Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-09-01
A HOME ENTERPRISE.
The Memphis and vIeksburg Packet
Line-What the Cheeks have Done
10 Reclaim n Vast Area Of
Trade 10 Memphis.

Line-What the Cheeks have Done
90 Reclaim n Vast Area Of
Trade 10 Memphis.
Six years ago the Cheek line began
business in the lower bends with one
packet, the George w. Cheek. They
then conceived the idea of retaining to
Memphis the vast ares of commerce be-
tween this port and Vicksturg, which
since the war had been entirely con-
trolIed by foreign packet lines, to the ex-
tent that the interests OF Memphis and
her merchants were entirely igr orsd,
and the trade that belonged to this city
wss
CARRIED BY CUR DOORS,
to other and less favorabls markets, to
the ruthless deiriment of both tie plan
ters and the merchants OF this city, who
were striving to reclaim their los: Or, S.
tige in the commercial world, Of which
they were robbed by the unfortunate re-.
suits OF the war. Battling against q
competition controlled by unlimited cap
ital, iDd0mitsble enterprise, and reck-
less regard for commercial amenities
that should exist between rival markets,
the Cheeks struggled on, in the Begin
ming barely ekipg out an existence, but
by the exercise of most cOmmendable
coursge, the employment of an indom-
liable energy, and the Observance Of al
most
A STARVATION ECONOMY,
they were enabled to add another
steamer, extending the line which
reached only as far down as Helena, TO
Napoleon. This packet, the A. J.
White, commanded by that veteran ma
rine and river expert, Captain George
Malone, who was ably seconded by the
accomplished and popular A. L. Cum
mings, as clerk, ran semi-weekly trips
between Memphis and Nspoleou, the
Cheek, making tri-weekly runs from
here to Helena. The two packets made
almost a daily line between Memphis
and what is known, in river parlance, as
the bends. With these two packets run
ming regularly, our merchants began to
realize that the Cheeks were
TIE RIGHT MEN IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
Led to that conclusion by the rapidly in
creasing trade opene1 up to this city by
the Cheek line, and feeling that our
commercial interests would ba further
enhanced by Strengthening of the arms
Of these men, they encouraged the en-
ployment of another packet to run be-
tween Memphis and Vicksburg. With
this encouragement the Cheeks pun
chased the Illinois, OF which Captain
Mark r. Cheek wss placed in command,
with the popular and efficient Joe Speers
in the Office. In extending this line 10
VicksbuIg they found much difficulty in
making the people of the latter city be-
lieve that 1t wss to be a permanent ia
stitution; which difficulty, coupled with
the formidable opposition of other lines,
which were then sweeping The trade OF
that part Of the river into ut. Louis. and
at
EXTORTIONATE RATES,
the Illinois struggled along, hardly pay
ing expenses, at a season Of the year
when other boats were, in the same
trade, boarding up Immense profits. AS
soon, however. as the fact became ap-
parent that the Illinois had come into
the trade to stay, the Vicksburgers began
to realize the mutual interests Of the two
share OF the patronage within tie radius
Of her commerce, until now the Mem
phis and VIcksburg packet line has be-
the past year the three boats have
brought into this market "a COS bales Of
cotton, divided as follows: A. J. White,
IL ,5S6; Cheek, 1O,990; Illinois, 6429
with 5000 bags OF seed-oottoa between
the three packets. This amounts to
nearly
TWICE AS MUCH
as has been brought by any other line,
and is about one-fourEeenth of our en-
tire receipts for the past year. Besides
this, they claim to have carried three
fifths of all the freights shipped to points
below in the packet trade. The bulk of
the freight business has been done on
orders and G. o. ID. packages, system
of business of great advantage to our
merchants and infinitely to
THE ACCOMMODATION OF PLANTERS
and retail dealers, who could not get
such accommodations from other lines
TIE Cheeks have during the past sum.
mer repaired the Illinois to the cOndi-
ton Of as good as when she was first
launched. They have also sui scted the
G. w. Cheek TO similar over.hsuling,
and next week will place the the A. J.
White in the shsnds of the ship-carpen-
tiers, so that when business begins the
three packets will be in perfect tim for
an immense business assured to men Of
such indomitable energy. And right
here We are obliged to commend the
spirit that induced the Cheeks to have
ali the repairs CT their steamers done at
home, where our mechanics would real
izs the benefit. In all that we have
written above we have tried to show
that in the Cheek line We RECOGNIZES
purely
A HOME ENTERPRISE,
devoted wholly to the advancement of
the interests OF home merchants; and as
the line embraces all that rich producing
district between Memphis and Vicks-
burg, aud is wholly dependent upon the
trade of that district, it is clearly appa-
te Mt that the interests of our merchants
and of the Cheek line are mutual-the
1ne sustaining the other. The coming
seasons arrangement hes been system
atizsd so that every f.cility demanded
"a the intercourse between dealer and
consumer will be employed in the trans
action of business.
THE LINE
will be run the present season as follows:
Memphis to Vickshurg- Illinois, Marx
R. Cheek, master; Joe Speers, clelk;
weekly trips.
Memphis and Napoleon-A. J. White,
George Malone, master; A. L. Cum
Minis, clerk; semi.weekly trips.
Memphis and Helena-G. w. Cheek,
Nat 8. Green, master; u. P. Davis,
,lerk; tri-weekly trips.
THE HEADQUARTERS
VI the line Is at No. 26S Front street, up |
tairs. George w. Cheek, the father Of |
he enterprise, is superintendent. The |
,ffice is in charge Of John B. Wildbar-
yer, q gentleman, though young in years,
8 old in experience in matters pertain
Dg to the marine interests OF Memphis, |
md one who has been raised up in our |
midst. His intellectual capacities, COM
,ined with q ripe experience, obtained |
" hard toll and close application, emf
,entiy fit him for the very responsible |
position of secretary Of the company.
COMMODORE GEORGE W. CHEEK
makes it special business TO see that
very boat in the line is eff ;ered by
men commissioned in their various cali. |
ngs, so thaG the public are assured of
,erfect eafety and prompt attention.
The packets are all fittt d up and fur
Iished in all the modern appliances nee.
ssary to the comfort and safety of river
and travel, aud in point
4 speed, safety and comfort, will COM
are fayorsbly with any lire Of packets
-