Year: 1863

line FOR military transport, so its terminus had
military significance.


NAVAL AND MILITARY DEPors


naval and military depot, and shoruyssfter point
OF supply, Cairo in estimation As soon as Mem
came the OF many traders from below, aud
much OF the cotton from Memphis was landed
there shi pped 90 the East. Tue increased pros
perty shown in the erection OF numerous large brick
and edihoes aud IN the attempts ~ beautiy the
city. Al present Cairo consists OF town In swamp
around which levee. The business portion is on
the edge OF this evee but the main residences in the
basin At high water this basin is far below the surface
OF the river, and when the water breaks through the
people <sit each other In skis from their second
story windows. IL Is prop sed TO raise the buildings and
MI up the basin to a level with the levee The work
n progress and the undertaking OF IL at this time
is evidence OF the extreme prosperity of the city dur
ing the past two years regret my inability to procure
figures relative to tho business OF Cairo No individual
had taken the trouble to keep them and there Is no Mer
chants Exchange Chamber of Commerce to preserve
the statistics


MEMPHIS MLHrARnY CONSIDERED.


From Cairo southwark TO Memphis is a distance by
there are no large towns or points OF commercial import
ance thirty five years ago Randolph was much larger
than Memphis and its business was greatly in excess OF
that OF point FROM some cause Memphis went
ahead with rapidly while Randolph remained stationary
and WAS but short time before the latter place
left completely the shade Before the it only
q small village. A little moro than year ago it
trey burned to the ground in return for having fired
upon a passenger steamboat The cotton traffic was the
chief business that built Memphis from Insignificant
landing place 10 commercial town OF nearly
out It made important supply point for
the rebels, and continued until the day or its cap
cure. Much Of the artillery and many OF the wagons
Cor the rebel armies Ia the West manufactured there
at the old Navy Yard and at the shops OF the Memphis
aud Charleston Railroad. When it fell into hands
many OF the inhabitants suddenly avowed their loyalty
and proessed desire to return their allegiance Trade
opened with the city, and large stocks OF goods
AT once Drought in Inc proximity OF tbe repel armies
that rendered remarkably easy for Mem
phis friends to supply them. was In Memphis during the
three months following the fail OF the. city, and the
o goods brought from the North otten
a suspicion that all right Boots and shoes gray
cloth SALT medicines and other articles supposed to be
needed by the rebels in great demand Frequent
iy parties would be captured while their way through
che lines with contraband goods; but they gon
ersy managed to escape with the S confsca. sca
son the authorities found that smuggling had been
red at fearful rate ana took measures 10 stop IT,
embargo laid upon trade. and for time goods
allowed to come down the river. Since then there
has been occasional lifting OF the blockade well
a corresponding Tightening OF the lines.


STATISTICS MEMPHIS TRADE.


During the ending August 81, 1859, the amount OF
cotton shipments from Memphis 325 4S0 bales. For
1859 and 1850 the shipments were 39S 7Sl bales In the
follow ing broke out Tho blockade at Cairo
and the mouth Of the river in conjunction with the orders
the rebel government stopped the cotton trade at
most completely There were frequent shipments from
Memphis TO New Orleans, Mobile and Charleston, but
che article was not bringing high hgure In 1862
the city fell into our hands, and the cotton trade
with the North became lively The shipments for the
year ending 1862 amounted 10 10 900 bales
and for tho year ending September l. IS63 900 bales
The difference Of the shipments in the past and the
sent year accounted for by the fact that most OF those
year or the crop for two that had
muiaed the hands OF owners O the cotton shipped
ehs year there considerable quantity that belongs to
the old product but IL is mainly or the Of last season.
FOR my figures upon the cotton trade OF this city
tndebted to Mr. John Toof Secretary Of the Memphis
Chamber OF Commerce


COMPARISON OF TRADE BRFoRR AND DURING THE WAR.


1t must not be supposed that the difference be-
tween 1926 900 aud 10000 represents the relative pro-
portions or the actual trade OF Memphis in 1858 and
1862. In the former year cotton averaged in value
$50 per bale. Now II will average fully $3.50 per
bale Three hundred and twenty thousand bales at


ty dollars will give the cotton trade OF 1882 In round
numbers at sixteen and quarter millions OF dollars
seventy thousand two hundred and fifty dollars
viii the cotton trade OF 1862 as amounting to
and half miliions--an increase 1858 OF million
and quarter dollars The trade OF the earlier days. It
must be remembered, was in gold or its equivalent
while that OF the present time is in the national Treasury
notes. The prices OF all goods higher than be-
trade OF the South II the restrictions trade
were removed the business Of Memphis would show q
trcts still quite Tho necessity that existed last
season for strict supervision has passed. away and some
OF our vigilance may be relaxed but ii would be by
means proper 10 remove 1t entirely. When tho rebel
armies are driven out from Mississippi it will be time
enough 10 open trade.


aUERuLAs COTTON.


West Tennessee and Northern Mississippi were formerly
among tho beat upland cotton regions The gueras have
been still active in those districts prevent
the staple beng brought MARKET In many they
burn without word Of explanation, or threaten 10 do
.. Il the owner attempts to moys IT, When our army
Ton brought ht In the northern counties Of the sote
Van Dorm, the time Of his raid to Holly Springs, de.





frightened the planters from bringing into the
lines 1t Is estimated by many that a hundred thousand
bales OF cotton could be procured from West Tennessee
and Northern Mississippi the danger from guer as did
deter the from moving it. Added 10 this fear
impressmenis that have been made BY both sides.
The Mississippi valley cannot be looked upon ~
restored to quiet until the guerillas driven COM
peteiy As legitimate warriors they amount 10
nothing rher only effect is TO stop all prosperity Of the
people except in the immediate vicinity OF the military
posts Along the river their constant attacks upon
had no ELECT In restricting trade, though
they have succeeded In destroying feW steamboats,
is Of surprise to every that they no,
long STAGE recalled and placed within the ranks OF the
rebel army They accomplish no real good 10 the rebel
cause in their present occupation, while they would be
much more servceabe as regular soldiers.


UPoS PIANTERs.


The plantations along the river have suffered great
change by the progress OF the Before the rebellion
the planters In happy condition. Cotton sold
at nigh figure whore IL profitable to raise IL The
negroes were pesceabo and not disposed to mediate
market convenient and ready money at all times At
hand The factors in Memphis and New Orleans were
rity lien on the crops as they would be gathered
Neary every planter usually expended his years pro-
debt TO his factor Ali his wants were supplied whether
OF cash articles for plantation The cotton crop
was certain source OF proht and the condition OF tbe
planter, II he occasionally In debt, WAS one
that many man might envy. The planters early em
braced the secession movement through desire TO make
ton Shareholders. They have had occasion for bitter
regrets The has broken up the most OF their plan
kAtons Dy inc ulBht Oh tno negroes. anu IN many
the departure OF the masters themselves.
Many planters, exasperated by the msfortunes OF the
rebel cause, have taken up the musket and fired upon
passing steamboats, This has led to rctribuon In tho
destruction OF their buildings and the devastation of
their property Not planter In hf.y remains at
home with hts household complete and his horde OF ne
groes couteuted and undisurbed All along both banks
OF the river abandoned Plantations visible Their
either In the rebel service wanderers far
from their homesteads. The negroes left behind have
been gathered contraband camps and placed nj work
In varioas ways They suffering much but patiently
IN the pangs Of transition from slavery 10 freedom.
The problem In their Is from being solved,
though there is an evident gmmer OF daylight through
what was complete darkness two years ago


WORKING ABANDONED PLANTATIONS


Last year many Of these abandoned plantations were
cssed by government TO various parties and worked by
them on shares part OF the essees found the enter.
prise profitable one, while others did not The matter
was little more than an experiment, everybody being
completely IN the dark at the outset In the coming year
new ans will be adopted, and 1t Is thought still greater
ercess will follow. propose in few days ~ visit
Vicksburg and the region OF these leased plantations
and mako special observations upon the subject will
deor further observations upon the matter OF the leased
plantations until after making that Gen. Thomas has