Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-17
MEMPHIS IN CONGRESS.
speech of Hon. W. w. Vaughan ON the
Bill for the Erection OF
Public BufldinS.
Commercial Statistics of Our City-Our
POstOfiee-The Federal Courts, Etc.

In the>House Of Representatives, OF
the eleventh instant, on the bill propos.
| ing an appropriation for erecting Gus
tom-house, p0stoffice, and rooms fol
the Federal Court in the city of Mem,
Iphis, Mr.. Vaughan spoke as follows
Mr.. SPEAKER shall codsume the
time allotted TO me on this occasion by
invoking your consideration and that Of
this House to the bill had the honol
to introduce proposing an appropriation
for erecting a custom-house, pOstoffice
and rooms for the Federal Court in the
city of Memphis.
Commerce has its necessities, and
this is one of them, which we nust re-
spect if we would rightly discharge oul
duties here.
True, there are many such similar
applications, but this is not a subject fol
regret. If / do not err, it is a sign, and
sure one, of the increase and expansion
Of the trade, wealth and prosperity Of
the country.
Let US consider this subject for a mo-
ment. Look at the extent and magni-
tude of this country, stretching from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from the great
lakes to the Gulf of Mexico; through 50
many degrees of latitude and longitude;
with such variety of soils and prOdue-
tions; with such lofty mountains, such
extensive plains; with such mighty
rivers, lakes, harbors and inlets with a
climate so varied.
THE PRODUCTIONS
of this and of all countries are controlled
by the laws of climate. While in this
country we may justly boast of more
valuable and diversified productions,
perhaps, than any other one country on
the face of the globe, we must remem-
Der that we are within the temperate
zone, and that we must look to coun-
tries outside the United States for many
supplies. To the frigid zone we must
lock for furs and other supplies peculiar
to arctic regions; to the tropics for
gums, drugs, spices, mahogany, rose
wood, lignum-vitR, and other valuable
timbers; for coffee, much of our sugar,
and for tropical fruits, and other supplies
which can be produced only under an
almost vertical sun. Then, again, our
country is so extensive, that the sugar,
rice, cotton, fruits, and other intertrOpi-
ical productions of Texas, Louisiana,
Alabama, Florida, the Carolinas, and
Georgia, are remote, very far remote,
from the ice, cranberries, wheat, corn,
hemp, hog, and wOol-supplying region
of the Northern and Western States.
The peculiar
CONDITION OF COMMUNITIES
has much to do with their remployments.
Some find agriculture most profitable
and follow that, others commerce, Others
manufacturing; but while we have
made mighty and satisfactory advance
ments in this last mentioned department
of human industry, we must look to
foreign countries TO supply us with the
silks, satins, laces, jewelry, highly
favored wines, and much of the costlier
fabrics, which can only be produced in
older countries, where cheap labor and
more capital are united with ripper expe-
rience and educated skill.
By developing the productions of the
people we encourage agriculture; by
converting the raw material into fabrics
to wear, or agricultural implements, we
encourage manufactures; by construct
ing canals, railroads, steamboats,, sailing
vessels, and steamships, we foster COM
merce-the three beautiful daughters of
civilization.
COMMERCE.
is aptly termed the civilizer of nations.
1t may be traced in its benefcent path
way from remotest antiquity, scattering
broadcast its ever-increasing, ever-fertil-
iZing, ever-civilizing and ever-christian-
izing benefits upon mankind. 1t has
assumed giant proportions with us. Look
at it-with an outward commerce, inn
ports and exports exceeding annually
six hundred million dollars; with an
trade amounting to more than
three thousand million dollars annually.
If it be this now, while we are in our
infancy as a nation, what will it ewhen
all these States and Territories are
densely peOpled and developed? Shall
we foster this commerce which so vi
tally administers to the high behests of
civilization, or shall we neglect it
and turn deaf ears to its require
ments? This is precisely the ques-
ton before you; which shall it be?
1t has its rules and necessities. One
of its rules is to create great centers of
trade, a dense population, and a mighty
traffic. This traffic demands custom
houses and pOstoffices. The recent
change in custom regulations, permit
ting imported merchandise to pass
through in bulk, and without breaking
bulk, to these different centers of trade,
makes custOm-houses, pOstOffices and
courts an absolute necessity, which can
not be dispensed with.
THE CITY OF MEMPHIS,
on the eastern bank of the Mississippi,
by her commerce, population and
wealth, has become one of the great
centers of trade which demands the
facilities asked for.
] submit some facts for your considera-
ton, that you may the better determine
the business Of the application:
COMMERCE.
Extracted from the report of the Chamber of
Commerce Ofthe City of Memphis.
Bales Of cotton received for the year
ending september lst, lS7l............,. 5ll, -
Naule OF S5JooZY5o0
Wholesale and retail hardware, dry
goods and grocery trade 81 O,35
CustOmhouse duties paid................. S34, ,O53
Manuiactures-Yalue of..........-....-.. 4,lO5,i4s
Tonnage of twenty-six steamers
owned in .S93 SS3 tons.
PosTOFFICE BUSINESS.
"The amount Of mail matter handled is esti-
mated as follows: Amount of newspapers,
average weight two tons daily; equal 10 seven
hundred and thirty tons annually.
Average number OF drOp-letterS daily,
600, annually 1876 600
400 daily, Or annually ...,,....,.,:.., 10000
Average number Of letters received
from other offices for distribution,
daily, 5000, or annually 5i75000
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