Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-22
SOUTHERN TRADE WITH THE KEDITER-
RAhEAA.

AT ITS last meeting, the CndIiDef or
Commerce appointed Messrs. Trezevant,
Plttman and Scheduled a committed to re-
ply TO a letter from the Board of Trade Of
Norfolk, in which it was proposed to So
cure the Intervention Of the Federal Gov
eminent in behalf of the establishment
Of a steamship line between Norfolk and
the Mediterranean. The letter submitted
by the Memphis committee is as follows:
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 10, 1870.
TO the President Of the Chamber Of Com
Hterce, Memphis, Tenn.
SIR: The undersigned, to whom was re-
ferred the memorial Of the Board of Trade
Of Norfolk, Va, urging upon Congress
" the passage of a bill tor the establish
menL Of a lire OF steamers by the Medi-
-terransam and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company, Of New York, from certain
ports in the United States TO Southern
Europe ana the Mediterranean ports"
respectfully report, that the chief objects
Of the memorial seem to be-
LIST. The establishment of a regular line
of steamers between Norfolk and other
Southern ports, and the commercial ports
of Southern Europe.
I'd. That these steamers shall have the
carrying of the mails between the United
States and Southern Europe for twenty
years.
3D.. That they shall be constructed not
only for speedy mail service, but also for
the accommodation of immigrants.
4th. That the company shall have au-
thority to do everything necessary to pro-
teet emigrants on their passage, and when
they shall land at our ports.
Such objects are surely worthy of the
consideration of any man who desires to
see the prosperity Of the South fully de-
veloped.
In former years, when ocean steamers
- - 80. 1~-a.s-anmN #La HA-a--.-aa#
granted an annual subsidy of about a mil
lion dollars to the Collins line of steam
ships, running from-New York to Liver
pool. The result was a rapid development
of the commercial wealth of the former
city, not only in the increase of her for
eign commerce, but in the increased pro-
ducts Ofthe country settled and cultivated
by b hundreds of thousands of emf
grants whom this steam service brought
TO this continent.
England spends $1,000 900 annually, in
sustaining her ocean marine, and France
an equal sum. The consequence is, that
of the many ocean steamships now daily
leaving New York city for Europe, not
one is an American BOTTOM.
The Southern States are uuspeakably
rich in all that can make people prosper
Gus, happy and powerful; for their eli
mate, soil and productions make them the
Ophir of the modern world. They need
nothing but q healthy, intelligent and in
dustriOus population, with political quiet,
to develop their bOundless but slumbering
resources. Steamers shorten the passage
across the Atlantic and lessen its annoy
ances and dangers, and this scheme will
give new vigOr TO OUr section.
In the period Of so years, from 1890 to
1910. the number Of emigrants coming to
this country did not much exceed I,000,-
coo. Soon after 1910 steamers began TO
take the place of sailing vessels, and from
1910 to 1850 the emigrants from Europe
reached $3.50, 600, or so per cent. more than
in the whole preceding 80 years. From
1850 to 1860 the number was upward of
200, Geo, or nearly 100 per cent. on the
previous decade. While other fuses con-
tributed to this, there can be no doubt
that the speed and comfort of steam navi-
CATION have greatly augmented the num-
Der of emigrants seeking the United
States. In 1856 an estimate was made at
Castle Garden, New York, of the amount
of money the emigTants brought into the
country, and the average to each indi-
vidual was put down at S6S. The annual
emigrant last has averaged about 500, 0C0
during the past Is years, and at S6S each,
the gold they annually bring into the
country viii exceed $50, 600, 600. Out of
every hundred emigrants eighty-seven
have heretofore settled at the North. con-
A A1AAAAE ~ IL BCAAsAAa4 1IAEAA7tL III DDsA ]
population and wealth; sendingtO North
ern cities the products of their labor, and
buying from Northern merchants what
ever their necessities, their comforts or
their increased wealth may demand.
If the South could turn a part of this
current to her borders, she would soon see
the beneficial effects in more labor, now
so much needed, a healthier devel-
opmeut Of her agricultural and mining
resources, and in that activity and life in
all occupations that constitute a nations
prosperity. Such an emigration, Of the
same race and religion with ourselves, |
would soon enable the South to regain
that position of equality which she once
so proudly held among her sister States
Of the American Union, and which is so
to any thing like a permanent
and prosperous peace.
In conclusion, the Committee would
recommend the adoption Of the following
resolutions:
BeSolyed, That this Chamber heartily
indOrses the memorial of the Norfolk
Board Of Trade relative to a line of
steamers between our Southern ports and
Europe.
ResoECed, That the thanks Of this Cham
are hereby rendered to Senator Nc
Donald, OF Arkansas, for his able and I'M
tagging efforts in behalf Of this project,
in Congress; and that the Secretary for
ward him a copy of these resolutions.
j.. T. IRRELEVANT.
z. +. PTTTMAN.
W. W. SCHOOLFIELD.