Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-10
o mEMPHIS 0
To n Former Resident After Sew
eraI Years Absence.

Mr.. William W. Ransom, formerly
resident and we'll known life insur-
apce agent of Memphis, lately re-
turned for the first time in four or
Eve years aud thus sums up his OBJ.
~servatiOns in a letter to the Insurance
MoaitOr, 8 leading journal, for which
be is the Southern travelling CORE
spOndent:
After an absence Of several years
FROM this city, where l formerly re-
sided. | confess | was Sstonlshed to
witness the progress which had been
made during my absence. Stone
Davements have displaced the old
Nicholson system, forty miles Of sew
rare. completed since the epidemic
wear. 1879, With other sanitary i'm
provements, appear to have made
Memphis a healthy city; and the en-
tire work has been paid for, which
spesks we'll for the financial power as
well as the enterprise of the city.
Five railroads already completed,
and three others in process OF con-
~struet;on, terminate on the river
front Of Memphis, promising to make
this city the great distributing point
of all this section of the Mississippi
valley. The erection Of an enormous
warehouse and grain elevator, in con
junction with these railroad facilities
and the river navigation, is an impor-
tant item in the handling Of freight at
this point.
As manufacturing interests are a
WAYS of great importance to under
writers. | take the liberty Of giving
you a few items for which | am in.
debted to Mr.. X. f. Halter, Secretary
of the Memphis Cotton Seed Oil Elk
change. There are seven cotton seed
oil mills in operation here and two
NOR building. Thirty three thousand
tons of cotton seed we're received and
25.OOO barrels of oil manufactured
together with 10000 tons of oil cake.
The entire product found a home
market, the oil being used as a substi-
tute for lard, and the cake as feed end
fertilizer. There are also three refine
ries, and Memphis now ranks next tC
New Orleans in the manufacture Of
cotton seed oil. There are three
feundries and machine shops, employ.
ing some go hands and using about
thirty IONS of iron per day. There are
five cotton congresses, with a capacity
for 200, 900 bales, the annual receipts
being 400, GOO bales, which will doubt
less be very largely increased upon the
completion Of the new railroads. The
The Chickasaw Cooperage Company is
a new industry; it has a capacity Of
400 tight barrels and 800 loose pei
diem. The Pioneer Mills with a
capacity of 5000 pounds of cotton pei
day, manufacturing heavy sheetings
osnaburgs, etc, is anew and important
enterprise. Wagon manufacturing il
also carried on here quite extensively
employing over 100 men. These sta
tisrics show what the enterprise Of
Memphis has accomplished under
adverse circumstances, and indicate
what we may look for in the future O
this important city.
The Holly direct pressure system Of
pumping, with q daily capacity o.
5000. 600 gallons, and a~uxiliaries o.
1000, 000 gallons more, giving al
ordinary pressure Of IS pounds aud a
possible pressure or 60, furnishes
water tor city use and FIRE purposes
There are 100 fire plugs; 4ire engines
4 hose carriages. each with 800 feet o
hose; one hook and ladder truck, car
rying two Babcocks; and the Game
well system OF Geographic FIRE alarm
protect the city from the ravages o
the FIRE 6end. | am indebted +
James K. Cleary, chief engineer O
the Fire Department, Tor these stats
tics and for various couTtesies, one
which was an exhibition Of the dri
OF men and horses, which | witnesse
in company OF a number of ladie
Seven seconds was all the time r.
quired between the alarm and the iu
equipment OF the engine ready for
ran. The same fine results were oil
tanned with the hook and ladde
much to the delight Of all the comp
n.y..
fhe FIRE insurance companies
Memphis, although. doing at presel
only a local business, are not to |
passed by without special mentio
The Painters +. & d., organized
1869, has present assets Of 1898, IL
q. ID. Raine is the efficient Secret IT
the company has enjoyed a very pro
porous year. The Home +. 4 NJ,
Il. Price, Secretary, has assets
100000. The Memphis City Fire,
j. Lynn, Cashier, has now $4,000
The Peoples, Darlington Mason, Sc
Rotary, organized March, 1867, b
present assets OF $2l9,4l9. The BIZ
City f. 4 NJ, organized 1871, w.
Moore, Secretary, has $1,000
assets. The Phoenix +. &
John johnson, Secretary, h
present assets Of $l68, 1876. T.
Hernando, +. NJ. Nelson, Secretal
has $4,000. The Vanderbilt Mutui
recently organized, r. P. BolliI
Secretary, has $lOO,0O The PactC
Mutual, j. Il. Beasley, Secretary, b
100000. Among the leading agen
l mast mention Darlington MasC
who represents a number Of compani
in connection with his secretarysh.
G. B. Wexford & Co., to whom | I
indebted for many c%ourtesies, W
represent q very handsome list. a
bsYe every facility for fire, marinea