Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-10
RIVER DISCRIMINATION
Against MISREPRESENTATION of our Blu.
einess Men-Ofensive TO Feeling
and Hostile to Commerce
Projects OF Defence or
Retaliation.

There was an expression of strong indig-
nation from many of our bankers and mer-
chants yesterday on reading the article pub
lished in the APPEAL showing, from the
commercial columns of the st. LOUIS RepttJ=
ticG1i, how the river freIghts on coats from
that city are discriminating against Mem
phis. For every barrel OF -four or ,eornmeal
Memphis must pay Is cents where Ficksburg
and New Orleans pay 20 cents; pork, Mem
phis 371s cents, VIcksburg and New
Orleans 80 cents; corn, oats and
other grain. Memphis 1919 cents a
hundred, Vicksburg and New Orleans 10
cents; hay, TX cents hundred, Vicksburg
and New Orleans Is cents. Our reporter
heard many expressions of opinion upon the
subject of this fragrant act of discrimination
against this city, among which were the fol-
lowing: This is blow at the trade of Mem
phis, putting rs ct disadvantage and de-
creasIng our opportunities Of doing business
with the country south of US. Mere self
defence and regard for our own interests make
it imperative that we should take efficient
steps to neutralize or abrogate this unfnendly
action of a st. Louis company. Others re-
marked that, putting out of question the
commercial bearing of the discrimination,
which IS harsh aud unjust; and strongly in
iu,icdl to our interests, the self-respect of our
merchants, individually, should impel them
to resent an act that is insulting, because it
stlttCS particular city as Tue Ou1eCI
of an unfriendy act. To single out
Memphis and make it the object of an often
sive and dlsobliging discrimination is pro-
ceeding too hostile to be submitted to with
out protest The collective interests and
commercial standing of Memphis are attacked
by this antagonlstic proceeding, and it ought
not to be passed over In silence. Old resi-
dents recalled the time when the principal
np-river business was done with Cincinnati
byats-such as the Glendale-a line always
J friendly, courteous and obhglng. That line
was abandoned by Memphis in favor of St.
Louis, then anxiously soiicitous to obtain the
Memphis trade, and the company that now
acts so Extensively to our city drew its exist
ence and had its being from Memphis, and
was nourished into life and raised to prosperity
by the Memphis trade. Some of our business
men expressed themselves in favor of mer-
chants putting two inexpensive, economically
managed boats into the St. Louis trade, as
serting that the saving of freight would well
pay business stockholders for the line, even if
ten per cent had to be contributed by them
for one or two years. By that time the Mem
phis owned line would become profitable, for
there are many all along the shores of the
river that would rejoice to escape the monop-
olisipg proceedings that have for some time
past, characterized the management of the St.
Louis line. Many expressed the opinion that
stockcompany should at once be formed to
build an elevator; that such ordinances re-
specting wharfage should be adopted as
would aid to make the elevator prosperous;
that Memphis supplies should be used there,
Memphis labor employed, and the profits
made should go into Memphis pockets, and
that if any boat or line of boats Disseminated
injuriously to Memphis, then the elevator and
wharfage rates should be modified so as to
retallate On those whose acts show them to
be unfriendy to our trade and enemies to our
prosperity. There were some citizens who
expressed surprise that, at the meeting of the
chamber of commerce on Monday, when the
SUBJECTS of discrimination in freights against
Memphis and of matters connected with the
st. Louis line were under discussion, not one
of those present uttered a protest against the
offensive proceeding of that line. As COM
mittee is in existence upon the subject of
freight discrimination, the opinion is very
general that its attention should be turned
toward a proceeding in which Memphis has
been singled out as an object for offensive
and unfriendly action.