The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20
TIE MEMPHIS MARKET.
A Fine Review OF Its Conditions and
Features.

Features.
From the Industrial Review.
Groceries, with all the separate branches
and ramifications, such as produce, grain,
hay, feedstuf, tobacco, liquors, wines and
cigars, confectioneries, -four, ETC., are OF
such commercial and vital importance and
form such a significant and at the same
time integral part of this city's commerce,
that the subject deserves special mention
apart from the other factors in the general
trade. Especially 10 this case with Mem
phis, which, as is well known, long ago
has earned well deserved reputation
throughout the South as market. While
there are cities in the United States which
have larger number OF wholesale grocery
houses, as New York and few other
cities, it Is an established fact that Mem
phis, in proportion to its population, is
the largest grocery market in America.
In regard TO good flrst-class goods,
low prices and easy distributing
facilities II has no superiors. The grocery
trade has for years been ON n steady in
crease and ranges now from SIS, 900, 900 to
$50, 600, 600 per annum, which is done by
fifty to sixty large houses; but besides these
there are several large houses which do an
exclusive liquor business which amounts
to about g, 100000 per annum, several ex-
elusive tobacco and cigar houses, a large
number of produce firms, several who
deal exclusively in grain, hay and feed,
few wholesale confectionery and cracker
firms which also come in under the head
Of manufactures, also several exclusive
flour houses. Memphis gains every year
| s..sa e. 10. 10
which extends throughout West and Mid
die Tennessee, Central and North Ala
bama, part OF Georgia. the largest and
richest part Of Mississippi, North and East
Arkansas, Southeast Missouri and goodly
portion OF Texas and Louisiana. The
immensely OF her trade is due TO the fact
that sho has facilities for supplying herself,
which enables her to compete successfully
with any market in the country, North,
South. East or West while her facilities
OF distribution consist OF ',n railroads
reaching out in every direction, and the
equivalent OF as many more in shape OF the
Mississippi, the Ohio, the Tennessee, the
st. Francis and the White Rivers. The
merchants OF Memphis take a prominent
rank socially, commercially and financially.
They are noted for stability, probity, push
and energy, and their credit stands high
anu ~ uillllllleu NJ nOinc anu uOTohit anu
their trade much sought after by foreign,
! Eastern and Western houses. The stocks
carried by Memphis wholesale grocers
are in quality and quantity unequaled.
While in some cities, some Of
which are competitors OF Memphis, the
,, majority OF the wholesale grocers carry
small stocks or none at all and have their
7 orders filed from the factories Memphis
merchants carry their own stock, and some
! OF these are immense, ranging from S)0,-
! 600 and 100000. The improvement in
trade Of late years has also called forth
, magnificent store houses, some few OF
, which are not surpassed anywhere in
capacity and architectural beauty. With
such rapid increase in trade as Memphis
has experienced there is room for several
, more good firms without infringing on the
trade OF those already here, and more new
capital would be welcomed. Memphis does
now alarger grocery business than either 81.
Louis OF New Orleans, and is step by step
taking more territory away from these cities
. every day. Formerly ST. Louis supplied
the Memphis merchants with meat and
many other heavy goods. Today the
prices OF Memphis for meat and many
other heavy articles are ~ low ~ those OF
81. Louis, sometimes lower, while freights
= are considerably less 10 the different points
y OF destination in the Memphis territory.
u Over 90 per cent. OF Louisiana sugars and
molasses used by Memphis come direct
: from the sugar plantations, enabling her 10
n sell these products as cheapas New Orleans.
9 The same advantages are experienced in
: the hay and grain trade, which is every
. year assuming larger proportions. The
= central location OF Memphis and It's being
in near and easy reach OF the producing
region make her most excellent distrib.
uting point for this important merchandise.
The produce trade proper Is also nm i'm.
u portant factor In the. Memphis grocery
10 trade and for same reasons rs above she
% also in this enjoys unequaled advantages
a This branch has been on an incroas,
every year, and several OF the many house,
In this line sell exclusively 10 jobbers.
great deal OF the produce handled Is raised
10 In tho immediate neighborhood OF Nom.
" phis She sells her produce near the very
A. gates Of New Orleans, sending drummer
= as far m McComb City on the Illinois Cen
10 trail and below Port Gibson on the Louis
Vile, New Orleans x Texas Railroad
IN There has been big increase In this lin,
In last year ~ far IA bulk and quantity ar,
no concerned, but rs values OF strict lines o
M produce this year are two or three time
~ less than the previous year, the value o
al sales Is not as large ~ the previous year
mo- The tobacco and cigar trade has had N
Iy immense increase, not less than 25 pc
(, cent over any previous year, and, beside
that all wholesale groccn handl
this important merchandise. Their
are also number OF larg
houses exclusively engaged In thl
N. trade, while there are two or three ciga
he factories In operation. The liquor. bee
., and wine trade Is also an important facto
~ In the grocery line and has followed ste
US by step with the other branches. A
iis Memphis can control some Of the fine,
liquors made anywhere from our ow
or State, which she distributes all over IN
nj United States 10 New York, Florida. Cal
- iornia, etc, IL II due 10 great extent I
" the liquor trade that Memphis has becom
10, more and moro universally known all oy,
ad the country. This trade has been yer
las satisfactory during the past year. Peopl
%, are beginning to Use better quality {
nc goods everywhere, consequently lees con
- mon goods are sold, and while IN son
lac territories the sale has been abolishc,
ny this has not caused a decrease la the trad
here, a. instead Of supplying II
trade in such territories direct
dealers arc supplied who do suI
PLY tho demand In such part
The ing trade has assumed cnonnol
cr. proportion, aud Il Is estimated that q
see consumpiions Is the same a. before prob
PIX. hilton took effect; beside this, new teri