Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-10-09
THE PROTECTIVE FREIGHT
UNION.
How ii is 10 be Formed, and " hat fts
ObIeeIs Are-HerehanI Must Do
Something for Themselves.
Comparison OF Hemphis Freight Rates
with those Of other and
Larger Cities.
To Grow and Expand, Memphis Mus
Have Cheap outlets in All Dt-
FeetIOns SO the Sea.

the scheme Of ''protectiys height union
have an important duty and a work OF labor
70 perform, ana N Iasny respects = mans less
| directly interested viz: the agents OF cotton
| producers-dO not directly pay out the money
| II Is the object OF the association 10 save. To
| properly understand the gravity OF the sub-
ject and its magnitude and importance 10
| the cotton trade Of Memphis. as well as 70 the
| producers who naturally look 10 this as their
| market. being the nearest, we state as a fact
| that agreeable 10 the last census nine hundred
| thousand bales Of cottnn were produced with
/ IN a radius OF one hundred and twenty-five
| miles of this center and the question comes
| up why does not a more considerable portion
| OF this large production ind It's market In
Memphis; The merest novice IN the business
] must answer, it is due mainly 70 unjust, i'm
polite and arbitrary Determinations Of the
| railroad companies built across the State,
practically fostered, encourages and abetted
/ TO a considerable extent by some OF
| the raill Dad lines terminating in Memphis;
| and when 1t is remembered that these rail-
roads wsre originally built for the most part
| by the people at large Of the state, and In
particular by the municipality OF Memphis,
IN the shape Of large issuance Of bonds, the
principal ana interest OF which the tax-pay-
| ers have been burdened with for the last
hfteen or twenty years, and the principal
cause OF the depression OF state and munich
pal credit, anu Of city real-estate, the pro-
moters Of the "Aemphis protective freight
union" hoped to enlist the active influence
ana cooperation Of not only the cotton buy
er5 and dealers, but every member OF the
community, IS all are in reality directly In
terested. An examination OF the freight
schedule OF almost any railroad line termtn-
ating at Memphis Will show that they are
charging from points twenty-five 70 fifty
miles distant as much or more than they get
hundred miles. Did these companies trans
port this cotton to the manufactures ata pro-
por1onately low rates-as they are charging
high rates for bringing ths cotton 70 Mem
phis-they would be some show OF fairness IN
the proceeding. But 1t is not so.
Cotton shippers from Memphis are obliged
TO pay higher rates than are obtained from
any rival cotton market in the southwest or
west, and the proof can be atduced BY any
one who viii give the matter ten mtnu tes ex-
animation. The lines carrying cotton 70 man
ufacIurers tell US that they have been hauling
| it for i've or SIX months past at q losing rate,
still We fear that shippers, both from New
orleans and st. Louis 70 the same destina-
tons, have been getting 1t Tor less. The pres
ent rats, eighty cents per hundred to New
York, they say scarcely pays the cost, still the
/ railroads from st. Louis can carry II at MY
/ dve cents. and steamships, costing enormous
sums, can make the long and perilOus voy age
around the keys OF Florida. pay the exhOrbit-
| ant tolls exacted by the toWbORt association
monopoly OF New Orleans and lay the cotton
| down u New York and other consuming dis
| tricts, the same basis, at ntty cents per
hundred. The feet is, Me,srs. Editors, the
| process OF com Olnatious and consultations
| OF the large eastern corporations in which
| the dig nsn have swallowed all the little nsh
has arrived at the point when the manage
/ ment Of these corporations can say to
! the cotton produeersof the southwest aud the
I
| must PAY 0sT p tees. The question here
| arises, What is our remedy? While We can
/ not hope to preseat one that will be complete
| aud effective-for we know at the outset that
| we are 10 fight immense corporations, grown
| rich by prev ious eXtorttOns-but partial and
| the only remedy tnat Offers any relief is 70
meet combination with combination. At the
meeting on Saturday afternoon, our self-con-
| stituted advisers, the managers Of several rail-
roads, told us to beware how we placed power
| in the hands OF one man, the trusted agent OF
| the association, whom 1t Is proposed to locate
| at New York, the financial heart OF The Uni
/ ted States. Inuendos and hints were freely
| thrown out that this agent would be accessi-
BILE 10 bribes IN the shape OF individual re-
| suits to himself, as doubtless these corpora
/ tons know the weapons and tactics used so
| effectusily in the management OF Legislators
/ and municipal assem- Olles. But this protective
| freight uniSn will be under the supervision
| and direction of competent board OF man
| ayers. and the agent at New York and the
| secretary at Memphis will be required TO give
| bond TO cover their entire liabilities winch
they viii receive TO pay their own
| salaries, office rent. egIaphing, etc.
| tits the correction OF abuses sought by the
com pas: and right here we wish to be under
stood that we are the natural allies OF the
grangers-thRt Is to say, we are in full accord
and sympathy with their ends and aims, tor
farmers cannot get along without merchants
| who compete with each other for their trade
| any better than the merchant can do without
them, and the existence OF one class creates
/ the necessity for the other. In the formation
of this protective freight union we hope 70
gather every member OF the trading commu-
| nifty, enltsting their hearty cooperation. so as
20 present TO these railroad mOnopOlists an
entire, compact body, representing It's capital
| and influence actuated by one spirit and mo
| tive, 10 wit: that the carrying trade shall be
compelled TO do its work at only fair, living
rates. This protective union does not aim,
and they distinctly disavoT the Intention OF
pIodnce at any price below fair rates;
| but this union does claim and demand
| that produce, IN particular its leading staple,
cotton, shall be carried from Memphis at as
/ favorable rates as are enjoyed by rival
/ markets. Nor do We see any reason
railroads and and the Representatives OF the
| great eastern trunk lines to the measure, for
| Certainly II by moderate rates of freight on
| cotton going into the hands OF spinners and
| Exporters this market presents advantages In
| the wsy Of prices 20 cotton produ ducers these
| same railroads will have that much more 10
carry; and not only so, but the increased cot
/ ton traf1c will draw to this center larger
| trade in groceries, western produce and mis-
| cellsneous merchandise which viii, OF
| course, give these railroads not only an IN
| creased quantity Of cotton to bring IN and
/ carry away, but q proportioned increase in
| all species OF merchandise. This question of
| freight, MesSrs. Editors, has had Tor several
| months past the serious consideration Of a
| handful Of gentlemen In the cotton and dry
goods trade, trade, but iIDs,,.g The great .na,SS mass
| to this most important subject.
/ But we hope new to enlist the assistance, the
/ lDuueuCc, tue ~ pdtuS VI alA S-aosSei AOI al
| are directly or Indirectly interested alike.
| The cost Of maintaining the organization will
| be but molly OF the amount we nope TO save.
| 1t Is true that the money saved VIII not go
! into the hands Of the merchants directly. but
/ Il we can save s500.900 IN the shape or cotton
Eeights upon 40,0e0 bales Of cotton for the
/ use and benefit Of cotton producers, enab IN 9
/ US to get that much more price, they will have
\ that much more 10 spend for merchandise.
/ To conclude, We ask your assistance, and that
Of the city press. We ask all the large and
| small dealers, the cotton factors the cotton
/ shippers 10 give in the amount. Experience
/ has demonstrated that II Is folly to expect
mercy nom q con bination of noDopolists,
/ for Il will only be meted out to rs in the pro-
portion Of eur ability TO exist under 10, for we
say 10 the public that we have tried it and
failed, and the only thing that is left as Is to
| meet combination with combination, capital
with capital. MERCHANT.