Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-30
''TIIE DOO1ED t
A Letter from "a Toledo Merchant
Now Visiting Memphis.
Editor Of the Toledo Blade

Editor of the Toledo Blade {:
1t may seem to your readers as it
did to the writer, before coming here.
that only heroes or lunatics would
live in this place which we of the
north call "the doomed city" But if
they could bask in the balmy air and
sunshine of Memphis beautiful park
and walk about her streets as | have
and see the rush of business and hear
its roar atthe thronged boat landings
and its triumphant chorus at the fou
railway depots where are landed the
products Of this fertile valley, they
would say that here indeed are all the
inducements for both ordinary and
extraordinary man to cast his lot and
build his home and make his fortune.
They would wonder if the stories of
the city's terrible calamities we're
facts.
The recuperative power of the
American people is wonderful and in
no place is it more strikingly illus
trated thar here. The terrible cpl
denies of '73, '79 and 70 would seem
to have been enough to kill any town.
But King Cotton takes away the
sting of death, and is the mighty re-
storing power. 1t must have a mar
ket. One-ffth Of the entire yield Of
the United States comes from the
plantations within a radius of less
than 200 miles of Memphis. So, per
force Of things, no sooner did the un-
dertaker in those seasons of pestilence
lose his occupation than the ubiqui-
tous darkymounted his dray to handle
the cotton. There are, to day, &c.
100000 worth of that staple in the
sheds and warehouses OF Memphis.
The wholesale trade in all branches
has exceeded that of any OF the seven
years past, and commission men have
had all they could do. Money is as
easy to be had as in Cincinnati, and
rates 0flnterest are less than in To.
ledo. A former Toledoan, now a mer-
chant here, tells us he can make more
money here in eight months than in a
round year in a northern city.
Never in the history of the city, has
there been such an effort at cleaning
the streets and alleys and the sur
~roundings of every building. A sys-
TEN of sewerage has been established
and is being rapidly built. The prop
erty owners and capitalists Willingly
pay for these improvements under the
new Taxing district" arrangement
Every mar Of character enters into
the work of renovation with earnest
ness. In many instances they are
sacrificing their own immediate inter
ests for that of the city. The great
ordeals of death and bankruptcy have
brought to the front the best business
talent in the community in the man
agement Of the city's affairs, and the
thieving politicians and contrac-
tors have lost their grip.
A stroll about the suburbs is de-
lightful. The early flowers are out,
the forests are tinged with the tender
green of spring, and the Towering
honeysuckles fill the gentle winds
with their sweet perfume. The soft
air and warming sun are a balm, and
all who come from the raw winds of a
northern March, seeking rest and
recuperation. In the midst of all
these promises Of joy and prosperity
from natures sickness and mans in
dustry, | join with every enthusiastic
citizen Of Memphis in the belief that
their terrible stricken city will in due
time take front rank in good health
and progress among the cities Of
America. +. L.
Memphis, Tenn, March q, 1880.