The New Orleans crescent., 1868-11-22
Sural c9ntelllgsnrr.

T. a
woodWsrd, Philadelphia; Mayer, Va; Wolf
and wife, New York City; Mrs Pearss and two
daughters, Miss Hopkins, Texas; Miss Crab,
Mis- Crab. Philsdelphia; Jno J Dillworh and
family. Panama; VIM bsOn. N Y; h Srick-
land, Texas; I CisDers, Havana; Cspt = q Reed,
l. Jackson, f C Tebnev. steamer MARYLAND I;
Mr. WslrOth, La; G Greenlus, London; W Con-
ner. Gin cinnat X W Francis. Wm Wilson, La:
D HeClury; Richard Winter, Miss; Walker,
Franklin La: G willard, W Logan. Chicago;
ZD Woodruff Ala; J Hamilton. Mrs NJ Currier,
Miss Matte Hamilton, Miss; n II Turner. Lexing-
ton, Ky; John Hyde, Mobile; Rogers. Lex
ineton, Ky; A Shotwell, TeKas; l. Pierson, W
y Miller, Hine, city; W K. Johnston. Pitts
burg: X Ball, Texas.
City Hotel-Benry Stokes. Va; VIM Davis, St
LOUIS; Benz + Grinder and wife. Vicksburg Chas
n Cleaves, Texas; Sam Lawson, city John ID
Vener. N p Newhiil and son. Texas; Serhreet,
n Y; TbVs Movet, n G.; l. l. Bearce aud lady,
Texas; b Alexander, N Y; w II McRsy, Miss s
WIN Fessenden, WssLfog gtos, ID @; john Little. Jr;
N Seeley. Tuscaloosa, Ala; RObt Smith, Lou
and fsniy, Miss Sledge. Nashville, Tenn; E
Graz and family La: D0wbridge and wife,
Y; l. c Arnold N enu n n, a white, Meryisnd,
VIM Irwin, La; John Duncan San Antonio,
Texas: John Y Wry. Miss.
81 James Hotel-Adam p Ofut, Bryan
Tenn: W T Marshall, Ala; j G Dodge, Louisville
Ky; S Allen, LONE, II Rowell. Z II Ho-
bay, Texas; W Barnett. Gonzales, Texas; Geo
Skepton, Texas; Henry Foster, w Fleming,
Atlanta; o Freeman, II Gorham. T Mallory
Chicago; W b Wilson, Louisville. Ky; Mrs
Brown and son, Mr. Inngslls Cincinnati; B
scuby, Ind; " Thompson, III; HeBtler G Hop
good, Tenn: Henry Armstrong, st Louis; N Nc
LemoTe, Wilson Hope, Louisville, Ky; John J
Price, Galveston; Ramsey, st Louis; Henry b
Moore Philadelphia; s Wexford Corbin. Va;
H Morris, Mics; A Williamson and lady. Mo.
A VISIT TO TIE ELEyAFOR-There are bat few
OF our readers who have not 10 the past year
heard son ething of the endesvor TO be made to
chenee the present channel of the grain trade Of
the great north " est, and Of the vast benefit to
New Orleans that such a change would inevitably
bring with II. As matters are at present, the
crops of the West are sent soon as gathered TO
Chicago and Milwaukee and other great cities,
where, If they arrive after Nov. 18th, when the
freeze con menees. they lie in bus for five or six
months awaiting the breaking of the ice, so as to
obtain water transportation TO the East, aud
lie ence to Europe. This, we say, IN The way 10
which at this lime the crops OF tae West are sent
20 a market. The drawbacks Of the system are,
first the cost Of ak months storage, snt, second,
the loss entaied by the fact that, during that
time the owner of the grain, unable to get it to q
market, can do nothing but twirl his thumbs and
watch prices as they go up and go down, without
being able to take advantage Of any fluctnadon.
Ii is evident that such system can only be car
ried on as long as no other is possible. For some
time it was thought that the lakes. canals aud
railroads Of the West and North were the only
means by which Chicago grain could be carried to
market.
But of late years the eyes of many men, both
in the West and in the South, have been opened
10 ihe fsct that there is another route by which
the merchants Of Chicago can send their grain to
the East and Europe--d route open al tbe gear
round and route by 'otich baSheL Of lohedt
can be carried at any time from Chicago to Neo
York or TO LiU7poot, IN less time aud for less
money than can by any other. This new high
way Of commerce Is by the great river which
flows past our doors. Barge lines can connect
this city with the whole upper river. Elevators
here can transfer the grain from them TO the ships
end s,esners. which without the delay of day
then take 1t 10 Liverpool or New York; and this
can he done, as has teen already proved. in less
time and for less money than the same grain can
be carried across the North by schooner and
canal boat.
II this be true. the reader is apt TO excla:m,
why have we not a rush of grain laden barges to
our sboTesg Why are not our levees lined with
tbips waiting for their freight The answer is
simple Because we have not been able hereto
fore TO afOrd to such freight as may be shipped
by this route those facilities which il can obtain
by other routes. We have had ne elevator in
this port 10 transfer grain from one vessel to an
other, (if we except small floating elevstorl we
have bad bins n which to store those cereals that
may be shipped here for sale, or may be desired
to be held here for change 10 the market; and it
was evident that until We had such facilities that
we would never obtain the control of that trade
which rightly belongs TO US by virtue OF our pO-
slIon az the mouth Of the mip htiest river on this
continent. Our merchants, when last spring they
first became thoroughly awakened to the posi-.
biliy end probability OF the direction OF the grain
trade TO this city well perceived this fact, but
money was then so very scarce, there seemed to
he nothing TO be done but TO hope for better times
when the capital sufficient to build an elevator
the fret thing necessary could be raised.
But while our own people had thus given up the
problem OF how TO erect large and costly build
ing without means, gentleman in the far North,
Mr.. l.. j. Highly, of Milwaukee, who mad been ia
the grain trade for mary years, who had studied
the subject and come to the conclusion that the
grain tIade must come TO New Orleans, deter.
mined himself to be the one to strike the blow
which should inaugurste the movement. Accord
ingly, like COrtez who, when he invaded Mexico,
burnt his ships that there should be possibility
of Q return 10 his native country. Mr.. Highly sold
all his property iD Milwaukee, put the funds in his
pocket, moved his family to New Orleans, here
set up his household gods, and went to work at
once 10 put up such an elevator as would be COM
peteut to accommodate any amount of grain that
would he likely to come here for several
years. This was in the spring. On the
l5th OF May q square OF ground having
been bought on the Ievee near the
Stock Landing. and a charter having been OBJ
,ained from the city council Mr.. Highly, assisted
by bis son, under the name of L. j. Highly & Son,
ls,o the foundations Of q building which is now
ore Of the most important in the city. With an
energy peculiar to Western men, the father and
u
front Of their property put up vast tower on it,
erected buildings capable of holding $50 600
bushels OF grain. put in heavy and complicated
machinery, and at last, after something ever six
months work, they are TO day putting the flush
ing siToles TO the fret gram elevator Of New Or
leans Those of our readers who have recently
been in the neghborhood of the Stock Landing
cannot have failed to notice the huge building
and tower which are a landmark for some dis
tsnce M and down the river The building stands
3 little back from the river and at present looks
rather uDsiRhtly, for it is not vet completely
finished. The tower is the wharf some $50
feet IN front of the building, seeming a giant sign
pOst-as IL is-to direct the trade OF the North
west 20 the Crescent ci'y. This tower and build
ing constitute the elevator OF Messrs. J. Highly
Son, and is, just low, the mostlnteresting place
IN ibis city.
Yesterday our reporter went up 10 take look
AZ IT, thinking that the readers OF the CRBscgSr
would, perhaps, be glad 10 know how the work
wss progressing. He found IL, as we have already
said, nearly completed. While inspecting the
outside arrangements be met the elder Mr.. Highly,
WbO has superintended sll the building himself,
and who al once volunteered 10 show him the in
terror construction Of the elevator. TIE offer
was. Of course, accepted and this is what our re-
porter saw. But stay, the buildings are so large.
tho parts so various, that perhaps the best
manner Of describing the whole affair would be
20 trace the course Of bushel Of grain from its