Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-29
LOCAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
A Question for Ihe consideration OF He
IRil Merchants, ana for Our Rail-
road OmcInIs.

EDITORS APPEAL-It is a little strange that
the citizens of Memphis, in their efforts to
shake off the laSsitude and inertness that has
pervaded their city for the last few years,
should so signally fail, not only to correct the
real evil, but to even present it to the public
consideration. II is an undoubted fact that
the railroads running into Memphis have
inflicted through their high local passenger
tariff" infinite injury TO Memphis and the ad-
jacent country. They have not only wrought
untold injury as above mentioned, but have
stabbed themselves to the very Vitals We
Will dare say IL a radical reduction was
made IN the local passenger tariff OF
the different roads running into Memphis, 1t
would do more to revive her tagging energies
and bring back the hustle and tumult of 1866
than any step that possibly could be taken.
What matters IL as to the density OF the pOpu-
lstton and fertility of the country adjacent TO
your city, when its inhabitants are strangers
upon your thresholds and their wants and
necessities are supplied from other martS and
other cities. 1t IS true Memphis does some
thing in the way OF heavy groceries and q
small tobbing business in cheap dry goods,
but there the matter ceases. Her immense re-
tail trade, once her boast and glory, now lies
laneuishing and dying, eking out a misera-
bic existence through the patronage OF small
radius and the immediate city, then the
secret of her great vitality. Now her pro-
pelling power gone, she lies like ship in
a dead calm. In this we make no reckless and
wanton assertion. For mark the course of the
country merchant, during the spring and fall,
as he wends his way eastward! 1t tells a fear
full tale! 1t is through this medium that the
trade of the farmer and the whole country
now passes, and from thence to the eastern
merchant. Memphis is entirely circumvent-
ed. We recognize the fact that Memphis is
the mart for the cotton raised upon theline of
these railways, from which she derives a good
profit from handling, etc; but, then, the great
bulk OF the net proceeds goes to pay eastern
bills, and-a lamentable fact for merchandise
is sold to her own customers and at
her very doors. The immense retail trade
that Memphis did for several years after
the war should not be attributed much
to the peculiar hushness of the times as to the
fact that the people from the country, for
rad irrQ nj q IN lAE aT gnl vas
TO purchase. The streets were crowded from
morn till night with countrymen-the rush
of business was inceSSant. But how changed
seldom now, compared with those days, is the
farmer seen upon the streets; but, instead,
few merchants and citizens from the adj AGENT
towns. The expense of visiting Memphis to
buy small bills of goods so often became too
great a burden for the people in the country.
1t was cheaper for them TO pay more TO the
merchant in the country than to pay the
high rate Of fare in visiting Memphis to buy.
Consequently the necessities of the consumer
in the country brought about an agency In
who in turn bought his merchandise in
eastern and northern cities, and not in
farmer Now to the point at issue. And we
ask, why not remedy an evil that has proved
so potent and fatal in its effects,
only rebound to the great benefit of Memphis
and the whole adjacent country, but more
carrying it into effect, which consists in the
reduction of the local passenger tariff. We
mean no niggsrdly reduction, but reduction
of such a character as Will bring about the
change and reaction Of which we speak-fOr
instance, two cents per mile. Now, there is |
no necessity of the railroad companies turn
ing from these figures with derision, for it /
will not only bring relief TO the city in queS-
tion and to the people, but prove source of |
themselves. No longer would empty |
coaches and vacant seats stare the |
traveller in the face. The popula- /
ton along the line Of these railways is large, |
and there is no reason why their coaches |
should drive over the road empty, if a liberal /
policy was adopted, and not follow in the |
wake of the contracted dealer, who in de- |
nnanaing enormous profits soon finds his busi- |
ness ruined and his fabrics unstable, worn |
and worthless with handling. To revive the |
spirit among the people in the country of |
visiting Memphis as of yore, sufficient induce |
ments must be offered in marked reduction /
OF the passenger tariff to the local trade. One /
visit begets another, and when once in the |
habit, social and business Relationships will !
spring up that will make their visits pleas /
people upon the line Of the road, who 4
now fail to patronize them, would then |
changes that have occurred in postal /
affairs should furnish something of q prece- /
dent and argument in favor OF a low rate of /
charges. When each letter required twenty |
five cents postage, and a lower rate was de- /
great opposition was brought to /
bear by some of the best statesmen of the day,
claiming that even at the then present rate OF 4
postage, the institution was scarcely able 4
TO sustain itself; but reduce it, and 1t would 4
But what fallacy in this reasoning; for no /
sooner was the matter accomplished than its /
and with each reduction since, greater bene-
fits have accrued. And the same would /
prove applicable to the different railroads. |
We make no mention of the freight tariff, /
for il is a matter OF necessity that the products
raised for market npon the line OF these rail- I
ways be transported toy them when no other |
medium of transportation is offered, but not |
SO with the local passenger; they cannot COM
mand his patronage, and it IS only when in !
ducements sufficient TO prove reTnunerative |
are offered him that he can be Induced to |
travel upon their railroads. and until a radical |
reduction is made in their local passenger |
tariff, 50 long win empty coaches drive over |
their raj roads, and Memphis continue to be- |
moan her condition IN the effort to solve the !
cause of her misfOrtunes. BASIL BkUN.
PANoLA COUNTY, MISS, Jan. Is, 1874.