Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-11
COTTON TRADE.
How Memphis in Robbed, and the
Agencies EmplOyed-The REM
adv.

or less than one-third, went to Memphis.
From table which we publish it will be
seen that, for the six months ending
February 2Sth, the shipments from Holly
Springs aggregate 1865 bales, less than
one-third, came to Memphis. Now, as
Memphis is the natural market of Holly
Springs, much nearer than any other
cotton mart, being forty-one miles in a
direct line, there must be some strong
inducement held out to shippers to cause
them so largely to ship to other markets.
What is it?
Yesterdays Reporter says: We do
not know that attention has been drawn
to the fact heretofore, but it is undoubt-
edly true that there is a growing ten
dency in trade to follow straight lines,
particularly when transportation is by
means of railroads. The cost, risk, de-
lays and annoyance of transfers and
additional landings may partially ac-
count for this. But the competition Of
railroad routes in the matter OF freights,
particularly the disposition of them all
to cheaper through freights mot only
upon single lines, but by grand combl-
nations of lines, whereby freights are
carried great distances for nominal
advance on the charge for short dis
tances), is doubtless the main cause of
this trade tendency For instance, our
present route to Memphis is over two
railroads, whose interests are to some
extent antagonistic; and there must be
transfer, perhaps delay, if not risk
and additional handling, of all
freights at Grand junction. On this
route, too, the Mississippi Central road,
after loading, billing, etc, carries our
freights only twenty-five miles, leaving
fifty miles for the Memphis and Charles
ton. If we ship to New Orleans our
freight passes over a continuous line of
road, under one management, for three
hundred and seventy miles, without any
transfer. If we ship to New York k it is
by some of the organized through freight
lines, and the Mississippi Central is paid
for our freight to Jackson, Tennessee, a
distance of seventy-two miles, without
any transfer, and having the locked cars
cared for by the freighting company
AS result, we pay for freight on a
bale of cotton to New York, ten
days distant, SO 30; to New Orleans,
three days distant So 70; to Memphis,
now two days distant, the sum Of 81 80
Thus we see that the railroads, in their
selfish management, discriminate largely
against Memphis, which of course is a
discrimination against US. The same is
true of all the other freights and other
routes. For instance, the freight on a
car load of -four from st. Louis to
this place, four days distant, is 800 8O
From Memphis it is $48. The same
state OF facts exists as to all points
on the Mississippi Central and
Mobile and Ohio railroads, except
ing, of course, Grenada, Corinth and
Grand Junction. With such places
as Pontotoe and New Albany, in Missis-
sippi, and Clinton, Pickensville and
Greensboro, Alabama, off the lines of
railroad altogether, Memphis labors
under yet greater disadvantages. n
The evil is growing greater every day,
and the blows at Memphis interests are
becoming more and more effective. What
is the remedy? Evidently to send out a
railroad into that region in Mississippi
and Alabama, which is naturally tribu-
tary to her; in other words, to complete
at an early day the Memphis and Selma
railroad
What will be the result? Take Holly
Springs and its trade for illustration.
We will ship this season about 5000
bales of cotton. AT present, to ship to
Memphis, it costs 81 80 per bale. By
the new road, by which we would dimin-
ish our time-distance from Memphis
more than three-fourths, avoid all trans
fers Of freight, and have the advantage
of competition, the freight would not
be more than one-half of the pres
ent price Return freights would be
diminished in like ratio. Who doubts
that Memphis would soon regain heras-
cendancy over the traffic of the whole
region lying between Selma and the
Bluff City? Instead of receiving less
than one-third of our cotton, she would
receive nearly all. Instead of selling
less to us than st. Louis, Louisville, or
New Orleans, she would be able to under
bid those cities, and we would begin
once more to regard Memphis, as not
only our natural market, but as our
cheapest and most desirable market.
On the 25th of March instant, the eiti-
zens of Memphis will vote upon the ques-
ton of subscribing $500 900 to the capital
stock of the Selma railroad. To build it
merely to Holly Springs would makesuch
subscription profitable. Beyond com
putation will be the increased trade of
the city, when we shall have a straight
trunk line running ont into the fertile
and wealthy midlands of Alabama and
Mississippi a large portion Of which
region is now q terra iRcogRitd to Mem
phis, but not less fertile or wealthy than
those regions through which her little
Rock road has its route That Mem
phians have that just appreciation OF
the future of their beautiful city which
will make them cheerfully vote this sub
scription, we do hope and believe. And
We are the more anxious on the subject,
because we are aware that at no distant
day a vote for the same purpose will be
taken in this county; and we feel that
the action of Memphis in the premises
will largely influence the votes Of our
citizens. AT the proper time we viii
show the immense advantages TO accrue
to AsEsbell county by the building Of
this road.
The following table from the Reporter
should be carefully studied by every
merchant and property-holder of this
city and county. 1t shows the amount
and direction af cotton shipments
from Holly Springs for six months, from
September l, 1870, to February %, 1871:
: