Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-11
The Cheek Packet Lins-What It
has Done for Memphis and
the Bends.
An Appropriate Compliment Oh
Board the Steamer Illinois.
Flag Presentation ON Behalf of the
Merchants.


leading merchants, and the amount de-
s%ired-some two hundred dollars-was
readily secured:
The undersigned merchants Of Mem
pills, desiring to pay a deserved compli-
ment to the owners and officers Of the
steamer Illinois" as an acknowledge
ment of appreciation of their enterprise
and fidelity to the interests of Memphis
trade, subscribe the amount opposite our
names for the purpose Of procuring a
full set Of colors, to be presented to said
steamer on April 10th, the first anniver-
sary of her entrance into the Memphis
and Vicksburg trade.
lNumerously signed.
A magnificent set Of colors was pre-.
pared and yesterday afternoon, the
steamer Illinois being in port, was Sc
lected as the occasion Of their formal
presentation. This was done in honor
Of the first anniversary of the entrance
of the Illinois into the Memphis and
Vicksburg trade. In that time she has
made ifty-ive trips, all beneficial to our
city trade, and all, except two, profitable
to the owners. In this time a splendid
trade has been built up, and the efforts
Of the company and officers have been
recognized by the merchants here and
the people of the bends. The testimonial
proposed yesterday and so gracefully
conferred, was well deserved on the one
hand and highly creditable on the other.
At four o'clock yesterday afternoon it
took place.
Among the mercantile houses repre-
sented we noticed Hill, Fontaine & Co.,
Brooks, Nicely & Co., Scheduled, Ha-
nauer & Co., Jones, Brown & Co., Had
den & Avery, Guy, Mcclellan & Co,
Edmunds, Pettigrew & Co., W. B. Gal
breath & Co., NJ. L. Meacham & Co., j.
R. Goodwin & Co., Stewart, Gwynne &
Co., Treadwell Bros, Fursteaheim &
|. Co., j. F. Frank & Co, Brode, Mcintyre
& Co., aad others. Mr.. John s.. Toof,
Secretary Of the Chamber Of Commerce;
Captain R. W. Lightburne, one Of the
agents Of the line; Colonel A. ]. Kellar
: of the Avalanche; Mr.. Whitmore, of the
LEDGER, and various others were also
r present. When the beautiful eolors haC
! been spread out and admired and thu
: meeting called to order, Colonel Il. NJ
Nicely arose, and facing Captain Georg,
d W.. Cheek, made the presentation speech
substantially as follows:
COLONEL NEELY's ADDRESS.
Captain George w. Cheek, Sir: Seve
7 raj years since, the project of putting in
a line of steamers to run regularly il
r the trade between this and the city o.
q Vicksburg was freely discussed by mer
chants and boat owners. Our old mer
= chants remembered well the lucrative
trade carried on between Memphis anC
Vickburg and the bends" before the
war, and ali felt the necessity of taking
some step to recover that trade, diverted
from US by the destruction OF our boat
and other causes opposed to the Interest,"
of our city. While this subject was 81
freely dicussed, and all so ardentl,
wished for the establishment Of such
e. line Of steamers, capital, always timid
failed to lend its means to the object 81
much desired; but during this season O
S. hesitation, and doubt as to the prosperit
Of such q scheme, with that energy an
enterprise always displayed in you
D. business, you boldly came to the rescuI
by putting this staunch and elegan
steamer-the Illinois-in the trade be
tween this city and Vickburg, with wha
= success our increased bushes from tina
quarter and your ledger, speak in loude
tones than any language | could possi
10 bly, use on this occasion. On that sue
+ cess we offer you our most hearty COZ
CALCULATIONS.
l have but little more to say, but tbs
little, like the postscript to a woman
letter, will reveal the real object of m
= remarks and contain about the onl
I'd point OF any interest to you. Your me
pe chant friends have noticed for some tim
= that the colors of the steamer lllinoi.
from their long contact with rain an
n storm, are badly worn and unsuited I
lis such an excellent boat engaged in
M trade of such great importance to th
, city of Memphis. We are to-day pr
vided with new and elegant colors il
% tended for your boat, and | am commi
nd stoned oy the merchants of this city
es present them to you as an expression
h their regard for you and appreciation
!, your labors in their interest. These CO
ne ors we're bought by mite contribution
he from a large number of your friends, al
q when | remember the array of nam
contributing to this movement, | can {
sure you it is no empty compliment y
ell receive at their hands; for such an
tz, dorsement, the future is full of promi
ISIS TO you. Then take these beautiful c.
m. ors; they are the insignia Of your cou
y try's power and authority wherever tn
NC go. Take them as an evidence that
&c, indOrse you in the past, as a promise
nd support in the future, and may the l
~ nois float long in prosperity and ga
fly them from her flagstaff.
:, Those sentiments, so justly c%onceiv
Nv and happily delivered. were greeted vi
hearty applause.
a.. CAPTAIN CHEEK
responded in be6tting terms, eloquen
modest, but expressive and to the poi
especially at the last, where he spoke
~ wine, Or something like that. A (
baskets Of champagne, Of the Char
Wv Fare brand, from F%urstenhim's, W
discovered conveniently near, and O.
them were drank toasts to the hes'
aud prosperity Of Commodore Che
nnnAnin NIL ChnnL A. nnnAnr nf