Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-03

HE 1EDdEh lbhuo VI september
let was almost entirely occupied by
the snnual trade statement, statistics
and the cards and notices of advertis>
ers. 1t was a reflex Of the moving,
practical things Of Memphis rather
than sentimental. The tables and state
menus presented were full Of interest
aud encouragement, and readers at
home and abroad cannot fail to draw
the conclusion that Memphis has
overcome the obstacles that lay in the
way of her progress and is once more
moving rapidly forward on the road to
e much higher destiny. Having passed
through the stages Of village and town
existence, having put on the ways Of a
city aud survived war, pestilence and
bad government, such as falls once or
more upon all growing places;
having solved the sanitary problem,
and demonstrated that this is a
healthy and pleasant place to live, set
up the best form Of municipal
government ever yet devised, and virN
tually comprised a crushing load Of
debt, what remains to hinder the
rapid growth of MemphisP Everybody
is hopeful and fairly prosperous.
Every branch of tradeis expanding,
and there is demand for all kinds0f
mechanics st good wages. The people
are all at work, and all who come
6ud something to do. The list Of
buildings erected and improved in the
last twelve months 10 Saturday s
LEDGER, although incomplete owing
to the difficulty of obtaining such
facts correctly, showed nevertheless
that over half million of dollars had
thus been laid out. These improve
ments are not confined to the erection
Of a few oil mills and other big estab.
lishments, but are scattered all over
the city. There is scarcely street
upon which new house has not been
built or some decided improvement
made. People begin TO rival each
other in building neat cottages and
more stately and tasteful residences,
aud as some four and half miles of
streets we're we'll paved in the last
year there is an increased
demand for handsome buggies ,phetOus
saa carriages. II this goes on a few
years Memphis will be we'll paved and
the suburbs will be full of attractive
drives. The people are learning the
| important lesson in finance that the
way to build up city is to keep their
money at home, investit in substantial
improvements that will increase in
value, and above all to pay as they 20
and keep out Of debt. With the new
railroads coming iu here, opening up
new aud rich fields Of trade to
Memphis merchants, with the cheap
n 'ss Of fuel and iron aud increase Of
manufacturing establishments and the
natural growth Of the country the pop
ulation of the city can reasonably be
expected to double, and its wealth to
b, trebled in the next FIVE or six years,
Having served the full probationary
period that the children OF Israel did
| in the wilderness, having suffered and
grown strong, it would seem that we
have entered upon that period which
might be compared TO tho first oecu-
patton Of the promised land. One
thing is certain, Memphis has struck
out on a second growth, and there is
no telling when or where it will stop
1t is a solid, healthy growth The
business done here is on a substantial,
Legitimate basis, and no season ever
opened with more encouraging pros
pects.