The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-10-17
New orleans and Internal improvements.


tits. gratifying to see that New Orleans is at last
awakening to the importance OF Internal improve {
ments She has so long slumbered, that already 7
have the Eastern cities by their network OF mn
movements drawn from her large amount of
trade. 10 which she was entitled from her position.
located on a river the finest in the world and that
watering a country unequalled in extent and fer
tility, we have rested under the pleasing delusion
that nature had done much for our city that it
was only necessary for to gather the riches that
were poured into our lap. Lulled by this pleasing
illusion, we have forgotten that this is age of
mind, and have not marked those schemes of in
ternal improvement that have been stretching their
iron hands through every section of country. until
our city is awakened by the startling fact that it is
rapidly loosng that trade which it fondly believed
to be its heritage. The Atlantic Cities recog
| niZing the truth of the axiom that their pros
| perity depends upon their connection with the
| Mississippi Valley" have been using every effort |
to perfect scheme of improvement that will carry
the means of communication to every important
point in the Mississippi Valley. Boston and New
York have spread over the Northwestern States
network of improvements which has almost en-
trey diverted their trade from its natural channel
The tobacco, -four and trade of the State of Ohio,
are already gone, at least we receive but little
from her beyond what is necessary for our own
consumption. Indiana has forgotten, and Illinois
holds but slight intercourse with u.s. The fine
rivers which are tributary to the Mississippi, and
stretch their arms through these States, should
l naturally have given their trade; but the East
ern Cities looking upon the rich field of commerce
y which they presented, have, by their internal i'm
: provements, overcome natural advantages and
e deprived us of this trade. Other States, learning
wisdom from this success, have entered the field OF
competition, and unless New Orleans arouses her
self, the time is not distant when she will lose
large portion of her Southern trade. Already is
f. Georgia formidable competitor for the trade Of
Middle Tennessee and North Alabama. The
=, main trunk of her railroad reaches the len
nessee River, and with the liberal aid of the State
of Tennessee, lateral roads stretching forth in
!. every direction. Towards Knoxville there is the
;. Hwassee Railroad, extending its to meet the
:, great Virginia improvement from Richmond, via
- Lynchburg and East Tennessee, to the North, the
"A Nashville ahd Chattanooga road is all under con-
-, tract and to the West the Memphis and Charles
"a ton road will not be long in uniting Savannah with
=. the Mississippi River. We do not deem it neces-
sary, and indeed the limits of an article like this
will not allow us to enter into detailed statement
of the amount of trade the completion of these i'm
b. provements will divert from New Orleans
1t ia estimated that Tennessee produces about
l3 COO 600 bushels of wheat and "A, 100000 bushels
m. of corn, and that Middle Tennessee, North Mis-
Is sssipp and North Alabama produce about 100000
NE bales cotton, and after making liberal allowance
for home consumption, it will be seen that thi
" very large amount of produce must seek distan
i" market It's natural depot is New Orleans, but b.
'e chain OF internal Improvements, Georgia ant
." South Carolina have already diverted considera