Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-01-29

Improvement Association Of
Yicksburg, and the Vicksburg
Chamber Of Commerce., beg leave
to submit TO yOhr consideration The
following. statement IN support oi
the proposition to build up at
Vicksburg, q great mart for the
sale of cotton. gf 10
The present comparative iude-
pendence of the planting commu.
mites we address, enables them 70
consult their interests and to
pursue that course which shall
best promote the same, whereas,
heretofore, tney have been compell-
ed to consult their necessities, and
to pursue that course only which
these dictated. They are now In a
manner free to choose, and 10 CO.
operate in any movement which
cUmmends itself to their good
judgment; and they cannot have
failed to see that the great changes
wrought by the late war, and the
progress made and being made 10
opening up new channels Of COM
merce, and new sources Of .ntelli-
gence, by means OF which they are
In daily communication with the
whole world, must necessitate on
their part, If they would be abreast
of the times, an adjustment ofideas
and habits to the new circumstances
under which they are living. In
every direction the world is
straiqhtening with the view to
shortening It's lines Of transit and
communication. Mountains are
tunneled, and valleys arc filled,
and rivers and arms Of seas are
spanned with costly structures, In
order to that ideal ofperfectioD, the
"air line" and now, in all questions
of commerce, other things being
equal, time aud distance have come
to be the final arbiters. The
utilltariauism Of the age strips ey-
erything OF its superhuities and
demands that its wants shall be
supplied in the quickest possible
way. and at the smallest possible
cost. The world seeks what iC wants
at the point soonest reached, and
where It can buy the most for the
least money; and 1t requires no
persuasion II needs only to be IN
formed,
In seeking your cooperation In
our effort to build up n great cot
ton market ut vicksburg, we would
call your attention first, to the fact,
that at present there are, with the
exception OF Vicksburg, but two
places where cotton is sold to any
extent for exporS 20 points of con.
sumption, IN all of that cotton
growing region embraced within
the Northern part of Alabama, the
Western part Of Tennessee, the
Northern, Western, Southern and
middle portions Of Mississippi, the
whole of Arkansas and Louisiana,
and theEastern portion of'rexas, to-
wit: New Orleans and Memphis.
And the sections named produce
more than one half of the total
cotton product OF the South, and
both OF the two points Of sale
named are outside Of the cotton
belt proper, while Vicksburg stands
in the very centre of the belt, be.
ing the oRiy central or converging
business point of the whole, with
ample facilities for reaching II in
every direction, and therefore the
soonest reached aud at the smallest
cost.
Admitting that Vioksburg
has no advantages on ac'
count of her location, over New
Orleans and Memphis, we submit
to your good judgment tho propO.
sition that your interest is pro-
NOTED by multiplying the number
of markets for so large q district OF
country. The opportunities for
successful combination on the part
OF buyers, against your interests,
are thereby greatly lessened, while
you have by it the healthy slimu.
lent of competing points for your
business. Besides, there are seasons
of the year when you may safely
visit the one poipt when you eau.
not the other, on account Of the
prevalence Of epidemics. Again,
| a local financial, or other disturb.
Ing cause to business, may exist ai
the one point while the other may
be entirely free from II. Instances
of the kind are not rare, and If nee
essary could be easily named.
We hold that the great valley, Of
choice and long staple cotton grow,
ing region, should have on indepen'
dent market, for the reason thai
when buyers can feel Oh assurance
of a market where only such cotton
| is sold, they will appreciate II the
more highly, and would the more
freely pay for the difference, there
by securing to the owners Of the
long staple alone, and not to the
growers of inferior staple, in thC
same list, as at other points, thc
exclusive benefit Of their superior
staple.
Long complained of abuses in thu
older markets, which long usagl
has fastened on them, which 1
seems cannot be overcome
would be avoided in q new
market seeking business ii
the same region Of country
while all of the improvements O
the older markets would be adopt
cd, and the full benefit would b
derived from any light thrown up
on the business from any quarter
Vicksburg is situated upon the
Mississippi river aud has the ad'
vantage Of all the transportation
which that stream affords, fol
bringing cotton to her, or taking i