The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-06-28
Memphis and the Coal and Iron FieIds
Of Alabama.

Memphis and the Coal and Iron FieIda
Of Alabama.
Memphis Is destined to draw much of
the material of her future greatness
from the mountains of Alabama. Situa-
ted on the northern confines of the cot
ton region, Memphis has hitherto look
ed to that one great commercial staple
to promote her prosperity; therefore,
in planning railroad systems, she has
aimed at gathering the richest harvest
possible from theadjacent cotton-fields
of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and
Tennessee. But it is demonstrated that
her growth from this source, until
Shreveport is reached by Greenlaw and
Tate, must be suspended. All that she
can reasonably hope for i'm the future
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 paw for. 1t is
q historical fact in the growth of great
cities, that they have always been the
seats of great and diversified industries.
They have furnished other commune
ties with the products of their labor
and skill. Agriculture and commerce
build up and sustain large and prosper
Gus communities. If city grow only
by her profits on merchandise, then
she enriches herself at the expense of
the surrounding agricultural commu-
nifty, and her prosperity tends rather
to impOverish than tOinlprOve the con-
dition of the country that sustains her.
If, then, grand feature is to be real
lied by Memphis, it will be brought
about, not by handling more bags of
cotton and selling more goods, but by
introducing productive manufacturing
industry, skill and enterprise, and by
opening channels through which she
can furnish as cheap material and liv-
ing to her laboring classes as any other
competing city can afford. Philadel-
phia well understood this when she eX-
pended Sl2O0O,000 to improve the navi-
CATION of the Schuyllkill, and similar
amount to build the Reading railroad.
And what have been the consequences
of this policy? Philadelphia now has
in the city and its vicinity, S577 manu-
featuring establishments, using 2l77
steam engines, employing 1OO,661
males, 40, $50 females, and 1l,l29
youths, paying wages 10 the amount of
SOS, ,6i7 ,S73, using Sl03, ,S6l ,297 worth of
materials, AID producing a grand ag-
gregate of S362, ,4S4,69S. This alone
would make great city of Philadel-
phia, and why may not Memphis profit
by her example? Burdens intOlerable
of local taxation alone prevent. When
the ElytOn, Corinth and Tennessee
River road may be completed, then
may Memphis move forward OH a new
career of prosperity. Iron, and. not
gold, stands first in the list of minerals
as the royal ruler in the affairs of men.
Next most valuable is coal, in reducing
iron to useful forms. Memphis boasts
Justly of better climate than Phil
adelphia for manufacturing and has
vast, most fertile commercial domain,
i'm which it is not likely manufacturing
will ever be done To any great extent.
This broad country she may supply
with the products of her mechanical
and manufacturing skill. But, like
Philadelphia, she must first provide
for the materials to be used in these
pursuits, and then found the institu-
tions to prosecute them. Memphis
will surely seek direct communication
with the great mineral region of Ala
bama, soon to become densely popu-
lated, 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 more to give perman-
ence to growth and prosperity than all
present commercial interests combined.
The Elyton, Corinth and Tennessee
River railroad, intersecting the Mem
phis and Charleston road ut Burns
vile, will give almost an airline from
Birmingham to Memphis, and furnish
ing the cheapest iron, coal, building
stone, marble and lumber that are
accessible, will promote practical manu-
featuring progress as effectively rs any
railway now built or projected. Menu
phis must become n manufacturing, i'll
order to become self-sustaining city.
With the completion of the great sys--
tenn of railroads concentrating ut Biz
mingham, there will be a growth OF
populatiOn never before witnessed at
any place i'm the South. a few years
only must be necessary to develop the
vast iron and coal resources of Central
Alabama, and with this capital, skill
and talent that will be gathered at
Birmingham, to lay firmly and broad
ly the foundation of those Institutions
which always distinguish a progressive,
prosperous and powerful people. Mem
phis will certainly appreciate the inn
pOrtance of railway lines connecting
with such an enterprising, vigorous
city. We have said nothing of the
rich mineral region in the midst OF
which is Birmingham, nor of water
falls or pine forests, because this can
only be appreciated by those who be-
hold them with their own eyes. 1t Is
a magnificent country, of incaleulable,
undeveloped wealth, to which Men,
phis must have direct access. The road
is planned When will it be built?