Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-01
1901.
,is4 Of the Growth Condition
and Prospects Of Memphis.
The Progress Of Trade During the
Past Year-AnnuaI Cotton
Statement.

We present to-day, a review OF our
r-ogress during the past year, the
acts given having been gathered uu-
der circumstances such as our mer-
.bqnts mechanics and manufacturers
sbrnId make it their business to see
do not exist another year. The want
of an organized system by our Cham
ra- n Commerce for the collection Of
-.stistics, precludes the possibility OF
.reurate figures as to anything but
.1r cotton trade-in this we make
no reflection upon the Secretary. How
much this tells against US will be ap-
parent when we suggest that long be
f7ra the DAYS when the aphOrism was
uttered. s'to him that hath, shall be
rivpn.v it has been a rule by which
the world has been governed.
no some extent, Memphis is an illos-
.ion of this. By the constant and
-szdy advertisement OF the increase
81 ber cotton trade thousands Of bales
asva been drawn hither that other
,se would not have found their way
mere. When Cincinnati sdvertises
s.a fact that she has increased the
,-s1ua of $50. 900. 600 worth of raw ma
tz-isI TO l27, 600, OOO, she makes known
q, the world q manufacturing capacity
Of more than 50 per cent. So, too, the
cotton mills in Augusta, Georgia,
which are a standing reprOot OF cur
=quineness and inertia in this depart
msnt Of industry. st. Louis, whose
wonderful growth in population and
wealth fills the eyes and hearts Of our
most alert populations with amaz9-
mant. hes achieved it by reason Of
-~asuufactures, the facilities Of ac-
cess by railroad to coal and
iron fields and the expenditures
of capitalists, in the construc-
HON Of homes for the lsbOrer, the ne
rlsnfc. the artisan and the clerk OF
average salary. Chicago is an
ct, ard an ever-presented Illus
trztion ol The saying older
imam Nautilus, that population IS
wealth." She has exerted herself
isame think beyond her means), by
money and railroad, and with a fee
hand has helped those who would help
themselves. Manufactures Of all sorts
arB-fsh within her limits OF are tribu-
-srv 10 her; her commerce extends in
every direction and her name is lisped
sn everycountry where English speak
la- people have penetrated. She gives
lbarallythat she may receives she sows
En good soil, and csltivates with energy
that she may reap. In the cities thus
cited ss examples, among the most
active and most necessary agenci0 OF
advancement we find Boards Of Trade
-imariIy for the accumulation of sta
tisties of manufacturing and mechani-
Gal progress, aud the dissemination Of
reh intelligence abroad as will ad-
Esuce such interests; also Chambers
" Commerce for the accumulation Of
Imports and exports and all statistics
H.sesszry TO show and prove the COM
uercial progress and gains Of the pass
.ag years. These agencies have been
fguad most profitable of all, upon the
rrlucfale that the merchant or
dealer who advertises himself
having the largest stock OF
goods is sure to have the larg-
sf number Of purchasers. New
York does a more extended
business than Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore or New Orleans, because
she is advertised as possessing the
largest trade facilities. So Memphis
fs superior to the towns in her vicini-
ly. But she is not in competition
with these. Small as are her limits or
population by comparison with either,
he enters the field against New Or
cans in the South, and st. Louis,
Louisville ard Cincinnati in the
West. The growth Of her cotton trade
IN 1870 n, % compared with 1S69-70,
proves this, for she has increased her
receipts in proportion greater than the
Crescent City, or any of the cOntigu-
Gus cotton marts. There can be nc
teUb. that this gratifying reJult is due
10 the steady and persistent advertise
mant Of her facilities for shipment and
ID market, and the fact that
aa an average, higher prices
are, by the press, made known
fu rule here throughout the year than
range in any other city. If the meT-
chants, manufacturers and mechanics
viii only see TO it that accurate stats
tics are compiled, even though il
5hould cost ten or fifteen thousand
dollars, instead Of the pittsnce now
allotted for such work, we think it
more than possible that success cor
rspoDding to that we give as attend
inc the advertisement Of cot
ton. would result to them. The
went Of such accurate sta
O. as can only be had nom
"a Board Of Trade and Chamber Of
Commerce leaves us without the fig
ures which today we would like to
present to cur readers. Except q to
cotton (which We give from the
Chambers books and other trust
worthy dsts), we have been COM
PEELED to rely upon verbal state
ments, sometimes given g~rudgingly
and with e reserve that made us
feel in many instances as if the labor
wssin vain. Such ss we could get we
rive. We feel that it is not what it
ought to be, but it is as reliable as is
possible in the absence Of any effort
by our merchants and business men
20 attend to hat they will
sooner OF later come to realize
az Vsyt Of their own business, and
a part not to be neglected. It is
wholly and utterly impossible to get
accurate figures b. drumming from house
to house. Some give fairly and can
didiy, some what they car, Others what
they win, and many nothing at all.
What is every bOdy's business is no
b0dy's, and what is left to the last
moment is SURE to be slurred. The
figures and facts Of trade should be
accumulated day by day, and by some
authorized agent, to be recognized by