean cur