Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-04-04
OF COMMERCE.
Speech Of President PlEson on the Com
msrUlsl Relations and Necessities Of
the City Resolutions and
Speech Of Eal. Sykes.

On taking the chair yesterday after
noon, President Pinson, OF the Chamber
OF Commerce, said;
GENTLEMEN-ID calling you to order
to-day, / cannot forego the pleasure o.
congratulsting you upon The GWgmeata-
non o. your numbers within the last few
months, the increased interest manifested
in your monthly meetings, and in giving
to your organization an influence in
shaping the destinies Of the city. 1dasire,
also, to congratulate you upon your re-
m0UaL 70 atiS beautiful hall, which is not
only well adapted in Architectural beauty
20 your purposes, but from its central To-
cation and accessibility, a large attend
HnCe NAV st all times be expected, and
especially at the daily meetings on
"'Change' which have been permanently
established; the influence of which is felt
and seen in the rapidly increasing CON-
merce Of our city. In common with all
the cities in the South in the year 1867, the
trade Of Memphis received a severe blow,
In consequence Of which q number of adj
venturers, claiming TO be business men,
were driven from business circles and but
few remained except men of chRrac ser,
capacity and enterprise, and as g result OF
their lsbors, we hnd to-day the trade OF
the city well established on a firm and
solid basis, in the hands of men capable in
mercantile efficiency in every sense of the
word. As an evidence of this, the large
attendance here to-day sufficiently tes-
titles.
You have come here to give form to and
! systematic bLsiNeSS-One of the greatest
uesideratums in commercial transactions
TO secure harmony and justice, and to
establish the most equitable regulations
/ for the government of trade. And YOu
purpose is no less to secure that concert
Of action so necessary, in feet indispensi-
bic, Tor the development Of the vast inter-
esJs within your keeping, and to devise
and suggest the best methods for the en-
lsrgement of the commerce which, by
right of geographical position, Belongs to
Memphis. We have already an immense
trade, extending both North and South,
conveyed to US by a magnificent river,
with tributaries penetrating the most fer
tile regions in different directions. In ad-
dition to this, by the enterprise of the
city and Of its citizens, great advantages
have been secured to IA commerce by
the construction of railroads connecting
US with regions Of country which Lave
added largely to the wealth and pOpula-
ton Of ths city.
To continue in the enjoyment OF these
advantages, 1t is expected of you that you
viii so govern our commercial intercourse
with these sections with which we have
established business relations, that our
city will not only maintain a successful
competition with rival cities, but will Sc
cure the increasing trade Of such regiOus
of country now so rapidly developing.
To ECU this end it Is proper We should
lend all necessary assistance to the vari-
Gus channels OF communication which
now so materially contribute to Our trade,
and TO iOOk 10 Hely sources Of
clearly and indisputsbly within our
reach.
In this connection 1 do not consider
aH--- -A--
TO the city OF Memphis than the man
teHunce Of The ATkaHSdS and White RtUer
Company, which, within the shOr period
of three years, has brought to our landing
eighty per cent. Ofthe cotton Of the Arkan-
s. IS and White river country, when at the
beginning of that time eighty per cent. of
il went to New Orleans. These are the
figures in round numbers, and are into
duced to show, in a few words, the i'm
manse advantage to commerce of the
Packet Company alluded TO, and my OBJ
jscJ in speaking of il is TO urge our mer-
chants to give TO this line that material
aid which is asked for by its projectors, |
and heretofore and at present so success
fully managed by them. This matter is
now in the hands of q committee appoint
cd at your instance, who will call upon
you in behalf OF this great interest; and
i5 is confidently believed our business
men will not hesitate TO render such as
sistanCe as may be necessary in retain
the Arkansas and White River
Company in its present trade as
an important s]Cjunct to our COM
This subject I consider
Is a matter OF vital Importance, but mas
much as there are many other enterprises
in for a share Of public attention,
would recommend to your committee
that the subject should be presented as
affecting the interest of every class.
that no one should withhold proper
Encouragement, although in some in
only a single share of stock would
be taken, Should this line pass into 9TH
7r hands aud its advantages and influence
be cast into the scale in favor Of some
-ivsl city, the injury TO oar commerce
be i~ncalculaole, and 1 cannot con-
that a circle Of business men will be
20 blinded to their own interest as to per-
IT,. If IL were, city would lose a
part, at least, OF the great advantages
which we have anticipated from the com
1leti0B Of the Memphis and LihIe Rock
-dilr0Gd, now about TO be reslizsd after a
7esr Of doubt and uncertainty. II the
ins of river communication under dis
,ussiOn were properly encouraged, l dare
.ay its usefulness could and would be so
ar extended and enlarged that it would
% the means of establishing a liberal
rade TO VickS burg aud intermediate com
~ which, before the war, contributed
to our commerce, and by
means Of this extension and the
Tickburg and Shreveport railroad,
.Ocn to be completed, we would be
70 once brought into immediate connection
yltb Red river, and from Shreveport, on
Red river, by rail with Marshall, Texas,
he initial point Of The great Southern Pa
railroad. This, il effected, together
With the completion Of the Little Rock and
a-mHFL $1,000 nwaHH -s-a ---L- III 81
Yearly all, Ofthe connections discussed by
7our committee, sometime since, in refer
.nce TO your Western extensions, which,
when perfected, opens up a field worthy
# the growing greatness and inviting to
he enterprise Of a prosperous people.
But not less important is all this. than
he invitation which comes to US from the I
Last. From across the broad Atlantic
here comes a voice which bespeaks and
Olicits 3 direct trade with US.
The MeSsrS. Allan, an enterprising firm
f England. propose running a line Of
yesmships from LiDerpOOLt TO Norfolk, "a, |
we are not ignorant Of the fact that Z
be main purpose of this connection is to I
sach the Memphis cotton market, and I
ave been pleased to see that our mer
lants have not been slow to discover the
rest advantages which would inure to
lem from this direct trade. This sub
oJ was brought to your attention 4,
a special meeting sometime since, =
the necessary steps we're ia 2
on to effect the object desired. :
A COMMITTEES wa appointed to cooper =
10 heartily with any enterprise, having y
view a direct trade with Liverpool, :
it is confidently expected that very Il
we will rave established q regular -
rate of freight and transportation y
ithOut unnecessary delays. Our banks =
illtake foreign exchange without the ne a
.ssity of negotiations H. New York, and 4.
-ders for cOttOns will come as freely 70 =
emphis Is they do now 10 New Orleans. =
we,are assured by one Of eur most u
ointment and popular British cotton :;
lyers. This subject of direct trade, gen a.
Is one to which we should attach =
little Importance. Why should our -
ton 90 twelve hundred miles 70 New -
0rk there 70 be rehandled and thence to \,
-YerpOOl-Or four hundred miles by rail -
eight hundred by river. with heavy in y,
rance 10 New Orleans, thence to be re- -
.ndied, and thence to Europe, when it ~
be bought here and shipped direct, by A
az Of Norfolk. But one Of the g~restest q
.vsutages Ofthe movement will be the ~
creased demand here for the Mississippi -
'ttom and Arkansas cottons which have ~
en- and are now coming 70 this market. ~
is the foreign demand by which thew "
Q mainly taken up, and By direct trade - =,
3 strengthen u claim upon these two p,
iportsnt localities. Memphis as a cot ~
o market haa taken the fourth position ~
the United States, IN point of rseeipts- ~
~ we should exert ourselves to uiaka -