New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-18
HEAVY REpucEToN.
The Chicago Tribune, the other day, published
the following editorial nara granh:

The Chicago Tribune, the other day, published
the following editorial aragrsph:
The Mark Lane Express, published in London,
has an American correspondent who has been la
boring Tor the past three years to show the people
OF England that the Mssssippiis the only true and
natural outlet for Western produce to the ocean
but within that period the exports at New Orleans
have diminished about four hundred per cent ),
while the trade OF the Lakes has increased more
than two hundred per cent.
We can very well understand how trade may in-
crease two hundred per cent, but how il can d.
minish'' four hundred per cent. is somewhat in
comprehensive proposition. A decrease of only
one hundred per cent. destroys trade altogether,
| and leaves nothing. Four hundred per cent. de-
crease Of the trade of New Orleans would make it
so much less than nothing that the mind becomes
quite unable to realize the results II the Tribune
meant TO ray as is probable it did, that the trade
Of New Orleans is now only one fourth as great as
it was three years ago, we have merely TO reply
that our commercial statistics show quite the CON
srary that it is greater now than ever before The
Tribune perhaps knows more about it than we do.
That there has been an increase in the trade
of the Lakes we very oheerfully admit. Unlike
our Chicago eotamporary, we are net so unfair,
while recording the increase in the commerce of
our own section to deny an increase also In any
other. There is vast difference, however, be-
tween the trade'' of the two regions. Estimated
| by tonnage alone, the Lake trade makes good
| show; but. estimated by ualues, the Southern
trade has to provincialism, considerably the
| /" bulge'' on that Of the North.
We hear a great deal of talk about the great
"Lake trade,'' and the vast quantity of tonnage
employed in it. Under this pretence the old Con
gress used 10 be besieged every winter by count
less applications for money to improve hsrbors,
erect light houses, build marine hospitals, and all
that sort Of thing fearful array of figures being
adduced to show the magnifcence of G the great
Lake trade" Stuart, of Michigan, used to bring
in bills every winter the aggregate appropriations
of which amounted to as much as Mr.. jefferson re-
CURED 10 administer the Government. Sometimes
some of these bills got through, on the log-rolpg
system, the money was used up, but somehow or
other the harbors never seemed to improve. A
bigger batch Of bills than ever would come in the
next winter and the Northwest appeared as inSa-
table as horse-leech.
When we come to examine this e great Lake
trade though, we find that it consists almost ex-
cluaiveiy Of breadstufs which go east and are
consumed in New York and New England By
the time the corn of illinois has gone through the
lakes, down the Erie canal, and down the Hudson
river to New York, the freight and expenses on it
have eaten up considerable part of its value.
The producer gets but little net cash for his pro
duce, but he consoles himself nightly by Dragging
and boasting about ~ the great Lake trade.n
II was this same paper, the Chicago Tribune,
that proposed, some weeks ago, that ship canal
be cut across from The Mississippi river to Lake
Michigan. Its idea WAS to reverse the current OF
commerce, and cause it to flow up the Mississippi
river instead of down. Its object was to punish
New Orleans and Louisiana for Withdrawing from
the Union, by conducting the produce of the Mis-
sissippi valley To foreign market through the
Northern Lakes, instead of through the mouth of
the Mississippi river. This brilliant project the
Tribune urged in several numbers of the paper. |
Cotton. for instance, destined for Liverpool, by
this new arrangement, would be shipped per |
steamer up the river to the Northern part of Hi
nois; thence through this proposed canal, paying |
oil; and at Chicago reloaded upon ship. Then |
would have to make the circuit of the three great
lakes, Michigan, Huron and Erie. At Buffalo it |
would be transhipped, put upon canal boat and
Ient across to the Hudson river. There it would
Be put on board Of . steamer and sent down to
New York city. Finally, it would be put upon an.
other ship and started for Liverpool. The cost Of
PHI hlta WOAlS VI SoAAeS, 30 LTlinR I'd tlAG
think we already see, in our minds eye, several |
thousand ships sailing across the ocean loaded
with cotton that has reached the aeaboard BY this
route! On the other hand, though, there are some
practical economists who still stick to the opinion
hat the main trade OF the Mississippi river will fol
ON its natural current, and still entertain the idea
hat lis chsapestto load ships with cotton here.
md send them straight to Liverpool. And we
hardly think the proposed ship canal will shake |
hem in that conviction. The great Lake trade j" |
n corn, wheat, lumber and potatoes, will be CON
lucted about as usual, and the great Southern
rade in cotton, sugar, molasses, tobacco, hemp,
ETC., will be conducted down the great
commercial artery of the country, so far as domes-
ic commerce is concerned, and out at it's mouth
or commerce with foreign nations. The laws of
ature may be assisted by human means, but they
annot be reversed.
sL 4 d Msgrs 1