New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-05
FARMERS AND THBIE COMMISSION KER-
CHANTS.


have brought ruin upon the matef.@!' AZ
terests of the South were not confined and
are not nov confined, TO the planters, al
though they are the dominant element Of
Southern society. The city factors and
commission merchants, like the planter,
said that white man could not WORK IN
the omen field in Louisiana; that cotton and
sugar only could be produced upon her
soil; and that in order to produce these
successfully you must have thousand
acre plantation, fifty or hundred negroes,
and q correspondingly expensive sugar
house or cotton gin. The farmer was then
despised. He was of the Glow downs" the
''rosin-heels.' Who cared for his little
crops? Why, even the city factor who
received less then i've or ten thousand
bales was of no account. The great factors
who received from twenty to fifty thousand
bales of cotton, who loaned fabulous sums
to the great planters, and who, as the
result of this system have experienced a
great and terrible explosion, were alone
worthy Of consideration. Those were in
deed the days Of great things.
Even those who require surgical opera
ton to get liberal political idea into their
brains are beginning 10 see that the day Of
.'small things" mas come in louisiana
1--WE have no USE as people say, for
great planters in the country. We have no
use for great cotton factors in the city, &.
for such factors as have hitherto sustained
the system the mistakes and impoliey Of
which we have pointed out. We want no
more Of this straining after big things. We
want farmers in the country and commission
merchants in the city who will purchase
their little crops, the surplus products Of
their farms whatever they may be, Just
as the great factors have tried to serve the
great planters, but we hope with much
better results for both producer and pur-
chaser.
There was a very sensible letter on this
subject in one Of cur city contemporaries
yesterday from Red river. The Southern
farmer, says Inc writer
Must reflect that he has to measure his
tact with the keen and practical farmers Of
the West. In every step he advances OBJ
stacles present themselves that Though
not insuperable are annoying and some
times disCouraging. New Orleans IS the
only market open to him throughout large
scope of country for whatever cereals, escu.
Tents, or live stock he can spare from home
consumption. The Mississippi river is al
most his only means of transportation, and
here he IS met by the first item in the list of
obstacles In the excessive freight charges Of
| the clover Mississippi packets.
If he has calculated on the amount his
| produce will bring him by the quotations
in the city papers, he is destined to disap-
pointment; his returns show him list of
expenses lie was unprepared for, loss per-
haps in weight, in classified quality, and an
increase in the debt Of his account. His
merchant, not having sufficient time at his
disposal to attend to the sale of q few sacks
OF corn or potatoes, or q bale or two of wool
or moss, dispatches an inexperienced clerk
to the leVee to dispose of the produce. The
first dealer whom he happens to meet be-
comes the purchaser at his own price, the
returns are made out, and the clerk, salts
leu Win QdNlDE Uulslo0 u QlshETeeaDle
business, returns TO the office to transmit
the account sales TO the shipper.
It the producer wishes TO be his OWL Tner.
chant unless the amount to be disposed of
| is larger, the rate Of passage up and down,
the outlay incident to day or two in the
CITY, even with strict economy, and, per.
haps, the loss TO his interests at home occa.
stoned by his absence, deter him from the
attempt. He must either give up raiaing
produce for the market or submit 70 a repe-
ton of his FIRST experiences.
It is patent to every observer that the
Western man can sell his produce cheaper
in New Orleans than the shipper from any
point in this State. The obvious fault in
this instance is with our packets, Just as the
| iuattention to small consignments is with
the factors of the city. The policy that
| favors steamboat association to keep up the
prices of freight and passage between points
on the lower Mississippi and New Orleans
is not only suicidal but injurious to the
Southern producers, and to the interests Of
your city.
The steamboat that is willing to carry
freight and passengers at rates suited 70 the
eXigeneies of the times, that furnishes its
pass5nEc Ts ~iisha comfortable beds ena plain,
wholesome food, that does not mock them
with the carving and gliding, the expensive
mirrors and carpetings of the present system
Vi AOdbiuA GdlhItn E1blGul LDdL DtlOuEeu
to past chapter in our history. and the
factor who does not turn up his nose at our
small shipments will not only do a service
| to the producer and the country, but will
make money and reputation, and inaugurate
q better system for the future.
The plan proposed in our Sundays
issue is obviously the enc to be followed.
1t is folly for the farmer on Red river and
the Yazoo to think Of shipping hundred
bushels of wheat, few cattle, or little
pork TO New Orleans commission mer-
chant with the hope of profit. 1t is still
more absurd for him to bring them to the
city himself One or more merchants in
every little town or shipping point shonld
purchase all these products Of the farmer,
including cotton-should collect in large
lots the products of many farms should
classify and put them in good order for
shipment. Then the Mississippi steamboat
could afford to carry them at half the present
freight. Then the city merchant could afford
to give some attention to their sale. 1t
costs Red river steamer nearly as
much to land for fifty sacks Of potatoes
and transport them 10 New Orleans as. 1t
would for Eve hundred. And just as the
pressing of cotton bales at an establish
ment in every neighbOrhOod, so that half
the freight, the entire cost of COMPRISING
IN New Orleans, and loss Of cotton in hand
ling could ali be saved, SO the country