The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-04
Our %. Louis Correspondien nee.


sT Loun, August 81, 1895
The final collapse of the rebellion found the trade and
commerce of the Mississippi valley in anomalous
state II was fettered and restricted by variety OF
Treasury regulations and general orders from dozen
litary commanders whose authority varied as widely
az their ideas OF and hum. There limts-
tons upon the kind and quality of goods which might be
carried up and down the river and shipment from
box Of candles to bale OF cotton, required permit
host of eeches lined the banks OF the Father Of Waters
from Keokuk TO New Orleans Revenue aids travelled
every steamboat, and the happy shipper who was
that his goods started, would 90 through all
right their appointed destination, rarely found.
Sometimes the necessities of the military situation
freak of quarermaser compelled captains Of boats
bound TO New Orleans 10 unload OF Memphis, and either
place their cargo the wharf boat transfer IL To
another steamer, as the preliminary for trip with
troops food for soldiers many hundred miles away
This system Of suddenly pressing STEAMBOATS, into SER
vice had one or two dsgracefu phases, ef which
the apparent favortism which governed the seIec
tiop OF boats
now WORKED.
When boats were empty government charter was ac-
cepted with avidty but when boat was loaded, and
bound particular port the captain dreaded impress
the Egyptians dreaded renewal OF the plaques
The rule pay for the detention OF boats at rate
very much lower than when actually employed. Very
often II happened that quarermaster would detan
boat In anticipation Of emergency, and then let
her 20 without active service at all Consequently
IL study equal TO the Of the nne arts on tho
part of the captains clerks Of river detained
In expectation Of charter 10 have their boats released
II is the tradition Of Mississippi steamboat men
that the easiest and spcedcst way OF getting boat re-
leased bribe go~crnment oical; aud truth
compcs me 10 say that circumstances indicate strong
probability that this tradition is founded on absolute
facts Equal cunning required 10 have loaded boat
pressed service released from custody, and lie
remark that many boats bound TO New Orleans
with cargocs were stopped on the river pre-
tencc order to wiring brbcs from their ofcers There
is probably spice Of truth in this SANDER and 1t liz
chsrgeabc the Generalization which everywhere pre-
vailed the banks Of the Mississippi
CORRUPTION
One OF the most striking features In the last years re-
view Of trade In the Mississippi valley s the evdens
corruption which marked the trade In cotton at every
point ON the river In the first place the Treasury regu
laons prohibited cotton shipments without special per
mit and when this procured there were half
dozen officers who nteered with the business At ev
cry stage Thcy would manage get the cotton in pound
on some pretex, and before was released the owner
was minus many hundred dollars Finally the Treasury
pcper,ment prohibited cotton shipments entirely and
the military commanders directed TO close the lines
sasius, tho receipt OF cotton This supposed to be
nnaI blow at the spccuatos; but mark the result
,en,hs Of the seized BY the government ws
leased on ARRIVAL ai Cairo not sold by govern
mont agents at Cincinnati and g. Louis, and tho
proceeds paid 10 claimants who were loyal.
Meanwhile shers q tremendous pressure ~
Washington have the lines reopened and occasionally
special permit obtained. The frequent removal Of
Treasury agents gave considerable trouble as each agent
had different set Of elcrks and subordinates ell Of whom
expected 70 get rich by tnese operaiio@s = volume
might be prcntaby written the frsude - artihces
employed 70 get cotton 70 market, but the country
has enough diry linen 10 wash without gong INTO
cotton corruption very deeply. Is sumcsns 70 say
that Treasury agents and military mon frequently got
rich and many OF them have resigned their commissions
70 retro ON their III gotten gains There their copseepce
alone will trouble them.
TIE TRADE STONE sysrns.
Another evil connected with the condition Of trade and
commerce In the Mississippi valley through the VI" wss
the power conferred upon Treasury agents 70 IND" mo
amour, OF trade In each place occupied BY our troops 70
the individuals who received special permits 70 's'e
This system was In vogue up to May nss w"se ."
res.ricuons were removed by Presden, johnson nwS
followed In colmnbus Ky, Hickman, Randopn, zen
pbs Helena. Lislls Recs Bort Smith SSs's0s' saAAs