Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-17

THERE is a broad difference be-
tween Boards of Trade and Cham
bers Of Commerce not thoroughly un-
derstood in this city. A Chamber Of
Commerce is simply a deli5erative
body. Its purpose is to discuss and
define measures affecting the CON-
mercial interests ola city. Its DEGREES
bind none, directly, save its own
members, and its real power consists
solely in its control of commercial
public opinion, which it shapes, de
fines and prom ulgates in its volun-
tary codes Of commercial law. Courts
everywhere accept its DEGREES, within
the proper province of its action, as
final, and its legislation is quite as
effective and infinitely wiser than
that which owes origin to politicians.
1t would have been well if the dis
tinction between these d~eliberative
and these trading bodies had
been everywhere observed and MAIN
tanned. Slowly and surely, however,
in each great city, there arises
separateness Of organization, and
Chambers of Commerce and Boards Of
Trade, cotton or corn, each springintO
existence and each promotes the well
being and usefulness of the other.
The differences here defined are al
ready recognized in the East. St.
Louis has its Merchants Exchange
or Chamber of Commerce, a very
different institution from its Board of
Trade. There are about forty of these
Incorporated commercial associations
United States ;the oldest, is the
Of Commerce Of New York,
Incorporated Just one hundred years
ago. The Chamber of Commerce of
New Orleans was chartered in 1894,
that of Cincinnati in 1889, Of Balti-
more in 1921, of Boston in 1896, and
now the utility Of these institutions
has become so palpable, especially
since multitudes Of incapable men
holding Office need instruction,
hat every city in the United States of
en- or fifteen thousand inhabitants
las its voluntary or ineorpor-
tied Chamber of Commerce. They
promote and encourage commerce;
upport industry; adjust disputes, and
merchants to escape the clutch
$ Of corrupt or incapable courts with
which all cities are now cursed; in
truct and advise municipal and State
legislatures as to questions that affect
he trade and prosperity Of cities;
hape opinions a to railway systems,
nd all commercial questions consti-
ute subjects that concern Chambers
f Commerce.
The Chamber Of Commerce of this
has discussed very thoroughly,
18th maps, facts and statistics Affect
1g the necessities and Indebtedness
f the city and county before it, propo-
,tions presented by Gen. Forrest.
With perfect unanimity it was agreed
y as intelligent a body OF tradesmen
nd bankers and property-holders as
he city contains, that the easiest road :
ut of debt is paved by augmenting
for a great public Improvement.
y paying half a million dollars {
/ five years, the Chamber of
1mmeree, reasoning from all facts I
aeeting the fortunes Of cities and {
lilroads, asserts that this city and :
)unty will realize a clear gain of t
five to twenty million dollars. !
hey said that Memphis most needs i
,ads that viii draw hither the wealth, {
roducts and travel Of the West, and ]
lat the only mode of achieving this :
nd is found in making the shortest e
route between Memphis and :.
ties Of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
'orrest's road accOmplishes this pnr- 0
csc, and the refusal of the people to
sent to the opinions Of those who .
ave stndied and discussed the ques- !
on thoroughly is equivalent to an \
Ct of commercial suicide. "ke