Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-08
An OPEN LETTER.
Memphis Asks a Question, and
Writes h5r Old Maid Sister
Nashville a Letter.
About What Time May We Elk.
peCt Nashville to Appoint n
Guardian for Memphis, TO
Manage Her Affairs.
MEMPHIS, Nav 6, 1882


MY DEAR, DARLING SISTER Your
kind letter Of advice by the World was
handed me By my good friend the
PUBLIC LEDGER yesterday. l was so
glad to hear from you, and hope you
will write often. But don't scold US.
We thought we did right in buying
the coal from the man who sold it so
cheap. He said he was going to stay
long time, and would always have
cheap Goa, and he don't look bit like
a man who wanted to choke anybody,
and he says il he was to bring all the
coal from the mines he represents to
Memphis, the folks would all have to
leave, as there would not be room for
anything but coal. He says lots Of
other people get coal from the same
place, and names you as one Of them.
So you see, dear, you must be wrong
in saying he wants it all for US. L
asked the man who sold me the cheap
coal to write youand tell you he meant
no harm. He said he was sent here to
sell coal cheap, and not to write letters
to old maids,
| showed your letter to ina" She
says you are mad because you didn't
marry young and are jealous OF my
new beaux.
Now, we have suffered sorely, dear
sister, from the effects of war, pesti-
lence, overflow and famine. Please,
dear, don't refuse US the privilege of
buying a little cheap coal. The man
who sells coal for the Louisville &
Nashville Railroad Company says he
did not come here to choke or hurt
anybody, and if he was to try it he
says his twin brother, the Chesapeake,
Ohio 4 Southwestern, would make
him behave himself. So don't be
alarmed, dear; we will get along nicely,
We heard so much about your family
using so much OF this coal and what
big houses and factories you were
building, we Just thought we would
try it. Maybe we could build big
houses, too. If we do, please, dear,
don't get angry. There is plenty Of
room for all of ps, and we hope you
may be prosperous and happy. 1t
does seem real strange we can now get
two loads of coal for what we used to
pay for one. "Pa" says ne don't care
If some of the dealers do get angry
so long as the people are pleased;
there are SO many people" Pa"
says it is real funny to hear folks talk
about legislating against low prices.
de thought they alwayg legislated
against high prices.
The man who sold US the coal says
he would be sorry if the folks
wouldn't let him sell coal just as he is
now doing, for he says it is such a
good way and so little trouble.
he loses nothing by bad debts; has no
high price clerks or rents to pay; has
but little capital invested, and gives
US all the advantages gained by econ
omy in low price coal. So / say again,
don't worry, dear; maybe when the folks
get tired of the cheap coal man here,
| he will come upand sell you some.
Some of our big men are getting
mighty stuck up, they say, with cheap
fuel. The completion Of the Ches-
iapeake, Ohio & Southwestern
| Kansas City and Selma railroads, and
the Louisville & Nashville, Memphis
| & Charleston and Mississippi 4 Ten
nessee already completed, your sister
will become the largest commercial
city south of the Ohio and Missouri
rivers. The cheap coal man says b.
thinks they are about right. | feel SC
bad to think l have given you so muel
trouble, but still think | have actet
right and proper, and you must for
give me, dear. My love to all.
Your devoted sister,
MEMPHIS.