The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-02


generally accepted that any investment is
sure to pay in Chattanooga, il the issue
depend upon the growth of the city. The
faith of the people in its splendid future is
absolute. They are surmounting all OBJ
stacles, among them the Mussel Shoals
impeachment in the Tennessee River, This
glorious stream, being fed by perennially
flowing streams, is never dry, and with
the Mussel Shoals improvement COM
pleted, the commerce OF Chattanooga will
have every advantage OF distribution. In
this case conditions have been reversed:
the city has made the river and twenty
years hence the river will have all the
dignity in the commercial world at present
enjoyed by tho Ohio. | have within a
month been much about the State OF Ten
nessee.
THE RAPIDIrY OF THE WORK
Of development in all sections is amazing
II is truly wonderland. IL contains the
best OF everything. No State in the whole
length and breadth OF the Union is COM
parable with il in the magnitude, the va
riety and the excellence OF its resources,
and in the iron and coal regions we find
especial evidence that the country at large
is beginning to regard the State as the
most favored by Providence OF all the sis
terhood. And nothing oiall my experiences
and observations in the course OF the cir
cult made deeper impression upon me
than the statement OF foundry
owner at South Pttsburg, city that
has sprung up between the hills OF
the SeQuachee Valley over night, and
which has about 100000 invested in
iron and wood manufactures. lie was a
New Yorker, who had come TO this place
to establish stove foundry. lie told me
that he employed several hundred opera
tiyes, but that he brought at the begin
ming less than n dozen skilled Eastern
mechanics with him. He found
MS LABOR ~ THE COUNTRY,
taking natives from the farms and forests.
He now has an abundance OF competent
labor, both white and colored. lie said
that the white man and the negro worked
side by side in the shops, doing the same
class Of work, and moved harmoniously
under the code Of foundry rules. How
ever, he had failed TO find in the negro
the faculty Of original design. / give these
statements for the benefit Of the sociolo-
gist. They are worthy OF study, and ]
will leave conclusions TO my various read
ers. There is another thing that impressed
me very much in my yiewsoi Chattanooga,
more deeply, indeed, than the furnaces,
the factories or the high-rising blocks OF
business houses tho churches. A stran-
ger cannot fail TO conclude that the citi.
zens are sincere in their expressions with
regard to the future Of the place when he
sees the immense Investment OF money
that has been made in
TEMPLES OF WORSHIP.
Il really deserves the name OF "City OF
Churches" Thrust be borne in mind that
the city is still in an embryotic condition.
aud that We see there simply the begin
ming Of things Consequently, ono must
admire tho spirit Of people who, at the
very outset Of their career, find time and
money TO build so many beautiful "houses
OF God" IL argues the domination Of the
religious influence. Il means that the
city is 10 rise in the right way. II shows
that the people who have gathered to rear
a grand metropolis in this glorious region
arc strong earnest, iar-sceing men, who
have sprung from worthy stock. They
have como here 10 stay, and
they arc laying the foundations
Of the city on plan that insuroi
a growth in an orderly fashion, no matter
how rapidly. Another thing asked O
responsible citizen II the interest laws o.
the State troubled Chattanooga. lie said
they did not believe him mistaken,
but the fact that he thusexprcssed his own
belief Ia significant Of the spirit Of the pco
pie who find that their energy oyercomes
all obstacles. Now then, being a either
Of Memphis aud filed with a sense Of loca
pride, II was becoming In me, rs at mid.
night l strollcd along the middle Of I
broad, asphalt-laid thoroughiare, illumi.
mated by electricity, wondering when til,
time would come when 70 excellent
street should be found Ia my own city
was becoming in me, say, 10 consider
THE RELATiyiTfEs or ruINOs
4 knew the magnitude Of the trade O
Memphis, tho wealth Of her people, thi
orlcrincss Of their lie, the advantages q
the city's site, the richness OF the countr!
Of which she has for nearly a century beet
the entrcpoL THIS led mo TO speculate
upon tho relative value Of cotton fell
and m iron mine, with regard TO munici
pal development. Why Is II, II proximit
to beds Of iron aud coal makes Chaita
nooga a great manufacturing center, tina
J proximity 10 tho richest cotton region IL
the world does not make Memphis a.
equally great manufacturing poinp
iron more valuable In q Commercial sens
than co,ton7 Surely not | leave out q
account tho wealth OF timber in ia
country adjacent. which should make Men
phis ono OF the principal wood.workin
points Of the Union. / think solely ,
those 7Oe, 900 bales OF cotton which hay
passed into Memphis within the past min
I months. Tho iron aud coal Of the noun
. aims around Chattanooga should not DO
, moro effect In the growth Of that city tina
the cotton Of the fields Of Western Tonne.
soc, Northern Mississippi, Arkansas an
. Texas should DO In