The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-22


Despite the earnest, untirng efforts Of
The APPEAL, agents for the location of
labor and capital are passing through this
city almost daily for neighboring points,
stopping here only long enough to shake
hands with a few friends and enjoy them
selves as much as possible.
Those who paid respects to Memphis
yesterday were l.. n. Martin, commercial
agent Of the Wabash Western Railway
Company, Des Moines, Ia; ]. P. Nourse,
general passenger and ticket agent Central
Iowa Railway, Marshalltown, Ia, and IL.
Homan, OF Des Moines.
These gentlemen are all old friends OF
Mr.. Harry d. Wilson, passenger and ticket
agent OF the Iron Mountain Railroad, and
were by him shown around the city.
They left yesterday afternoon for Birming-
ham, Decatur and other points. Their
object is to obtain facts and figures for the
use OF scores Of farmers, mechanics and
men OF small capital who wish to locate at
some desirable, attractive point in the
South. They state that there is an earn
est inquiry among the people of
their section for Southern homes
where profitable employment and in
vestment may DO found, and these
people are awaiting their report with an
anxiety born OF an eagemess to emigratc.
Messrs. Martin, Nourse and lloman hardly
considered Memphis in the light OF a COM
peting point for these emigrnts; made no
inquiries for points TO be considered in
their report.
Viewing it in the light Of practical COM
mon sense, this course on The part of these
agents is not surprising. While every one
here admits the need OF more and intelli-
gent population, with more OF less capital
aud enterprise, and will talk learnedly for
an hour or more on the subject, there is a
painful absence Of organized, systematic
effort 10 secure il. Train load after train
load Of fine material to build up and ad-
vance every interest OF the city may pass
through here every day in the year, spend
many hours admiring the city and pro-
nouncing upon the ilattcring prospects all
the signs clearly point TO- and neyera word
10 stop permanently is addressed 10 them.
let them drift into Birmingham, Decatur
and dozen other towns and small cities
in the South, and nothing is omitted 10
catch and hold them. In fact the eager,
enterprising people Of those places do not
sit back ana wait for the tide Of immigra-
ton 90 pour in upon them. Ii is sought
and drawn there.
One plan that has been suggested TO an
APPEAL reporter looks highly plausible,
not only ON It's face but deep under the
surface, yet there IL little 10 warrant the
hope that 1t could ever be worked up To a
practical basis. II is this: For every man
and woman who owns rs much rs SlO.O 900
OF real estate, assessed value, to 90 into an
association and subscribe one-tenth Of IL
for investment In stock IN all the worthy
manufacturing establishments which can
| be induced 10 locate here. The assessed
| value Of realty in and Immediately around
the city Is close 10 81, OJO000 The sub.
scriptiOns would, therefore. aggregate 81
O00, 600 The association 80 formed should
be regularly organized, with full corps OF
officers and an executive committee, the
/ province OF the latter body TO he TO de-
termine upon the enterprises proper TO aid
and to what extent. The stock 80 taken
would not be- on the order Of the average
railroad subsidies, but oi the same charac-
/ ter as that held by the party or parties
/ bringing the establishment here. For eX.
ample, the manager II concern vt pres
cnt located clscwh re, an ytu'd ut $780,
COZ, desires 10 move his plant here aud in
crease the capital stock and working
capacity. Whether the money Is needed
by him or not, nine times out Of ten he
would not only be willing 10 admit home
capital on equal terms with the other
stockholders, but the fact that IL
WIS here for that purpos, would he
strong induccmrnt for the change. IL
would be an evidence OF the local good
/ will and support that cuts an important
/ figure in every business. hut suppOse--io
meet an objection that at least some will
I advance an M cstment Of $4,000 IN
/ sons c,n n should in the end turn out
/ improbable. The loss, when divided
among 30 many, would be trllIng and
more than offset by the real advance in
the price OF their properly by the growth
/ Of the city rs manufacturing center.
Whore one enterprise 10 which aid was
extended failed dozen Others would pros.
per. The probabilities are that none would
fail. and Memphis would soon get out Of
the rut OF depending almost entirely upon
cotton into which She has fallen. This
she must do, or wait for many years to
garner the greatness nature has made pos
siblo for her.