The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-18
A NEW INDUSTRY
FOR A THRIVING PLACE FULL OF IN.
DUsTRIoUs PEOPLE.
A Story That Illustrates the Ways by
Which Laboring Men Are Made On
whiting Supporters and sustainers of
Cramping and Killing Monopoly.

| great CITY Oh 0OO00 souls and some politi
cans. 1t was governed by a Mayor, AL
dermen and Council, whose duty seemed
to be to search for opportunities to benefi,
the laboring classes and to pull wires. On,
day, when the Board OF Government wal
out seeking an opportunity one of tn,
Aldermen suddenly exclaimed, 81 hav,
1t. The Mayor demanded attention Il
the member from Ward Eleven. .Youl
Honor and gentlemen" said the Alder.
man, our city consumes $4,000 barrels Of
Hour a year, and not single pound is
made here. Let us build flour.mill and
give employment to some Of the labor that
IS now idle. | am aware that the Consti-
tuition of the United States forbids our
passing an order compelling our citizens
to buy homo manufactures, but there is a
way to accomplish such result" His
honor responded, "Asour President in his
inaugural address looks hopefully to tho
continuance OF our protective policy for the
development of manufacturing enterprises,
see no reason why such policy may not
be benefit to our city, and / request the
member from Ward Eleven to introduce
at the mex. meeting OF the board an order
having this object in view"
AT the next meeting the Alderman read:
whereas, the flour from St. Louis and
Minneapolis is very unhealthiul, there
fore, IL is ordered that on and after April |
there shall be paid into the city treasury
~ Tor each barrel OF -four that comes here
from outside the city limits. p. s. and
N. H.: This order is done for sanitary
reasons" After the usual motions, amend
ments, points OF order, and remarks by
members from Wards Two, Five and Six.
II was passed. Immediately many men
who had heard that electric stock had
advanced from % TO rumored $50 and
had estimated the amounts OF their profits
II they had bought when il was 80, came
forward TO subscribe for the stock in the
new hour.mill. While they could only
dream OF the possible profit OF handling
electricity, they were absolutely sure that
the - fine on outside -four would allow
them profit OF S2.75 on each barrel of
home production. The mill was built
and was a successful enterprise from the
start. Occasionally the shoe Industries
were heard TO complain that they were
losing trade, for although they could com
pete with Brockton and Haverhill, vet when
payment in flour was proposed, those cities
did the business because their manuiac-
turers were not fined for bringing home
the Hour for which they had traded shoes.
This loss OF trade, however, was comuara-
lively small There was no fine on grain.
groceries, provisions, dry goods, drugs,
leather lumber, furniture, etc, etc / and
only fifty shoemakers were discharged on
account OF IL. Sometimes a man would
grumble at paying $500 for a barrel of
Hour such as Salem sold for 5000. but he
was soon silenced by the Alderman from
Ward Eleven, who would say: "rhere is
no industry in the entire city as prosperous
as the -four mill. Its workmen are com
tented and happy. IL has nav roll
amounting TO 500 q week. IL makes 80,
900 barrels year aud sells them right al
home. Our groccrs and saloons get the
benefit OF that pay roll. What Is 50. 90 on
a barrel OF ilour2 A mere trihe; not more
than 90 per cent. II you close up this
mill, Il would ruin everybody. You
would be out OF work. Our shoe factories
would stop. II would be tue death OF
Morocco. Electric stock wouldn't be-
worth cent Our streets and sidewalks
would DO paved with more mud. The
new high-school building would be moth
ing but talk.
II tell you, my friend, we are so depsn-
dent one upon another that, should We
injuro the ilour mill, then our whole bus
mess Is bust" And the mill prospered.
One man, who in his school days had mrs
tered Columns mental arithmetic, said in
public debate nj one OF the social club
rooms Gentlemen, three dollars a bar
rel on $1,000 barrels amounts 20 $3.50. Oo0
We are paying $4,000 year for the al
legged purpose Of giving our laboren en-.
ployment. Now the entire pay roll OF this
mill Is only sl5, 900 for the year. VIII the
Alderman from Ward Eleven tell us what
has become Of the Sl3j, OOO?" The Alder
man, who has also studied arithmetic,
answered. "Fellow-ciiizens, thegenteman
who has Just spoken, ~ you well know, X
not practical business man. lie never
employed labor. lie does not know the
value Of home market. lie would open
our roads and LET outside cities do all our
business lie Is hic ct Unique a theorisl. {"
And the mill continued 10 prosper One
year later the commercial reporter sent 10
the mercantile agency this account Of the
mill. "a stock company. Capital, 500, 600:
zoo shares In all, ls7 Of which are owned
by the Alderman from Ward Eleven. II
employs fifty hands, ten being residents Of
the city for more than year and forty
recent arrivals from 81 Louis and Mime
npolis. Tho superintendent and manager
both from 81 Louis. Last year is total
production was G0,0O0 barrels. OF this
amount 90, 600 were sold nc homo for 50 n
barrel, and the balance, 10000. were sold
In Salem, Lawrence aud Lowell at 50. Il
paid two dividends Of . per cent each, and
will soon declare stock dividend Of five
shares for every Two. Tho mill continues
10 prosper
IL the next city election there wero two
sets Of candidates In the field, one repre-
fcnting the prosperity OF the mill, the
other n reduction In tho cost OF flour.
The Alderman from Ward Eleven con.
tribulcd $4,000 iof necessary campaign
expenses, but when the votes were counted
there wa n large majority In favor oi 70.
duciion In price OF -four
This fable shows that while the people
are slow 10 sec an evil when presented NJ
a benefit and extended over great cOun.
try, yet when limited 10 a city tho people
OF that city readily grasp the situation and
remove the evil. IL shows that Lynn can
make any industry profitable by compel
ling is citizens to buy the production aud
by causing injury 10 some other industry.
lly looking at 10 through smoked glass, the
reader can sec that u iabOrcr who used six
barrels OF -four paid, 10 make this mill
snccussiul, ~ more than the millionaire
who used only tlsco barrels, also that all
Tie lsb0ruu paid moro than $4,000,
while those who are called wealthy paid
les than S2jOOO
II teaches that the citizens 81 Lynn are