Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-04-22
THE ELEVATOR QUESTION.
The General Council Put a Bread Feet
Down on KsHsp0IlBs.

There was a call meeting Of the General
Council yesterday, 10 consider the report
| Of the Committee on Elevators, which was
understood 70 have been ready for some
days. There was s full attendance. The
/ report, which Will be found In the official
proceedings, seems to settle the question of
the 81. Louis cOmpany's~ aspirations. It was
submitted in the Common Council first,
and at once adopted, and the question Of
receiving bids from corporate companies In
Memphis discussed briefly. When il was
brought to the Board of Aldermen, q mo-
ton was at one made to adopt it.
Alderman MsllOn said: AS I understand
it the committee ssysthat the city has no
power to give the privilege Of erecting
elevators to any private concern for pri-
vate use. I think they are right, and
their report in that respect 1 indOrse; but
in my opinion the case is still worse when
that private concern is the creature Of a
foreign combination, whose interests are
against ours. If you allow a foreign
monopoly to come here and settle right st
you own doors, for the purpose Of suck
ing the life blood out of your trade and
thus psralyzing your infant prosperity,
we might as well quit at once and forego
all future attempts at legislation for the
city's benefit. Ny view of the situation
is this: We are all Of opinion chat elevs-
tors would benefit the city; and as It
would be suicidal to give this privilege
to a rival city, l say we ought at once
conclude terms with the home company
thai has q charter from our Legislature,
and offers US fair Inducements to conclude
the bargain. Those Outsiders-thOse cities
up North and away East-areg growing fat
upon US; they are becoming rich on the
earnings and toll of the people Of the
South. They are not satisfied yet; they
want more; they want everything. They
Il uvanf RI anna wfnhf hnra aud sat mn rival
shOps-offshots of their big mO~nopOlies-
and make this place a mere outpost. We
must, as men interested In inc progress
and welfare of the city, and officially
bound to guard the interests of the peO-
pie we represent, put q stop to this out
side b~lOOd-suCking. We must foster our
home enterprises; and If there are any
privileges In our power to bestow, II is
our duty to give them to u own con-
~stituents. That is the shape hat my
Hberality takes. IcOnfessI am Preludiced
in favor of Memphis. I do not like to
see the combinations got up In other
cities come here and take the trade that
naturally belongs to US away from
doors. Such IbeTslity as that is a weak
ness which every man Of sense views with
contempt. It Is about time for US TO be-
come liberal toward ourselves. 1t is time
for US to direct all our attention TO Mem
phis, and let the people Of other cities look
after themselves. It is time for US to en-
ter into the public spirit that is abroad,
and do all we can in every legitimate way
for the encouragement o hOme enterprise.
II is about time for us to think OF making
Memphis q great city. We want great
enterprises; and when men in our midst,
whose interests lie here, start them, it is
our duty not only to remove all legisls-
tive obstacles from their path, but to lend
them a helping hand. I want our own
Memphis company to have the sanction Of
the city government to the construction Of
these elevators at once.
The Chairman said the question is not
Whist company shall have II, but upon the
adoption Of the report.
Alderman Dryer explained the nature
of the report.
Alderman Cartwright said 1t was the
intention Of the committee to hsve bids
put in by all parties, home and foreign,
and the intention was to give the privt-
lege to whoever put in the best propO-
sitiOn.
Alderman Hoist couldn't see 1t exactly
In that light, for the report starts out
with the proposition that It is not in the
power of the General Council to allow
any private corporation TO have such
privilege for private purposes.
The report was then adopted unsni-
mously, and the Chairman appointed the
same committee that made the report, 70
act again.