New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-15
ARKANSAS AND TENNESSEE TRADE

We have, In previous issues, called atten-
ton, from time to time, to the Importance to
New Orleans Of re-establishing the several
lines Of steamers which formerly brought to
this port large freights from the Tennessee
Cumberland, and Arkansas rivers. Upt this
time none of these lines have been re-estab-
lished. New Orleans has been content, ap-
parently, to see other sections take fronher, by
their superior energy or capital, an amount oi
trade which would add greatly to her pros
perity, and to which, from her superior com.
nercial position, she is legitmately entitled.
The cotton and other products of North Ala
bama and Middle Tennessee, have found tIeir
outlet, as in former years, by the Tennessee
and Cumberland rivers; but ST. Louisand Gin
cinnat capital has diverted these sources of
wealth to their own doors, BY means Of the
steamers which they have kept in that trade.
Not q single steamer, as far as; we have learned,
has yet been placed by New Orleans in this
trade II any Of the products Of those fertile
valleys reach our city, it is only after trans
shipment at Cairo or Memphis.
The same statements will apply to the trade
OF the Arkansas River. 1t might be thought
difficult to divert from New Orleans a trade
which has disposition to float to our port in
spite of all efforts to turn it in other direc-
tions. But st. Louis, Cincinnati and Mem
phls have each regular line Of packets up the
Arkansas River, supplying the country with
the groceries and produce which it imports,
and diyerting from New Orleans d trade which
was formerly 50 lucrative, and the retention
of which is SO important to our future pros
Hperity.
We cannot afford to sleep upon the adyan-
tages Of our commercial position. We have
energetic and worthy rivals to contend with.
They are wide awake and their activity has
been rewarded with success. While we have
been waiting for the cotton of the Arkansas
to float down to our doors, our rivals have
invested their capital in such an enterprise as
to have taken most Of itup stream, notwith-
standing the superior natural facilities for
bringing it in this direction. Nor are they con
tent with retaining Che possession of the trade
they have already won fsom us. Our enter
prising competitors continue their aggressive
policy, policy which is perfectly legitimate
- sSiAg itSaS VI ttet0s. MOI content with the
trading fleets they have cent to the Arkansas
hiyer, ST. Louis is meditating the establishing
Of another line Of steamers to take from us d
portion Of the trade of the 0uaehita; thus
passing almost BY our very doors to carry
necessary supplies to a region we have re-
garded as necessarily tributary to us, and
taking from us trade that adds so much to
our prosperity.
But it is not by her lines of. stealuers
alone that ST. Louis is contending for tie
Southern trade. She is pushing forward her
iron Mountain Railway to intersect the Little I
Rock and Memphis road, and she is prepar-
ng to extend her Southwestern Railwav
Trough western Arkansas into northern and
central Texas, in order to grasp The lucrative
rade Of all that fertile region.
We should not sleep until her purpose shan
ave been accomplished. We should imi-
to til. enterprise of our rivals. Our fleets
lould cc ompete with theirs for the trade of 4
,untry whio should never have been diverted
ON New orl, ans. With the Mexican Gulf