Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-13
EARLY TINES.
Growth of Tennessee in Half a Cen
fury.
What the Town Of Memphis
Was.

Volume 2 is before us, and would be
considered by most persons rather an
old as it is certainly a rare book. In
printing aud binding it will compare
quite well with any of the new books
of the present day. On the fly leaf is
written E. R. Belcher, the name of the
former owner, who was a lawyer of
Oxford, Miss. The present owner is
HIS son, the well. known attorney Of
Memphis.
Looking over its broad, clear pages
we find much that is interesting to
anyone who is inclined to take a retro
spectiye view Of our early history and
draw a contrast with the present. In
doing this it is not necessary to go
back very far. Men and women Of
clear minds and good memories are
living who remember the times spoken
of and the state Of affairs then existing.
A few extracts may prove interesting
to some of our readers, and set them
to thinking Of the marvellous progress
that has been made in this and other
States even within the recollection of
many hearty old citizens.
After giving a considerable list of
rivers in the State including 0bion,
Forked Deer, Big Hatchie and Wolf
the author says: These rivers form
import boatable communications from
the interior of that large and fine
district of country, THE jackson pur
chase" with the Mississippi. 1t would
form but a barren catalogue Of
barbarons words to give the
names of all the rivers large
and small that water this State.
The population of Shelby county
which is now over $4,000 is set down
as follows, whites 25l; free blacks O.;
slaves 1O3; total 354. This was prob
ably taken from some old census
report. The names of forty-oight
counties are given with a total popu-
lation for the State OF 422,Sl3, sub
divided as follows: whites 340,S67:
free blacks 2737; slaves 79,l57; all
others 50. The census of 1920 was
probably used. In hal year we are
told "the number of persons employed
in agriculture was 109,9l9 and 10
manufactures 1860. The amount OF
articles manufactured was estimated
at between four and five millions of
dollars. The principal articles were
iron hemp. cotton aud cOydags. The
exports have hitherto been by the
way Of New Orleans. Some Of the ar
ticles Of the growth of this State are
sent to the head waters Of
the Ohio, and recently some have
been wagoned across the ridges to the
waters of the Alabama and have found
their way to the gulf by Mobile.
Nearly Que thousand persons are EN-
ployed in conducting the commerce Of
the State"
Under the head of chief towns we
read that Murfreesborough is the
political metropolis of the State, con-
tains'about fourteen hundred inhabi-
tants, etc.
Nashville is the commercial capital
Of the State and by far the largest
town in it. Steamboats, can ordinarily
ascend 10 this place as long as they
can descend from the mouth of the
Cumberland to that of the Ohio. It
is a place hal will be often visited as
a resort fer the people of the lower
country during The sultry months. 1t
has handsome private mansions and
respectable public buildings. It is
the seat of a college which has a re-
spectacle chymical and philosophical
apparatus and library and a rising
reputation. 1t is estimated to contain
at present rising of six thousand in
habitants, and is after New Orleans.
Cincinnati and Pittsburg tn next
largest town in the Western country "
Knoxville, we are told, is supposed
to contain 5000 inhabitants; has con.
siderable manufactures, a respectable
seminary (nOw the University Of Ten
nessee), and is a pleasant and thriy.
ing place.
The Buff City is thus described.
Memphis, nearly on the line between
this State and Mississippi, as we have
already remarked, occupies the site of
Fort Pickering. 1t stands on one of
the noblest bluffs of the Mississippi
proudly elevated above that river,
and its ine opposite bottoms. A beau
tiful rolling country surrounds it in
the rear. A remnant Of the tribe of
the Chickasaws reside near it. The
inhabitants Of this village used to be
chiefly Of mixed blood. Since it has
taken such az imposing name the town
has made considerable progress, and
from its intermediate position between
the upper and the lower country and
its being the point Of general
traverse from Tennessee to the vast
on the Arkansaw, Washita
and Red river, there can be no doubt
that it will ultimately become a con
siderable place. 1t is one of the
places on the Mississippi which pass
steamboats generally homer with
he discharge of their cannon as they
leopnd fhe rivvr hv IL