Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-20
FOLLY AND sELFIsHNESS OF HFF
PEEIs TEADESMEN.

FOLLY AND sELFIsHNESs OF MEM
PEETs TEADEsMEN.
The bamberOf Commerce has done
many deeds that entiue it to public
gratitude. II has so regulated and
adjusted rates of city and county taxa
ton, that Memphis merchants are sub
jectsd TO lighter public burdens, aside
rom horrible jury service, than those
OF any Western city. Rent charges
have been reduced more than half.
and there is not in the valley of the
Mississippi more attractive trading
place for farmers and country mer-
chants than this self same progressive,
hesven-hvored city Of Memphis. It
is somewhat curious to observe that
this progressive good fortune and
greatness is due to the development
Of western rather than eastern com
merce. True enough, all this wealth
from the West Is drawn hither because
of the readiness with which it is dis
uHDuted by ~converging railways; but
The very facts which swept away the
trade OF eastern Mississippi and of a
CREST portion Of western Tennessee are
about to become operative in Arkan-
sss, and the calamity which is already
painfully recognized here becomes
trightful ia Arkansas. 1t is
not that we have 80 much to appre-
hend from the railroads Of Arkansas
and Missouri, but from the -perversion
Of natural laws by the sheer force Of
capital and energy. Memphis fur
nishes a cheaper route to LIVERPOOL.
DE final destination Of the cotton
crop, than Sc. Louis, and is nearer
Liverpool than New Orleans, both in
time and cost. How, then, can it be
possible lgr this Western trade to be
lost when our tradespeOple are sub
jec-ed 20 lighter public burdens,
when rent charges and the cost Of
conducting business are less than in
any Western city, and when Memphis
constitutes the natural gateway for
Arkansas, for Northern Louisi-
for the Choctaw and Chero.
kes States, and for Southwestern
Missouri, 10 the Gulf and Atlantic
coast. By what unnatural forces is |
Or dr. repealed? BY what marvellous /
magnetism is &c drawn TO the worse in
pr renee TO The better market?
10 IS curious 10 contemplate the
seidshness Of a Memphis mer-
ar when making a shipment Of
obs by q foreign packet line. He
.va probably a few dollars: but does
be- not know that the clerk Of the for
= gu boat eagerly loses this sum in
order 10 get access 20 the customer Of
he Memphis merchant? When the
goods OF groceries are delivered, is
here not q sweet little conversation
'e-waen the boat clerk and the
zrmer2 "What did that Memphis
'ascal charge you for that hour?0
Five dollars, % answered the innO-
'eat c~0uutryman. d" Well, I viii sup
yOu from ST.. Louis" (or Louis
-lie or CincinnstD at twenty five
cent less and my freight charges
. and from st. Louis shall be the
anne with those fixed by Adams f,
Inc from Memphis And TO this I
.r7cessO OF ia srepresentatio this citvfs
objected oy tbeselGsh miberaIitv and
common sense on the part Of 6
lauy respectable tradesmen, so-calIed.
Frontstreet. ID is to these people 3
bat we owe not only the destruction 4
f our packet lines, but to them ST s
.ouis, Louisville and Cincinnati are q
Indebted for the richness and extent =
their trade south and west Of Mem 4
his. Surely these merchants, guilty
MS conduct, are employed by the
ties designated to destroy the COM
Memphis. For a wretched 4
emmy saved ia freight they commu-
icate Information worth countless
0llars and furnish rivals with clubs
ith which their own empty beads <
,s broken. There Is a sublimitv in 4
Is sort of selfshness which over 4
aches and impoverishes itself and v
.e community. 1t would be criminal ]
the stupidity Of the ass addicted to I
did not convert crime into folly. G
three years ago ninety per cent
thec0tt0n produced in the valleys :
lhe Arkansas and White rivers f
New Orleans; during the past n
AZ more Than ninety per cent. Of all e
.s cotton, reversing its course, has =
en- brought 20 Memphis. This a
trough wonderful revolution has q
81 wrought by a single individual, "
at least BY q single packet COM !,
ly. he has given as 3 title bond m
.he commercial wealth Of Arkan- q