Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-29
E OF
Taxation Fixed.
The Chamber of Commerce Philosophers.
Merchants are Happy

The special purpose Of the meeting of
merchants yesterday afternoon was to
revise the printed rules governing rates
Of charges made by trades-people of all
classes on account of storage, commits
siOns for advances, etc. It was stated
that the chairman of the committee had
lost the report that had been prepared,
and that the purpose OF the meeting could
not be effected, Meanwhile a list of COM
mittees, appointed at former meetings of
the Chamber of Commerce, was read and
each, as represented among members
present, made q verbal report.
Mr.. Pettigrew said there had been no
meeting Of the City Councils, and hat an
adjustment Of the rate Of the city's merch-
ants tax had not been effected.
Mr.Lacey, Of the same committee, stated
tina in the absence of Mr.. Pettigrew COM
mittees from the two municipal boards
had agreed that merchants we're not to be
burdened more heavily than real estate
prOprietors, and that the al UdEOTeH sys-
teuSand rate would be extended alike to
reafAnd personal property. The tax
would not exceed Z, or at most, ! per cent.
This announcement was welcomed with
evident satisfaction. Ii was said that
Memphis merchants are now less bur
dened with taxation than those Of any
city in the United States.
A SPEAKER.
Mr.. Stratton appeared in his place, and
said tina he and Mr.. Toof had carefully
eonned owe the whole mercantile code of
the Chamber of Commerce, made correc-
tions and cancellations, n submitted
the result of their tolls to Mr.. Gates,
Chairman of the Committee. The Secre-
tary said that he had Just LEFT Mr.. Gates
office, and that he had lost the report pre-
pared for the consideration of the mer-
chants, and if found that Mr.. Gates would
speedily appear.
ST. LOUIS CONDEMNED.
MEANWHILE said President Nelson,
" there is a matter which demands a share
of attention at the hands of this body. 1t
is stated that for some unexplained reason
the underwriters of st. Louis refuse to
insure one of the Memphis and st. Louis
packet line of steamers. It Is utterly in
credible that Captain McManus and his
associates would have an unseawOrthy
vessel constructed. Nobody believed
such A statement, and it was very proper
that the matter affecting the interests of
each of US should be inquired into" Mr..
Harris, of Cochran q Harris, said that a
committee might well investigate and re-
port upon the facts. Messrs. Harris, La
cey and Townsend were instructed to in
vestigste the facts and report next Mon
day.
KANSAS CITY RAILROAD.
President Nelson stated that he had paid
over to Maj, Eldridge the funds collected,
Instructed BIN to prosecute the pro
posed task Of gathering in Arkan a the
of constructing this most import
ant highway.
THE APPEALS LOCALS.
President Nelson said that he chad seen
it stated in a city paper lthe Appeal
"that Memphis paid annually for foreign
goods, bought in Europe by our own
tradesmen, 81 800, 000, and that the duty
on these goods was not less than $3.50 ,OOU,
which we paid at New Orleans and New
York, and that if this were made a port
of entry, we would derive great local adj
vantages and save q deal Of money from
the use of our capital now necessarily eX-
pended, whether we needed at the instant
the whole amount of foreign goods pur-
chased or not"
The necessity for an appeal TO the Con-
from this district was suggested,
and 4 committee WAS appointed, at The
suggestion of Mr.. Lacey, TO correspond
with General Smith and urge the neces-
sity of having Memphis added to the
omnibus bill nov pending. which desig-
yates many Western cities as ports of en-
MeSsrs. Lacey, Pettigrew aud w. Z.
were appointed to address General
Smith.
RAILROADS.
Mr.. Porter, a modest, but most active.
energetic gentleman, is perfectiug a
scheme by which, Memphis may have the
cooperation of Cincinnati in the perfec-
ion Of our trans-Mississippi railroad
schemes. Mr.. Porter said that he was
rot yet prepared to makea full report, but
hat at the next meeting next Monday at
p.m.) he would probably have interest
facts to communicate
sELNA RoAD-TTs RIVAL.
It was suggested that Memphis was
leglecting the Selma road. Mr.. Lacey
aid it was tim0 enough for US to move
when the northern end Of the road drew
learer. Mr.. Stratton remarked, Eyes,
i, when it is within one hundred miles
viii take hold and finish It. Sykes
Dad to the cOal-ields makes this Sell
IA road Invaluable, and it may happen
the bill pending in the Mississi
legislature chartering a road from SRI
umbuS, Mississippi, to oxford and1r
Iemphis may be enacted and give For
a rival line. Oxford is much more !
than Holly Springs to have rail-
connection with Memphis, and this 4
proposed line may furnish a
heaper and nearer route to points which
Aemphis must reach"
SENSIBLE ALWAYS.
Mr.. Cherry said that we had withheld
long enough from these enter
rises and that ii we wanted wealth, pros
and ability to pay debts, we must
uild railways. Interior towns and dis
riots should follow and not lead in a
reat work like this which would
TO an incalculable extent, the
Of Memphis and enrich the
ountry, penetrated beyond the POSSIBLE
~ of eXaggeratiOn. Mr.. Nelson said
Mr.. Cherry was right. Memphis
lead the way, and we should be-
in even now, to construct the road to
Holly Springs. Why delay? A million
would be expended this ummer
nd fall among tradespeople, if the
DAD to Holly Springs were under
~Ontract, and the whole trade, cot
on and traffic, of Northern Mis-
issippi, now drawn by the Central
DAD to Louisville and Cincinnati. would
70 absorbed by Memphis. Our inactiOn
5 the widest, most iudefensible folly, X
nd Col. Hunt, yice-president of the Sell
q a company, should at once begin the
work at this end of the line. The city I
county will face the music and fur {
fish the money. These views were ex-
'ressed in conversations and in short
peeches made by members of the Cham
'er of Commerce.
A CENTRAL DEPOT.
Mr.. StEatton said that "A central depot
an indispensable necessity, and he
vas curious to know why the several
Dads did not seek access to the
liver. Property holders interDose many
hstacles, but the Memphis and Charles-
on Company wished to extend its track
along central thoroughfares to the
liver. To this the people would never !
4 populOuS street would thus bs
endered uninhabitable. 1t was suggest /
. by Mr.. Lacey that the Mississippi and Z
'ennessee and Memphis and Ohio roads
hould perfect communication with one (
mother at once, and have depots in the i
ayy yard or on the river below Union 7
or in both places, and let the
harleston road remain u~nextendad. .
his was The scheme approved, and the :
ody adjourned to four O'Clock next Mon
ay afternoon.
MORE NEW GooDs-We are now In re-
eipt Of "A very elegant assortment Of
dies collars and cuffS-plain, lace edge !
nd rufded-in assorted colors and all of T,
he very latest styles.
II. W. JOHNSTON & co.
U~NRIvALEB bargains in neg ana :
'etty dress goods being placed on our /
.edp tables this morning.