The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-13
The Western Trade,


The Philadelphia and Baltimore pa pers are dis
cussing to which city the trade of the West shall
| be appropriated, and contending earnestly, and
with some acrimony, for their respective interests
Within year the railroad connecting these cite,
with the Ohio, at different points, will be completed
These competitors agree in one respect, that Gin
cinnati is to be the nave whence these train bear
ing spokes are to radiate in various directions
all which, according to their theory, is to con
duce to the benefit of one of these commercial
rivals The object in this instance is certainly
worthy the contest. Competition is always bene.
fetal to the public; and while we view the enter
prise as most laudabe, and believe both will have
a large share of success, we cannot look on
with indifference, or come to the conclusion that
| the results will coincide with the views of our
Atlantic countrymen. We, in this region, may
| have word to say in the division of the spoils
and perhaps maintain our claim TO the lions
share, which has SO long been here distributed.
True it is, the Atlantic coast is nearer the
European mart for the products of the West. 1t
is, however, but recently that demand for these
has there existed, and this has been caused by
unusual casualties, probably of temporary effect.
1t must ever be uctuatng with seasons of scarcity
or abundance, and capricious according to poti-
cal speculations.
There is a vast region upon, and connected with,
the Gulf of Mexico, which, in addition to present
consumption, will ere long require the products of
The West in exchange for its sugar and cotton
This will be more stable market than the trans
atlantic, with much greater facility of intercourse.
Whether these roads to the Ohio and Mississippi
will take the products near these lines to or from
The river, is problem which time only can solve,
and upon which there will be different opinions.
Nothing, however, is more certain than the
diversion of the trade OF the so.called West from its
accustomed channel and depot unless counteracted
oy facilities that will continue and perpetuate it,
1t was, therefore, with some satisfaction that we
make the subjoined extract from the Cleveland
Herald, though it may dampen little the BaIti-
more and Philadelphia absorbing schemes
The road alluded to, will be the first connecting
the Mississippi river and Atlantic coast. The
capitalists mentioned are well known in this COM
munity, distinguished for energy, intelligence
and wealth.
Our neghbors in Alabama have the start of us,
in the attempt to connect Mobile with the Illinois
Central Railroad. OF the progress of the road to
the river opposite Cairo, its resources, and when
we may possibly see its completion, we are not
informed.
1t is not, however, hazardng much to assert that
the advantages OF the great artery of the West,
yet within the control OF New Orleans, if it's citi-
zens will awake from their Rip Van Wrinkle
slumber.
Mr.. R. Schuyler's plan for the great Central
Railroad from Cairo to Chicago and Gaena, based
IN the land grant made by Congress last session,
mas been approved by both Houses OF the Illinois
Legislature and charter has been passed author
izng the building of the road by company Of New
York and Boston capitalists, among which are
M-ssrs Robert Schuyler, Gov. Griswold, Gouver
neur Morris, Jonathan Sturgis, Thos Ludlow and
John F. A. Sanford, of the city of New York, and
David Neil, franklin Haven, and Robert Rantoul,
L. of RnstnnN