The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-04
From the Randsboro' Democrat
The Gulf and Ship Island Railroad and
Direct Trade.

AS matters stand Mississippi has neither
direct nor independent trade, but according to
the annual Report of the United States Of
Commerce and Navigation" no trade at ALL
1t seems the South has improved its vision,
and sees something beyond New York, Liver
pool, and English capital. The cry comes
home from all quarters for "Direct Trade -
New Orleans for the sake of making money
out of cotton, calls "the British and American
Southern Steamship Company into life
Alabam may be, more effectively connects
itself with the world by having taken away
''all taxations on foreign imported merchandise
sold by resident Merchants, landed direct or
even indirect in any Southern Port, within
that State"
The commercial statistical tables of Missis-
| sippi holds one language, but in the CONNER
cial and nautical annals of the nation she is
not represented; except little coasting trade
in the latter respect Strange anatmoly, a
| whole living wealth without production or
consumption How different is the case with
our neighboring States and Commercial Cities.
New Orleans exported during the last fiscal
year ,658, 81, bales Of cotton, valued at 1885,
TAI ,449 ; of which quantity it is safe to say
three fifths grew on Mississippi soil, and, in
the same space Of time, exported Mobile 49,
606 bales of cotton, valued at S28, 743.e45. of
which quantity it is safe to say one fourth
came from Mississippi, Which gives to her,
at rough calculation, cotton production of
$58, $685. 18, 25, and again, of coffee New
Orleans imported during the stated period,
st, 264;303 and Mobile $177,874 OF salt
New Orleans, $685., O1O; Mobile $93,586 Of
manufactured cotton New Orleans, S1O9, 40.
OF anvils the same city to the value of SILL
948 &c. To carry now, principally, the cot
ton and of course other products in proportion
(toreign merchandise is generally received by
the same cotton vessels) off from New Orleans;
She gave during the last fiscal year, employ
ment to 1893 vessels, with a crew of 2988 men
and 428 boys, independent of vessels engaged
in the coasting trade And now Mississippi's
own cotton, and commerce in general, passed
over the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad, that
passed, during this time, through yondcr sea-
ports, it would have given employment &C
cordIng to the above calculation and data's to
668, 405, with crew of l., 533, men JOG boys;
and would have this commerce enriched the
people Of Mississippi themselves with all the
enormous profits therefrom arising; and would
have called enterprises into life now not appre-
ciated and conceived. All exports and imports |
would yield greater profits to the people of |
Mississippi were they transported and dis
patced by the Gulf Railroad and Ship Island |
Harbor, from independents management not |
alone, but, from the shortest distance to and |
from our own sea port than over New Or |
leans and Mobile and lastly, from the ever |
cheaper and more Convenient sea harbor of our
oson. This procedure would tell wonderful
on the Planter and Farmer, the Merchant and |
but also would the Mechanic
& laborer find plenty of work. and gain greater
incomes. What an industry would not be
called into life throughout our no,o almost
pine regions and what number
Of ships would this commerce not call to our
sea port again Let them by all means, the
people of Mississippi open their purses freely,
to force as quick as possible the Gulf and
Ship Island Railroad through Mississippi, who,
pays a tax on eight millions of dollars loaned
'ut on interest that sells annually over $I6,-
10000 taxable merchandise that pays tar
If twenty millions of acres of land. Let the
mecca of our State be in it Then
will she not alone have Independent but direct
rade and can initiate Alabama drawing
commerce to her bosom; and New
orleans by creating Ocean Steam navigation.
nd Ocean vessels of her own, and too with
,reater succeSs-from the greater amount
# products she throws into the mar
t of the world, and from the superior CON- |
nercial and nautical qualifications Of Ship Is
and Harbor, over the ports of New Orleans /
nd Mobile. What are the expenses to bring
essels to MissiSsippi's sea portland to New
lrleans in particular ? What are the costs to
maintain them here, and there Ocean steam
avigation as well as the bulk Of the commerce
T the Mississippi valley-will be, in future
ispatched from Ship Island Harbor. Eager !
: stretches New Orleans her arms to wards | !;
All we'll and good But let us not alone
. owners-but also acting masters-in our
wn waters, and our own soil Independent
nd direct trade, are the cradle of Free Trade