Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-29

THE correspondence between the
Chamber Of Commerce Of this city
and that of Mobile, inaugursted by
the latter, has a deal Of significance.
Through many years Memphis has
complained bitterly Of the conduct Of
those who shape the policy Of the
Mobile and Ohio road. 1t has cost
merchants in Macon, Mississippi, two
hundred miles north of Mobile, as
much money to have a package ship
ped from Memphis as from New
York, and planters along the line Of
the Mobile and Ohio road, south Of
Corinth, find it impossible TO ship cot
ton to Memphis, or draw supplies
from this cheapest grocery market in
the valley Of the Mississippi. While
Memphis has suffered, Mobile has
not escaped detriment. Memphis has
been forced to seek an independent
means of access to the rich cotton
growing districts Of Eastern Mis-
sissippi, and it is proposed through
General Forests road, to give
Selma those advantages Of access TO
the grocery market Of Memphis
which Mobile refused to accept. 1t
has been alleged, with what degree of
truth we cannot tell, that Mobile was
originally induced to prefer Cairo to
Memphis, as the northern terminal
city OF its great railway, by Milton
Brown, whose antipathy TO the people
of Memphis grew out Of political
causes which many old citizens may
COMPREHEND In any ayApttt hRa5diNeF
1eaves US in doubt whether anavaLIE
Chicago wrought infinite mischief TO
this city, and Mobile has suffered
hardly less than Memphis. The road
itself, instead of being profitable, is
practically the property of its bond
holders, and none pity and all con-
denim that reckless, remOrseless self
ishness which characterized the man
agement Of the corporation through
many years past. OF necessity,
as happens to cities which would
Obstruct the natural course Of
trade, railway managers have dis
covered that the violation Of CONNER
cial, as of moral laws, is surely accom-
panied by fixed, inevitable calamities.
The road itself is profitless, and Selma
aud Montgomery and Pensacola take
.N.-.v.H.-. rF HHa EgIE-h E.11v~ Of
Mobile, and undertake to secure the
very ends which Mobile sacrificed To
the vaingl0rious purpose Of COM
peting with New York for the wealth
and traffic Of Chicago. If Selma
secure the completion ola direct road
TO Memphis, and Mobile still rely for
greatness upon its Cairo trade, while
Stanton marches onward smashing
things from Chattanooga to the sea,
forgetful Of Mobile as the objective
point Of his campaign-if these con-
templated ends be cOnsummated and
Mobile remain inactive, the ven
cradle city a queenly empOr
rum Of trade almost a century ago
must sink into utter insignificance.
There is a way Of escape for
Mobile. 1t must have direct access
to the grain and bacon fields of Kan
sas, and of the new northwest. 1t
must make Memphis the point at
which the fruits and wealth Of the
Gulf Coast, and of the Indies, and OF
South American States are exchanged
for products Of a harsher climate be-
yOnd the Mississippi. Mobile must
compete with Selma and Savannah
for the trade Of Memphis. The Gulf
must rise up against the Ocean.
The way to victory is short, direct
and easy. 1t is only needful to build
a little railway line from Grenada TO
Meridian, and the distance between
Mobile and Memphis is lessened one
third. Infinitely better would be an
original railroad between the two
cities. How can it be built? This is
the question which merchants of
Memphis and Mobile, over a few bot
ties OF generous wine, may discuss
some day next month, very leisurely,
and a graver theme never concerned
the two cities. This subject is further |,
discussed in our commercial column.