Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-02-11
COTTON,
A Repeated Suggestion for a Gotten Con-
grsss-Who Will Initiate It?


EDITORS APPEAL-For the want O
incidents to furnish narration in ny
letters to you, 1 have been compelled
to select some subject and complete &
letter by discussing it. I can think O
nothing among us now having pecu,
liar interest except the arrival on thi:
side Of the st. Francis of the survey,
ing party of the Kansas City railroad.
This raises our hickering hopes that,
some time in the distant future, we
shall have access to the outside world
without waiting for the Father OF
Waters to back himself up into the
shallow channel of the st. Francis, or
being compelled to run the risk OF q
| spill and a nights sojOurn in the
sWamps If we attempt the perilOus
trial of that terrible nuisance among
/ railroads, the Little Rock-I mean in
its transition stage from its old mud
bed to the top of its lofty tfestle-Work.
Nobody would be more willing for
this great highway OF the nations"-
as it expects to be-tO have a rise in
the world than we who are clOgged
with the rich mud of Arkansas,
But TeUenOHs O nos mOuGO1S. The
old Latin proverb tells us: Gaze bOHai-
neng unitS H6Ti-beWare of the man of
one book. l suspect this may have
two meanings-either thatsueh a man
is so full of one set of ideas that he be-
comes a bore, or that he is so thor
Oughly posted that it is dangerous to
encounter him. Sc I imagine that a
man who continues to harp on one
subject may come to be feared-but
4 mostly as a bore. I have been delVing
away about some kind of organization
in the interest of cotton. growing, until
at last l have convinced myself that it
is of some Importance. You have
mildly commended my utterances,
once or twice, and a correspondent
took notice enough to recommend a
big bank rs a sovereign panaces.
Otherwise, I doubt il my suggestions
have received more than a passing
thought or remark, that it would be
"a good thing" Now l am thor
OughIy convinced that this great cot
ton interest of the Southern States de-
serves a thoroughly organized effort to
pLGaELgs AQ1kCA GlA HAONO ls LllOhI
at other Industries of less importance.
The w0OLgrO Wers have been holding
a convention, lasting several days, at
which a great number of intelligent
gentlemen were present. Speeches
were made, essays were read, reports
were drawn up, and resolutions passed
embodying the best information and
the best advice derived from so thor
Ough consultation and co operation.
The dairymen also have had their
convention, and even Horatio Sey-
mOUr did not think it beneath him to
read a very elaborate paper concern /
ing the matters under consideration. |
So 1 might go on multiplying in
l might call attention to the
persistent and energetic efforts of
merchants and manufacturers
10 encourage, improve and increase
The supply Of India cotton, still hoping
and striving to supplant our own pro-
iuct with that from their own prov
noes Yet we view all these things
with the most serene supineness.
Where are our Cotton Growers asso-
,iatiOns? Who has ever heard of al
convention in this interest? Where
ire the speeches, the essays, the re-
)Orts, the pamphlets, the tables of
tatistics that ought to food the
country and keep thought and
fort constantly active? The modes
# cultivation are mostly intrusted
0 old negroes who T eflled with wise
avs about the dark of the moon, sage /
receipts concerning the ruinous effect
I deep blowing, and other things OF
quail consequence. Now, is it not
and disgraeeful that this
reat industry should be left to take |,
are of itself, and to wait for some
hing to turn up instead of having
arefuI intelligent cooperative effort
D protect it? Here are seven millions
eriving their support and accumula-
wealth from the culture of cotton. 4;
who knows the elements of soil
the condition O~flOeality most favor !
bic for this important plant? Who /.
xamines the different varieties and /.
nds out which are fitted for given :
'calities, and how the seed can be )
lost readily obtained? Who has :
irefully observed different mo5es of :
allure and is able to decide which is :
and widely difiuse such valuable .
formation? What engineer has care
surveyed our cotton territory !
nd Is able to give reliable informa- I
On as to the capabilities, eligibility I
I'd value of lands in the various L
arts OF this extensive domain? What .
knows positively and certainly 4
which direction his crop should q
owe as to reach the best market at g
Ie least expense? Nobody cares for g
" Of these things. Our merchants q
Ike on airs as men Of great sagaeity s.
Id enterprise, and yet schOOlboys g
Ould be sOundly whipped for such
1pidity as they constantly exhibit v
this craft from which comes all l.
cir gain. They meet on Change G.
ID make combinations to regulate il
ices, but never think OF any organ. o
I'd effort to insure the perpetuity of (
cir lucrative business. Il
How easy it would be to make a be- n
in this matterl Let a few Ii
ntlennen Daoob Nnd foEna a CI05, as IA
or whatever they choose to I
Il 1t. Let them draw up a brief CO
.tement of what they propose to do, y,
d thus select some safe, reliable bI
an to inculcate this properly, and
Llect the small amount of funds nee az
to pay the expenses OF suitable fe
pms and the salary of q secretary. "a
art this once, and 1t would soon be co
md out that it could not be spared. Ia
ar by year it would grow in mag in
.ude and interest. Its meetings, m
cussions and reports would be Gu
.tched for more eagerly than con- co
'sslOnal debates. Why will not fes
nobody try this, and give Memphis ity
credit of priority in such a move iIy
mt? She expects to become the de
ding cotton market. Why should !,
not lead in all enterprises designed Nj
oeneht her great speciality t.
you had enough OF this ding. :
~ Of mine? Is anything to come 1es
itY Or, because it Is everbody's iEnSt
'lneSs, Is nobody to attend to it2 NJ
mphis has contributed n phrase ~,
'iang literature the past season 20
y mol act on the advice it contains? ~
arm her loose" and see il some oie
az cannot be accomplished. 1 hate en
Iult this subject until l see some 90
1g at least attempted. / foresee ~,
results, and l see a great neces- ont,
Tor What l have indicated. Shall NJ
not have something? SAT. ~
fin
Lr. J. M. Fairchild, superintendent but
The New Haven ire-alarm tele- Gag
phi, has recently invented and all cor