Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-09-01
THE UNPARAILELED GROwTH OF
MEMPHIS.

Memphis for 1888, to which we devote
more than twenty-six columns of this
mornings APPEAL, is full of encourage
ment for all classes of the people-the
mechanic as well as the merchant, the
laborer as well as the fnancier. 1t is by
long odds the most encouraging and
satisfactory exhibit ever made of
the industrial movement of the city.
Since September, 1882, we have not
only increased our banking and insurance
facilities by s5OO,OOO and the volume of
our cotton trade by III ,549 bales more
than A31-82-every bale weighing TWEEN
ty-three pounds more than those Of that
year-but have extended our wholesale
trade in new directions and increased
it by several millions of dollars;
have doubled our capital in manu-
features and expended more than
S2,700,000 in new buildings. paving
streets, extending our superb sewer sys-
TEN and making railroad and wharf
improvements. Cotton, while still King,
no longer reigns supreme. A great
variety of interests share his sway.
Three years ago 81 100000 more than
covered the capital. invested in
manufactures, and they were lin
tied in number; to-day we are able to
give the figures and facts of growth
that cannot be matched by any city in
the Union. There is now invested in
manufactures here $5,500,000, giving en-
ployment to 220O men and women. OF
1882 we could only say that few
houses had been repaired, whereas
of 1928 we are able to report,
giving the names Of owners in every in
stance, that 150 buildings were con-
structed or put under contract, at total
cost of 81 100000, and $50 have been sub
stantially repaired-in many instances
made as good as new, at cost of $780,
900. In the same time the Taxing Dis
trict government has expended S194, ,325
for paving streets with substantial
stone blocks, macadam or gravel;
$12, ,446 for additional sewers, $4,000 for
paving the wharf; tbe railroads centering
here also expending 100000 for build
ings, switches and rail extensions. Add
ing to this the $300,000 expended by the
Federal government in improving the
river within the limit of what is known
as the Memphis reach and we have
a grand total of $2,724765 expended in
one year for public and private improve
ments. That our population has grown
with this growth there is no room to
doubt. The public school and directory
census show that Memphis has increased
her population from 1883 in 1890
to $1,000 in 1888. The number
of new buildings going up and the num-
Der repaired, together with the very great,
indeed unexampled, increase in the num-
Der of manufactures lends the strongest
conviction of truth to these figures.
The reasons for this unparalleled growth
are not far to seek They are to be found
in the confidence of the people them
selves. They have erected an impossible
barrier against epidemic diseases and
have no longer any fear of yellow
fever, the only thing that has hitherto
prevented the growth or prosperity of
the city. They have literally put their
houses in order and feel that they can
devote all their enegies and all their cap
ital to help in the realization of the
dream of the founders and fathers of the
city, without the apprehension of ofepidem
ie disease that for years weighted their
energies as dreadful and dreaded night
mare. Out of this confidence, based ON
the best system of sewerage in existence
has come the increase of our cotton and
wholesale trade, of our manufactures, the
Improvement of our streets, the ex-
tension of our railroad facilities
and the increase of our popula-
tion. Our capitalists no longer
Memphis may be because Of her posi-
fion, they have invested their capital in
manufactures and have put forth their
best energies 10 make those factories all
that they ought to be to compete success
fully with those of older and larger cities.
They are thoroughly aroused to all thead-
vantagea within their reach and are press
ing forward to avail themselves of them
o There never was a time in the history of
Memphis when her people were so moved
hY spirit of unity and concord Pub
lie sentiment has at last been ceHteEed ON
the duty that lies at every mans door,
no matter whether poor or rich, to do
whatever in han lies to secure
preference for MeMphis over all
other cities, to speak for and Of her with
the strength of an enduring conviction in
her great future, to press hers upon other
peoples as the best of all markets, to ad-
yertise her wares and her advantages, to
stimulate her growth ip every legitimate
way,to sustain her merchants, mechanics
and man qiscturers, giving them always a
preference, TO contend manfuliy for
her in other marts of trade, in the
Legislature and in congress; in
a word, to put her above al other
places as the home where hopes center
and friends and family unite to make
labor profitable and life pleasant and en-
joyable. United we stand, divided we
fall, " is as true of cities as of nations.
As the city grows in population and
wealth, every industrious man must
feel the stimulus of the one and
share in the other. 1t is, therefore,
the duty of every one while working ever
SO selishly for himself to push the claims
of the city for consideration as one of the
most successful commercial centers in
the world, and in fair way to become
one of the most successful manufacturing
cities in the Union. We have the ad-
vantage Of the Mississippi river aGd its
tributaries for cheap TRANSFORMATION