The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-16

ST.. LOUIS, April 10, 1869.
As the citizens and merchants who have not at
tended the meetings held preliminary TO the for
nation of the ''St. Louis Grain Association" may
not folly comprehend the objects of said assocs-
ticn, il has been deemed advisable to issue cir.
GUAR on the subject.
Ii is scarcely necessary to inform you that,
while during the past fifteen years the grain trade
of st. Louis has scarcely increased at all. the
trade of competing cities has become some ten
The causes of this have been discussed 30 freely
of late in our newspapers that IL is needless to
dste on the subject. IL is a well known fact thst
marketed, there will that country furnish itself
with all articles OF luxury aud necessity that it
does not itself produce; and as all classes of bust
ness in this city will therefore necessarily be
benefited if the grain Of the Northwest is mar
keted in St. Louis We invite oil classes Of citizens
to assist rs in reaching this contamination Before
the war the local trade of our city with the South
ern States was so lucrative that 1t was not cnnsd
cred that the grain trade of the Northwest was of
sufficient consequence to induce our merchants
to furnish the necessary facilities for the econom
ical handling of grain In bulk for export, and
during and since the war there has been such
an immense influx OF population TO the
States bordering on the upper Mississippi
river, and the amount of grain raised there has
reached such point, that we must either do some
thing to divert it to its natural channel and double
our population in the next five years, or stop at
d
tention and energies to some other branch of busi
ness. Gradually, but surely, during the past four
years steps have been taken to prove that the
route BY the Mississippi river is the cheapest one
by which the producer OF the Northwest can put
bis Surplus products not only In the consuming
markets Of Europe, but also in the sea board
markets of the United States. Already elevators
have been built here. in New Orleans, Cairo, aud
at several points on the Upper Mississippi. Fleets
of barges have been built, and it only remains for
To IA at in haa han
any other, to place st. Louis in the position shesis
naturally entitled to, and make her not only the
largest interior grain city of the Union, but also
the largest market for all articles of merchandise.
The object of the St. Louis Grain Association
(which will be organized under the general cor.
porstion law of the State of Missouri) ID to prove
this, and as soon rs proven, private enterprise
will step in and the association can be dissolved,
Grain from the Upper Mississippi the Missouri
and Illinois rivers and country tributary thereto,
can to- day be laid down 10 Liverpool and in New
York cheaper by this than any other route. Ii is
proposed that the association elect directory Of
nine or eleven members. who, through an execu-
tive committee and secretary, shall take steps
first TO see that grain shipped here from above
shall net a. much to the producer 10 this as 1t does
in competing markets; that there shall be at all
times held here stocks of the different grades of
grain; that the purchasing markets Of Europe
and the East thall have their attention called to
the fact that orders for cereals can be filed at all
times and that the freight from st. Louis to these
points Is less than 1t is from other points in the
Northwest where grain can be purchased at same
prices ruling here. If orders not received for
the ain as fast as IL reaches here that the surplus
will be shipped of from time TO time TO New Or.
leans and failing to find purchasers at fair figures
there then TO European or Eastern markets, where
there may be demand for il. This directory will
also put itself in communication with Transports
ton companies, not only from but also to st.
Louis, and secure not only for association. but for
individual shippers and supporters, the lowest
rates of freight possible. will get insurance rates
to and from st. Louis, as low as responsible com
psDies can make them, will loan their surplus
funds warehouse receipts as collateral, and not
interfere with but foster private enterprise in the
development of the trade. and help the shipper TO
buy and handle to suit himself, giving him funds
at fair rates and small margins. and thus reduce
to the smallest compass the risk Of the association
The proposed capital of 100000 Is over half
subscribed, and il is desirable TO complete the Or
gsnization ct once, and to embrace all interests,
and every man who has faith In st. Louis should
take some stock aud thus show his faith, and as
the merits of the proposition are patent to all who
have considered 1t, We hope to see all take stock
end not wait for the personal appeal of commit
tees. Send in your names and specify amount
you will take at once, and come to the Exchange
next Tuesday at IL O'Clock, where II is proposed
to hold mass meeting, and where any further
explanation desired can be made.
GEORGE d. PLANT, President
=. a; HorEYEa' Vice Presidents.
Union Merchants Exchange