The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-14
SOLID FACTS
Secretary Keeling's Annual Report.
How the General Business of Msm-
phis Shows Up.
The Compiler's Terse, Emphatic
Way OF Stating Reasons.
Excellent Reports of Committees of
the Merchants Exchange.
Wen-Grounded Assurance That This
Is the Greatest and Most Thrlv-
ing City in the South and
Southwest.

"Annual Statement of the Trade and
Commerce of Memphis, Tenn, for the
Year 1888, Reported to the Memphis Mer-
chants Exchange, by L. A. Keeling, Sec.
reiary," is the title of compact and valu-
able work now in press.
Its title is sufficient indication Of the it,
tent and purpose OF the publication, but it
does not stand as correct index to all il
contains.
In addition 10 the features usually found
in the report Mr.. Keeling has embraced
new and valuable statistical tables bearing
upon cotton as well as the general line OF
merchandise. His Introductory remarks,
based upon bed rock facts, are as follows.
Very few Of the people who daily Universe the
streets OF Memphis, very few even OF our own
prominent business men, unless their attention has
been specially called thereto have AMY definite or
adequate Idea OF the growth or importance OF the
city, or Us commercial relations 10 and business
connections with the great Mississippi Valley aud
ia tributaries The persistent though silent innu.
ences that have brought Memphis during the past
lew lew yean TO It's pTesent position among the gleat
clles Oi the country have been No quiet In their
working that very few Of those whose vocatlons
have Kept them within IT, limits can conceive Of
what Memphis has grown 10 be. II Is only those
OF comparing II with itself. can do ~.
The year tina. has Just closed has not by any
means been one @ Of universal prosperity for the
country, and the south particularly has irlt certain
depressing business influences still Memphis
sinnds to-day very far advanced beyond her 6usi.
ness position Of one Actr agu Cotton the gr,at
staple OF our city. has again asscrted it nbnndnnre
aud poured into Memphis IT. ynst productive
wealth leaT by year the territory tributary 10 the
business OF Mcmphis has been enlanud but In no
year has Il received greater or mon general ntteu.
tOn than during issS fhcrc have been grcn.er
sugic advances, ~ where heretofore some groai
hue ui Railroad was completed, but even wnerc
aud Ia all directions new fields have been aided
and new territory phiucd To In business. some.
thing 10 sell that the people must have. people who
wnnt To buy, something 10 give iu exchange ior
what they desirv, and means OF transportation,
easily, quickly and chcaply are Necessary IN orirr
10 build " a commercial center Memphis Il
exceptionally fortunate In all these r.Iso,u No
city Ia our land has largCr. LCttCr ur more
mlidly Improving territory In which 10 seek trade
This rms whole extent Of territory Is prospcring and
building up There has bccn no boom or fictitious
incrctsc, hut n steady advance In all directions
and an advance that will h. held aud be pcfina.
nent II u bot for today NOT. tomorrow. but for all
ume, year ugo u wns question as 10 just nov
great would BE- the addition 10 Memphis By the
Opening oi The new line TO Birnlugham This
question il settled. The tonnage hauled here by
that line alone in December avenged over 40 cars
nday. Our wholesale merchants are monthly cx
tending ,hoir hnc,, reaching out into new fields
rnd Opening up new territory Alabama, which
Ever laughed at the idea Of Memphis imdc, nov IL
large element In our business. North Louisiana
tuuttluhlT " luN quota short time ngO We
bought goods Of y. Louis now our merchants
compete VITA thusc OF - Louis at IL ven doom
Memphis ncangr the great fields which PRO
duce the sugar and monsscs than Il ~ Louis. jhl
caTo OF Cincinnati and. with her great iinc- of
Tuads nlino.t A. near NJ Nca Orleans 10 most OF the
south. and much nearer n the southern market
than any OF these citlcs excepting New Orleans
Only few ycan since most oi the bulk meat Tor
the south was purchased In ~ Loui. aud the
Northwest nov that q one Of the staple portions
Of the trade VI Memphis our dcalofs carry A. full
aud complete stocks ~ any Of the gnut cities oi
the North, But why ptnicunrzC' Memphis has
is gasp on The trade Of The grai south and south.
west, which is iilling mp wtth settlers aud building
up with titles inCi1fic' and shops aud each year
will sec ~ gasp ughlcnlng and broadening as the
needs and business ui the country FfuWs
The old days when the merchant had b. earn
the county, Iced aud clothc g. and wnit year at
least igr payment l. gone, o. tic Memphis uf iCn
aud nitcon ycln ago j. gone. Nov the planter
aud farmer u largely out ~ debt aud tnn loan his
commission merchant money. goods can be sold
ON closer margin. and the pruht, though not W
tAOsrlte in each individual instance, u greatly
Increased by the frequency Of the turn. All things
psaut 20 the beginning aud continuance of an ofA
olbusincs prosperity aud adyanccmcnt foF McIn.
phls and ~ merchants.
The following tcports from the srecial trade
comniticcs will aorda better idea o. the trade VI
the city.