Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-03
COTTON
The Capacity of Memphis for an linz
menSe Business-Mamm0th Sheds
and Leviathan Congresses.
Storage Room Under Tin Roofs for $50,
600 Bales, with All the Modern
Appliances Against Fire.

A number OF gentlemen connected Win
the various insurance companies OF the
city, as well as foreign companies, took a
tour of the cotton sheds owned and con-
trolled by the Memphis Cotton Compress
and Storage Company yesterday morning,
escorted by Col. H. A. Montgomery, the
active and energetic superintendent OF
that mammSth organization. The party
embraced the following well known citi-
zens: Mai. Yves Rhea, secreary Memphis
Underwriters, and Messrs. j. j. Murphy,
Edward Bourne, W. H. Moon, John F.
Wilkerson, Bun F. Price, A. G. luther,
r. Woolfenden, CT. $. Maclaren, W. L..
Parker. W. F. TAYLOR, R. L. Coffin, Amos
Woodruff, 7. II. Rice, Darlington Mason,
III. Bensdorf, Nolan Fontaine, c. Ma hoif,
j. S. Drake and others. Col. Montgomery
had provided a number OF carriages which
conveyed the party to h various sheds,
when a careful examination was made OF
beach as to convenience in handling cotton,
/ and particularly as to the appliances for
protection against fire. The first shed Wis
tied was the new one just completed west
of the Mississippi and Tennessee depot,
| known as the Senatobia shed 1t
extends 200 feet north and south
from South street on the north to Georgia
street on the south, and in width $50 feet,
embracing all that area between Senatobia
and Shelby streets. This immense shed is
divided INTO two grand divisions, the north
end subdivided into eight and the south
end into -four subdivisions, having a ca
pacity of 5000 bales. While the party
were present the water appliances were
tested to the entire satisfaction OF the most
exacting underwater. To each parapet
or brick wall separating the compartments
is fixed water-pipes, with hose attach
ments sufficient to throw water to any
part of the shed, rendering it almost a
matter of impossibility for Il fire to get any
Roadway should it break out i'll any one
place; and should any one compartment
get beyond control the fire could be con-
fined i'll hat space and kept from spread
ing to the adjacent cotton. From this
shed the party was driven by Compress
No. 3, corner of Main and South, to the
Mutual shed, on Main street, opposite.
This shed occupies the entire block be-
tween Elliott and South and Main and st.
Martin streets, and is an exact square,
40i by 404, having a capacity OF
$4,000 bales. Besides the seventeen
compartments on the three sides, the
inner area is protected with capacious
sheds of gravel roofs, and is equally well
protected throughout with fire ~extinguish-
ing appliances. \ walk across the street
brought the party to the Factors, or old
Whitford sheds, which has been thorough
ly ~remodeled, with new sheds covering
the entire area. The same arrangements
for protection against fire were foundh here.
This shed is 225 by 275 feet, and has a
capacity for $4,000 bales OF cotton. The
party were conveyed to the two sheds on
Adams street.-the old Charleston and the
old International-both having been re.
modelled and provided with sheds and
waterworks. From thence to the navy
yard the procession moved, and a careful
survey was made of the various sheds in
that locality, including the cotton com
press, where extraordinary arrangement
have been made for protection againsi
fire. On entering the depart.
ment, at a given signal the fire alarm was
sounded, which brought out the entire
: compress force of about fifty hearty-look
ing colored men, who rushed to the engine
house in the southeast corner, and i'll les.
time than il takes to write the lines, a fin(
steamer was run out under full
: head of steam, q cistern tapped, anC
| a powerful stream thrown, sutiicien
to eXtinguish the most formidable fire
These sheds, including those about tn,
compress, extend from Market street OF
the south to Auction ON the north, tina
portion north OF the compress being sub
| divided into three sections by brick fire
1 proof walls and iron gateways. Thes'
sheds are 9l2 by lS5 feet and have a capacit,
of 10000 to 4 5000 bales. After a thorough
search for something to find fault with, il
( which every visitor seemed to participate
the conclusion was finally reached tina
1 the arrangements We're as nearly perfect a
! it was possible to make them. Col. Mont
y gonlery here raised his index finger ant
tipped a suggestive wink, which threw
magnetic spell over the entire party, and NJ
ono seemed possessed of the power to resis
! the temptation to follow, and were quietl,
: led to a section of the shed where tn,
: great Madison street chemist, Joe Mancini
occupied a position behind a table loade,
, with baskets, bottles, glasses, chunks o
: ice, etc, and-here we draw tho curtain.