The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11
TIE GREAT GRAIN MOVEMENT.

There is something besides mere talk in the
movement to change the direction of the grain
trade from the costly lateral lines of inland
railroad transportation, to the natural and
cheaper line of the Mississippi river; thus
making New Orleans what it ought to be, the
great entrepot for the products of the Missis-
sippi Valley. The merchants Of ST. Louis
are thoroughly aroused to the Importance of
this great work They know that the future of
their city depends It's suoeess, and that
unless ST. Louis commands the North and
South trade by the line of the Mississippi-a
line of which New Orleans is the Southern
terminus, she will be depleted of her resour-
ces by other cities which do not possess any
thing like her natural advantages. A few days
ago great meeting was held in st Louis, at
which company was formed, and $4,000
subscribed for the purpose of carrying on this
movement Very recently another meeting
has been held, and the subscription has been
raised to 100000 The especial business of
the est. Louis Grain Company is to buy
grain at points of concentration and lay it
down in New Orleans as cheaply as possible,
and then offer it to the world at small ad-
vance, by way of commission on the actual
cost. This cost it is claimed, will be from
ten to fifteen cents a bushel less than the
cost of similar quantity laid down in New
York. This movement, and its anticipated
results, have aroused the attention of the
grain dealers of the Eastern cities. The ca
pacity of railroad lines, even with all the ad-
tor IF oh of,,c
bulk, is not insisted on as an agency of sue
cessful competition with the Mississippi river
Practical experiment has already demonstrated
the fact that grain can be laid down in New
York OF. Boston, by way of New Orleans, more
cheaply than by transportation over the rail-
roads and canals combined. Hence, in both
of those cities discussion has arisen as to the
best method of turning the new current to
account. The Boston Commercial Bulletin,
after referring to the present aspect and pros
poets of the grain trade, says:
1t il notoriously the enormous cost Of inland
transportation which prevents Boston from taking
her proper rank as an outward shipping point for
the grain trade Of the West and It is pretty GER
tain that We shall never be able to materially re-
duce that cost until we inaugurate Q wholesome
competition with our railroads, by means of water
lines connecting us directly with the points from
which our supplies must be drawn, II we are to
participate in the export trade. But if we have
spirit and enterprise enough to carry out the ar
rangements now proposed by our New Orleans
and st. Louis friends, we see no reason why the
members of our Corn Exchange may not success
fully compete with those Of New York ia that
branch of trade, since the vantage ground now
enjoyed BY the latter in the Erie canal will be at
once neutralized.
At any rate the experiment is promising one
and well worth trying. 1t is an enterprise which
involves no risk Of loss failure, even IL we do
not bring grain here to be exported, since this is
very large consuming market, and our people now
pay more for their breadstuffs than they ought or
need to. Besides the establishment Of new line
of freight steamers to New Orleans is a matter Of
the highest interest to all classes of our merchants
them great Southern market for their products,
and bring an immense amount of orders for goods
here which now 60 to New York and Philadelphia.
Let rs not turn the cold shoulder upon these ami
cable advances. but rather meet our Western and
Southern friends in the spirit of the olden times,
half way.
The New York papers at first suggested
reform in the existing system in the way of
diminution of mercantile charges, and of canal
and railroad freights /; but it is admitted that
no diminution of such exactions can enable
the Eastern routes to compete with the South
ern. If New York wishes to maintain her
ascendency over the other Atlantic ports she
will have to do what is suggested in the case
of Boston-establish lines of steamers to New
Orleans for the purpose of taking away the
grain which will be sent down the Mississippi.