The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-06
THE RED RIVER TRADE.


inst. notices the arrival at that port of the
large sidewheel steamer II. NJ. Shreve with a
large cargo of Western produce. The same
paper contains an article on the "New Orleans
Underwriters and Red River Navigation" in
which it reiterates the statement that the
policy pursued by the New Orleans insurance
companies is driving the Red River trade
away from this city. 1t states that, already
$3.50, worth of Western produce has been
landed at Shreveport, direct from st. Louis,
and that, "if the New Orleans merchants do
not take this matter in hand, and that too
without delay, they will lose the trade of the
Red River Valley" Now we would ask our
Shreveport contemporary what the New Or
leans merchants are to do when they do
"take this matter in hand ?" The assertion
is that Western produce is shipped direct to
Shreveport and that this result is owing TO
the high rate of insurance charged by the
New Orleans Offices. The true explanation
seems to us to be much simpler. Western
produce goes direct to Shreveport because it
is cheaper to take it there direct than to
bring it down to New Orleans, and then re-
ship it for Red River. 1t is tho natural
course of trade, and a reduction of insurance
rates would not alter it.
Nevertheless there are some kinds of freight
which are affected by differences in insurance,
and if the high rates charged by New Orleans
offices drive away our trade in these articles,
orr insurance companies are certainly acting
in q crfa ol II, ~
high rates charged on steamboats, is cal
culated to drive the river carrying trade from
this port as no body can afford to pay per
cent. by way of insurance alone, and compete
with boats which pay only II per cent, and
per cent. is the rate charged by New Orleans
Offices on boats navigating above the raft.
To show the absurdity of this charge the
Southwestern declares that the last boat lost
above the raft was the Hope in 1865, and that
the only accident since the war was the loss
of the guard from small stern-wheel boat,
with light load Of cotton. In order to show
the advantages possessed by tee st. Louis
boats we give the following table Of charges
which we are assured is correct
Insurance New Orleans to Shreveport, side.
Insurance New Orleans TO Shreveport, stern
wheel steamers, per cent
IasuIsnc New Orleans TO Jefferson, side wheel
cleaners, per cent.
Insurance New Orleans 20 Jefersop stern
wheel steamers, q per cent.
Insurance New Orleans " above the raft, ) per
cent.
Insurance from 81. louis TO Shreveport on boats
OF all descriptions Il per cent.
But perhaps, the most serious check to the
commercial development of New Orleans and
to the maintenance of her connection with
the basin of Red River, is to be found in
causes which have not been adverted to in
this connection. We are told, for instance,
that West India fruits, imported into New
York, have been landedat Shreveport after hav- |
ing been brought to st. Louis by rail and down |
the river by steamer. But New Orleans is the |
natural ertrepot OF the traffic between the West
Indies and the West and Southwest; why then I
should New Orleans not command that trade |
Simply because the port of New Orleans, on |
account of pilotage monopOlies. and towboat |
and other excessive charges, is
three times as expensive as the port OF New |
York as to large vessels, and almost inacces-
sible as to small vessels. That is to say rs |
to small vessels the charges are almost pro-
hibitory. Now the trade with the West Indies |
is carried on in small vessels, and these can
not afford TO trade to New Orleans. They are, 1
driven TO New York and other
Northern ports, which have thus acquired
OF trade which naturally belongs |
to us. The same causes, although in less
degree, operate to prevent New Orleans from
becoming a great importing point for goods
destined to supply tie West and South. They
are causes which are removable by direct
effort, or avoidable by the exercise OF a pro-
per sagacity, and our merchants should en-
deayor to remove them if they would success
fully compete with their rivals.
The great obstacles TO the commerce of
New Orleans are to be found just where
nature and art have opened the great high
ways of trade-the mouth of the river, which
IS obstruoted by monopolies, and the railroad
ines which are impaired, as to their efficiency
of commercial purposes, by high and COM
olicated systems of fares.