The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-06-21
Memphis and the Coal and Iron Fields
Of Alabama.


Memphis is destined to draw much
of the material of her future greatness
from the Mountains of Alabama. Sit
uated on the northern confines of the
cotton region, Memphis has hitherto
looked to that one commercial staple
to promote her prosperity, thereforo5 in
planning railroads systems, she has
aimed at gathering the richest harvest
possible from the adjacent cotton-feids
of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas
and Tennessee. But it is demonstrated
tnat her growth from this source, un-
til Shreveport is reached by Greenlaw
and Tate, must be suspended. All
that she can reasonably hope for in fu-
ture from cotton, is to control, perhaps,
the quantity sold in this market, and
sell to the producers each year the
amount of goods its proceeds will pay
| for. 1t Is historical fact in Ihegrowth
of great cities, that they have always
been the seats of great and diversified
industries. They have furnished other
communities with the products of their
labor and skill. Agriculture and COM
merce alone, based upon cotton, never
can build up and sustain large and
prosperous communities. If city
grow only by her profits on merchan-
disc, she enrinches herself at the
expense Of the surrounding agricultu-
raj community, and her prosperity
tends rather to impOverish than to i'm
prove the condition of the country
that sustains her. If then, grand fu-
ture is 10 be realized by Memphis, it
will be brought about, not by handling
more bags of cotton ami selling more
goods, but by introducing productive
manufacturing industry, skill and en-
terprise, and by opening channels
through which she can furnish as cheap
material aud living to her labOring
classes as any other competing can af-
lord. Philadelphia well understood
this when she expended 12,OO0, 900 to
improve the navigation of the Schuyl-
kill, and similar amount to build the
Reading railroad. And what have
been the cOnsequences-of this policy?
Philadelphia now has in the city and
vicinity, S577 manufacturing establish
men.s, using 2l77 steam engines, en-
ployiDg leo, ,66l males, 40, go females,
and IL, ,129 youths, paying wages to the
amount of S6S, ,647 .S73, using SlS3,S $751;
297 worth of materials, and producing
a grand aggregate of S362, ,4S4, 69S. This
alone would make great city of Phil
adelphis, and why may not Memphis
profit by her example? Burdens intOi.
cradle of local taxation alone prevent.
When the Elyton, COrinth and Ten
nesse River road may be completed,
then may Memphis move forward on
new career of prosperity. Iron, and
not gold, stands first i'll the list of min-
erals as the royal ruler III the affairs of
men. Next most valuable is coal, i'll
reducing iron to useful forms. Menu
phis boasts justly of better climate
than Philadelphia for manufacturing
and has q vast, most fertile commercial
domain, in which it is not likely manu-
featuring will ever be done 10 any great
extent. This broad country she may
supply with the products of her me-
chanical and manufacturing skill
But, like Philadelphia, she must first
provide for the materials to be used in
these pursuits, anu then found the in
stitntiOns to prosecute Them Mem
phis will surely seek direct communi-
cation with the great mineral region of
Alabama, soon to become densely pop
ulaied, and while Memphis would di-
vide this trade with competing cities
there would be supplied every resource
and material of productive industry
that would do no more TO give perma-
nence to growth and prosperity than
all present commercial interests COM
bined. The Elyton, COrinth and Ten
nessee River railroad, intersectiBg the
Memphis and Charleston read at
will almost give an airline
from Birmingham to Memphis, and
the cheapest iron, coal build
ing stone, marble and lumber that are
accessible, will promote practical man
progress rs effectively as
any railway now built or projected.
Memphis must become a manufactu-
ring, in order to become q self-sustain-
ing city. With the completion of the
great system of railroads concentrating
1T Birmingham, there will be growth
Of population never before witnessed
1t any place in the South. A few years
only must be necessary to develope the
vast iron and coal resources of Central
and with this capital, skill
and talent that will be gathered at
to lay firmly and broad
Iy the foundation of those institutions
which always distinguish Il progressive
prosperous and powerful people. Menu
phis will certainly appreciate the i'm
pOrtance of railway lines connecting
with such an enterprising, vigorous
,lty. We have said nothing Of the
,ich mineral region in the midst OF
which is Birmingham, nor of waterfalls
DR. pine forests, because this can only be
appreciated by those who behold them
with their own eyes. 1t Is magnifi-
,ent country, of incalculable, undevel-
ped wealth, to which Memphis must
nave direct access. The road is plan
ned. When will it be built