Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-03-22
For the Whig and Tribune.
LOOK AHEAD.

For the Whig and Tribune.
LOOK AHEAD.
Prosperity most abundant and
most gratifying has been the coed
fortune of Jackson for the past few
years. Still the city grows; new
business houses are being erected on
every hand, and are no sooner COM
pleted than occupied-beautiful and
costly dwellings are in course of
erestion in different parts of the
city; everything to the superficial
eye betokeRs accumulation Of
wealth and general thrift.
But is it considered from whence
comes our apparent prosperity.
What has developed it and from
whence? Are our foundations sure ?
Will a continuance in the same
course produce like results for any
extended period OF time! We are
Of those who feel pride in the
growth of the city, and upon her
substantial success our future en-
tirely depends; and we would be of
the last to utter disparagement or
encouragement. Yet we are of
those who believe it to be folly to
ignore the existence of elements of
weakness which threaten the per-
manency of the foundations upon
which we build, and we believe it
far preferable to anticipate danger
and shun it-than to rush headlong
upon it.
Jackson has grown, rapidly, stead
lily, and to all outward appearance
substantially. Yet if we consider
how she has made her growth, the
sources from which her wealth has
been drawn, it may be well to pause
for a moment and consider of the
future. Has our growth been the
result of our manufacturing; our
productive industry? We have the
railroad shop, tits true, but it GER
tainly has not developed all of our
increase.
mol we have made our principal
growth from the surrounding coun-
try, and the one has prospered at
the expense of the other. The plan
ters are moving to town. They are
Withdrawing their capital from the
plantations and investing it in mer-
camille business, and in town pro-
perty. And not only are they with
drawing their money capital; their
plantations are plainly showing the
lack of their brain capital. Their
experience and intelligence is sup
piled, or rather, not supplied, by
the routine methods of uneducated
labores. The thinking power which
maintains and recuperates the fertil-
ity of the soil is wanting, and every
succeeding crop leaves the land so
much poorer, its money equivalent
instead of being reinvested upon
the plantation is invested in trade.
And are we not overtrading? Has
not the multiplication of business
houses extended the line of credit?
And is it not too easy for the labor
ing man to overstep the bounds of
prudence in making his purchase?
We all know that the negro trade,
as it is called, is highly profitable
to the merchant. We know that
they buy with little judgment, and
that they spend so long as the mon
ey lasts. We know, too, that they
will obtain every dollars worth of
supplies upon credit that they can
possibly command. Is there not
danger here? What is the situation
now? Everybody complains of the
want of money, although every
body still continues to sell goods
rapidly, and thus far we presume
are meeting their engagements
promptly. But cotton is command
ing high price, and for the time be-
ing the merchant may realize
enough from his collections to carry
his business.
How will it be if the crops fail
next year, or the price rules low.
Would our merchants generally be
able to carry over to another season
the indebtness their course is en-
couraging? We need not answer
these questions. They are sugges-
tive. Certainly no student of DO
litical economy would find cause for
encouragement from an examination
of these facts.
Nor is this our only danger.
What are we doing for the up build
ing of productive interests-the
true basis upon which our prosper
ity should rest. Our cotton passes
through the town to the railroad en-
hanced in value the amount Of the
buyers commissions. We don't sell
any wheat-we buy. We don't sell
any corn-we buy. We don't sell
any meats-We buy. Our timber
products equal to any-are "dead-
ened" and burned. We buy our
tools; we buy our furniture; we buy
our cotton and our wooden farbrics
and we pay a price Tor all these
things, too.
Are we on the right track? We
are going fast enough, but we are
on a down grade and there's danger
ahead. Let US apply the brakes in
time and switch of in a safer direc-
| ton.
We had intended to refer to the
apathy and indifference manifested
in reference to railroad enterprises,
| but must defer the consideration Of
this and other topics to another
| time as our communication has al
ready become too lengthy. G..
A Chimney That Will Not Smoke.
The Scientific american gives the
following hints to those who would
''build a chimney which will not
smoke" The chiefpoint is to make
/ the throat not less than fOur ipchas