Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-10
LOUISVILLE LETTER
Correspondence Of the LEDGER

AAAlNelMAAH ~ - $50
LOUISVILLE, April There is
scarcely a city in the United States
with the population, wealth and
age of Louisville that is not bet
ter known commercially. To the
outside world Louisville is bounded
geographically speaking) on the
north by Bourbon whisky, on the
south by pretty women. on the east by
fast horses, and on the west by the
Courier Journal. Butfewk know Louis
vile possesses any thing else. Her
merchants have paid but little atten-
ton to their foreign trade, except as
individuals. There is no board Of
trade, or chamber of commerce, con-
~sequently no united efforts are made
to reduce freight rates, either BY rail
or river, the general trade thereby
suffering. Notwithstanding all these
disadvantages, Louisville is slowly but
gradually growing; and should the
present efforts Of some of the leading
business men of the city be successful
in establishing a strong and powerful
board of trade the business Of the city
will be likely to increase to double its
present proportions.
Louisville should receive the bulk
of Southern trade, and | believe will,
when she so arrangcs the freight tar
if as to deliver her products at South
ern ports as cheap as st. Louis or
Cincinnati. There are manufactures
here of every kind and their products
areequal, often superior, to anythingof
the kind made in Europe or America.
The Magnolia and other brands of
hams cured here are quoted as
choice" in every market Agricul-
tural implements made here are ac-
knowledged the best. The furniture
excelled by none. The work of the
brass and iron founderies is highly
priced for superior quality. This is
properly, and should be recognized,
headquarters for tobacco, cigars and
fine liquors.
Some European cities have a world
wide reputation for a single product,
and nothing Of that particular line Of
goods seems genuine unless the name
of the city is branded upon each pack
age. Who ever saw a case or bottle
of claret that was not branded Bor-
deaux; a pair Of kid gloves or a fine
bonnie. that was not either from Paris
or cODied from n Partisan DESIGN ?
Even to this day every cigar manu-
f%acturer brands his boxes "Habana,'
or some other Cuban name. Louis
vile is not exclusive, yet she pos
sesses advantages equal to any.
There are many places of amuse-
ment where excellent music and the
best of refreshments are provided
cheap. At the Woodland Garden
during the summer months there will
be given sacred concerts every Sunday
evening and night by the great Etc
horns orchestra of thirty-ive per
formers. The German population of.
Louisville is about fifty per cent. of.
the entire, and they must have music
and lager Sunday afternoons. Here
they have both, of the best quality.
The great Forepaugh aggregation
started upon the road last Saturday
evening. after closing a week of good
business. This great show wintered
here.
The visit Of the Chicks is well
remembered here, and their excellent
drilling much commented upon.
The retail clothing trade here is
greatly excited in consequence of the
opening Of two large houses lately,
one from Chicago and one from Gin
cinnati. Prices have gone very low.
"A splendid suit of clothes can be
bought for from ten to eighteen dol
lars that usually sell at fifteen to
thirty dollars. Some one must be
losing money, or the people have been
greatly Oyercharged heretofore.
Should Memphians have a desire to
come further North this summer, |
would advise them to stop here. They
will find Louisville healthy, a cheap
place to live and the people hospita-
Bile, and more like home folks than
anywhere North. Let them send
twenty five cents to any one of the
Offices here to pay for a newspaper a
week or ten days to post themselves
then they can find accommodations Of
any kind and price. CAMERA.