Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-05-24
Baton Rouge.
PtAorEN,>E. L.. May Goth, 1856.
liter Sr-n, Ptantrr:-I have lust returned

Is Gl Iipnl tE'lttti ~ rs iIItth vi .t"'Nts---
Therefor" i; YOU will allow me room for old
friendships sake, | viii lt down some Of
the stray ideas which dit through the tickle
brain Of all (>ec Comets deluItlon) "lorAed
radl>hcs.'
nne Of the first things which strike the
visitor OF Baton Rouge. is the unsurpassed
orua;y Of it, location. The next the unr1vaicd
beauty of the ladies'. VIM ut eve!.t.de, LIT
through the shaded streets Of Rid Stuck. ,
was happy to meet many oH friends who
have grown up-Aimost with the city-tor ii
is tut a few years since Baton Rouge aroused
from her letAargy and stupor. put on her gar
ments o. progress and stretched forward the
rlrht foot into the now open path OF pros
perity.
Many mercantile firms have opened wide
their doors during the past few years. and
ttw-verv iew-have go'e ont as the flick
erlng wick dies out to give way to SIX Inches
more Of a prime ntw article. | was very
sorry to learn that the Railroad spirit had
received another blow in the Gu:nticIpated
Aetrat OF the parish railroad tax; however it
was the will OF the ma outy, and although
nay belief IN r0r populi ror del has been con-
siderabIv shattered of late. still the lax pay
ers would have had the tax to par. and they
must have taken all the pros and cons into
consideration.
One thing struck me as very singular. and
to NE, seemed to show a want of perception
as to the forwarding OF their interests OF the
part of Jour otherwise tar-seeing and ener-
ge:io merchants, and that is this why do
they permit New Orleans to grasp and re-
tain almost the total control over the trade of
the Red River valley. Your city bears the
same ~rel,ticn in situation and commercial adj
vantages to the Red River country. that
Memphis does TO the Arkansas and White
River valleys. and yet. whilst the latter city
~leri:es an immense trade from the country
drained by thoSe<rlverS, Baton Rouge derives
little or no advantage from her conticuitv to
The rich producing regions Of Red River:
why is this? Are not your merchants as en-
tc~rprising-as literal, if not more so, than
those Of New Orleans.
Whilst in Baton Rouge, | could have pur-
chased goods in every line cheaper team in
New Orleans. |: is true your stores are not
50 large, hu:s'suredIy the stock in the prin-
ciplc stores are most complete-ho'ise rents
are beyond all comparison luwer-taxes must
be lighter-rates of living cheaper, and vet
the rich produce OF Red River floats past her
natural market-Baton Rouge and in return
the heavily laden steamer looms past her.
loaded with supplies for p'antelsant country
merchants; all procuraO.e in Baton Rouge.
hat Western produce merchant located in
New Orleans, can sell iower-or, if the de-
mand is made upon :h-m--shnw heavier
stocks than Barbee 4 Ben jamin, Joshua Beal,
Nontan & Bro, A. Malta. and others dealing
IN their lines in your city? New Orleans
has not even one flour m.lI, whilst Baton
Rouge. through the energy OF Beal. can turn
out from her Young America MilIs.'' fifteen
barrels per day. Jacob Pi per & Co., occupy
all establishment before whose proportions
many a boasted House Furnishing establish
ment in the Crescent city is cast into the
siade-wlth a front Of sixty feet by fifty
deep. with a wareroom crowded to excess
their stock OF everything il their line. is as
complete and varied as any house H. the State.
heir furniture rooms are over a hundred feet
in depth and occupy two floors, from which
the most tastideous can select.
w. +. Tunnard's Wagon, PIow, and Plan
ter's Emporium. in connection with his nam
moth three stu,y Carriage and Buggy manu-
factory, contains everything needed by the
planter for the successful prosecution of his
crop. In my next will try and give a de-
scrlption OF the new "stubbie plow," the
plan of which | saw there-anI which, in
my opinion, is the ultima thule Of the sugar
planters desires.
Hill Il Co., have as large an iron and brass
foundry as can be started in the South. and
Bradtords 4 Cos stock OF harness. leather.
&c., will vie in quantity and quality, with
any house inside New Orleans. The State
Prison Manufactured cotton Goods, which find
their way all overthe State through the me-
dunn OF New Orleans.
W. D. Phillips and a host of others, supply
every conceivable quality and quantity OF
d.y goods, from the tI6pst texture, from the
French loom to the heaviest Osuaburg of the
South.
Waddill and Bogel supply CROUCH Drugs
and Chemicals to poison or cure the whole
community. Bogel does not, strictly speak
ing. "onhnc HE h1Si7ess : Drugs, hit keen.