Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-01-28
NOT DEAD. Bur LIVING.


Much Of our capital, even though an inter
e,t Of ten per cent. il allowed, seeks invest
ueut abroad; scarcely any comes 20 our city,
and many OF our people are seeking new
a city governed and taxed as we are. Every
business Is afflicted by these burthens; the
mischief is not limited 10 the real estate own
az and merchant, but goes to The farmer, me-
Ch8nic and labOreT.
This is a fearful indictment, one well
calculated 10 promote the very state OF
things thus pictured, and to deter both
immigration and capital. Is it correct
Is it true? Let the annual report Of the
secretary Of the Chamber Of Commerce
answer. From the advance sheets OF
that document, now before us by the
kind permission Of Mr.. John S. Toof,
We learn that
The total value OF the leading articles emu
meratcd In this report for 1879 is S50 47 80; of
Jhe same in lsol, S90O0,0J0. Articles not emu
meTated, elAlJHfss, against s 10000 in 1861.
Manufactured articles, S5ySJ0.S60 against S.
1JLnn, making a total OF SlaSI1,lI against
SI 7Dg03J in ls6l; total increase OF s26bl7,7 IN
ia Is78 since ISL. The amount OF cotton re-
ceiyed here during the past ear was f25678
bales, the value Of which was SH,0OO,O00.
with this article and its value may be men,
iDueI the restricted banking capital pos
Ef---f'4 IN LuG city SlstjsfVJU. Inc insurance
capital here, and represented here, exceeds
sizt UJJUJp, Of which S2.O5gO00 is the sum To-
caIly ~ oscri bed, 81, % 900 OF which is actusly
Paid IN; foreign capital, fire and marine, SlE,-
5lB55O. The years receipts include 373i
agricultural implements, 60,0OJ pieces Of
nagsing. 500 head Of live stock,
- 90 casks o. bacon, lZ2,G0O barrels of corn
meal, 252,}00 barrels OF -four, 240 600 sacks OF
corn, 55i,gJJ sacks OF cotion-seed, 5000 hides,
~ 50 packages OF hardware, 500 casks Of pork
aud 1880 pieces. 5000 sacks OF oats 49,
80 barrels Of whisky, and 5000 barrels OF
uUtatoes-aU Of which articles show an in
crease as compared with the previous year.
These figures support ali we have claimed for
Memphis aud her prospects. The iit-l effect
the panic has had upon our business men the
few exceptions TO the rule that its stringent
trials have been firmly met all show sour d.
ness and sOlidity that -ill insure increased
prosperity during the year just entered upon,
and prove that the outlook OF the Memphis
trade is fisttering IN no ordinary degree.
In compiling this report the secretary
says:
The only means of comparing the figures IL
contains with the past, was the annual report
made - the cham Der of commerce at the con-
CIusiol OF the season OF lb6l-no report con-
tanning similar Information having been COM
piled since that time. On one account that
date is excellent for the purpose for which II
is used, as that year was the one most busy
and prosperous known 10y Memphis up to
that time or since. To compare the figures of
1874, therefore, with that year, is putting them
severe a tesL could De desired, SNOW
ing. as a. does, how Memphis, with ali The
consequence OF the war, OF the yellow fever
epidemic, and OF the panic, stands when put
sfde ny side with the most prosperous period
its history comprehends. That 1t can bear
the comparison triumphRntly. glance at the
principle statements contained in this report
will show. This glance also justifies the eX-
pressions OF satisfaction that have been ut
Tered above, for they are founded upon the
actual results Of close and elaborate invesu-
gallons.
The careful and conscientious official
inwEOm the merchants of this city just
lyrepose an unquestioned trust and con-
fidence, as in one Of the ablest statisti-
cianssof the southwest, tells us that
In compiling this report the secretary has
moi ceased O be mindful Of the responsibility
under which he les. To have cOlored facts
and doctored figures, 10 have trimmed his
statement so AS 10 have shown prosperity
that did not exist, would be deception that
would not only lead TO his own confusion,
but would be deceiyIng those he regards and
misleading those who have trusted him. The
facts and figures included in this report have
been collected with much labor, performed
not oE!y by himself, but by conscientious
and industrious assistants. The best sources
have been applied TO for information, and
our bankers, merchants, man nuiacturefsY pub
nc OH eers-all who were able to give facts
from their own knowledge, and figures I rom
fbelr own hooks, have been the authors from
whose details the report now gwen has
been complied. so carefully has every
tendency 20 over-Statement been avoided,
fhat a scrutinizing analysis has tested
the Information procured by every pos
kiole means, and in estimating values of COM
lnodities i'm ported, not their value when sold
bv The receiver, has. been taken as the basis
OF the calculation. but the price al which
they come into his hands. Calculation. not
Zuesses-sOber iacts, not Inflated ooastnG-
have been the rules governing and guiding
the compiler. II, after all the scrutiny ana
rigid investigation, the report shows degree
Of wealth. prosperity, progress and success
the reader did not expect TO nnd existing un-
der the present eXigencies, IL is because the
actually existing and ascertained facts OF the
case, admitted OF 10 other possible represeh-
fatIon o. the commerce and manufactures Of
Memphis As they exist ts-day.
Mr.. Toof admits that
The past year has been one OF depression,
owing to the panic which occurred in the fall
of 1873, the effects OF which are sun weighing
heavily upon the commerce OF the country.
Our own city has naturally had TO bear her
share OF the common calamity, and not a few
OF our citizens, borne down by the trouble OF
: Se times. have admitted feelings that have
a. ~rmed their confidence in the triumphant
fnturs that Is certainly awaiting the Blum
ttfr I'd have been ready 10 believe that
Wsynphis - suffering TO a degree unknown TO
% ber business centers, and that her prosperity
mas reached its II most limits, 70 be followed
10y a decadence, nS'Hl Wnlch Gu THERE tneIe ~ no re-
c0very That this vicS OF the case is aiUo-
gptheT "A mistaken one, those know pest VINO,
within the past year, have V1sltsu olner DUST
IA nlgreE.
nation, money lying unemployed, laDoT IAN
ssaishing for want OF Work, machinery lying
ole, railroads left unfinished, and many
grand scheme suspended, that under happier
Suppices would have created incalculable
= Nalfh. Memphis suffers but only a. others
10 nd in one respect she is happier thah tne
rnaio1 'fy OF business cenieIs, ior In her cotton
re customers FOR which are generally
,.I,.sf y here the effects OF our panic have no
y, r1,crcs she has a resource wanting IN less
----oT.d s-,ots. To the downcast mlnds We
49, -, .tioneS the present report viii
rroye mos, cheering, as II viii prove most
ih5nnaIafsbIe, 10 any, IL such there be, who
envy Memphis ana No9Iu yJyiiad npser
publIc circumstances anything but iaVoTaole,
is one upon which the CHAMBER OF conilleECe tS
and every citizen OF MehlPn!.s can Al, s.,,res
cerely congratulated. It's iacis anu nsuiieS5
show that the trade OF Me.mphls ts 10 iOuIueu -, a
On a solid basis, an is able su ccessfulIy 70 re-
slst shocks u which weaker pl1 Sisostcr tries
cumb. Catastrophe assails her lsts q ! VI VI q,
her, depres sion long continued psus II nVt go "
the seyeTeSt test. yet she endufes-isNI To- O.
g. still animated with resolution, htI ~
bust limbs ready 10 march on uncon-
quered, as sOon a. the restraints OF nhahc-fi
calamity, that is as widespread as our couh- co
try's vast possessions, have been removed oy
the patience OF unfslterlng confidence, anu
buried out Of sight by the vigor OF lndomita-
bic resolution. When all is prosperous ana
smiling, and favOring gales walt Inc shI oI
comunrce into secure harboTs, even the baseless
aud insecure may contrlVe to make fnoIneh-
1aY-y show OF good fortune, but a city that can
g-or. as are numerous in this report, at time
of Gloom aud staguRtion, must have a strong
mold upon the present, and mighty asauT-
auce OF success and victory IN The future. 10
present such a structure in university, her
E8uulgtiong must be the indestrucun Die Kranlbe
ard her future. like the everlasting hills, tow
ering towards the skies.
Added to this it only remains for US to
rs,uind our readers that whereas our
nomination in 1870 is set down by the
limited States census at 10, ,226, as COM
pared with p, ,62l in 1860 and only SS4l
i'm 1850, according TO the census
Of The scholastic population of the city,
taken under the supervision of the school
commissioners for 1854, it is now &c.
gg5. Thus we have according to Ar.
Toof q total increase in trade IN 1914,
"A compared with 1851, Of s26, ,6l7, ~,
AMI an increase in population in 1874, as
oomps-ed with 1860, Of a, ,344. This does
not look ~ if "many OF our people were
seeking new homes" and "much OF our
czpitaI. even though an interest OF ten
percent. is allowed, seeks investment
: Srosd.n The moral OF all this is that
befoie adopting any report the Chamber
ofCominerce must hereafter consult Its
aide. industrious and entirely reliable
secretary. We thank him, in the name
of the public hE serves so well, for his
figures and his facts.