New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-27

destroyed during the war, and the two or
three years of unsettled commerce follow
ing, be all at once replaced; but the hun
dreds OF men who once found occupation on
the river, every merchant and manufac-
turer. and every one who is interested IN
the prosperity of Louisville, desire to see
the ante bellum times restored as soon as
possible.
Many think that railroads will soon nearly
eupersede steamboats,; but we do not be-
lleve the man is now living who VIII see
travel and commerce superseded on the
Western waters. All the railroads that Will
be built for many years to come Will not
interfere materially with the steamboat
interest, at least not enough to more than
counterbslance the increase Of travel and
business. Louisville can AMI ought to sup.
port line of at least eight or nine first.
| class boats to New Orleans, coming through
| every trip, and always, when possible, leav-
| ing on time. which secures public confidence
and patronage. 1t is to be hoped that such
| a line will some day not far distant be estab-
lished. Medium sized boats of eleven or
twelve hundred tone burden. two or three
of which could be built at the cost OF one
Richmond or Great Republic, giving en-,
ploynent to more men, paying better ana
| giving better opportunities to the shipping
public. With the Accommodation tDls
would give much of the travel and freight
that now goes by rail would 60 by water.
and large trade now diverted 10 otnel
points be brought back 10 Louisville.
We hope our merchants and steamboat
men will adopt some means to prevent
diversion of the Bed river trade from New
Orleans, which is suggested in this part OF
the communication:
| As to Red river, that has heretofore been
considered as belonging entirely to New Or
leans. The natural position of that stream,
only two hundred miles above the great
Southern metropolis, would seem to point
out that city as the proper place into which
should be poured all the immense wealth OF
the Red river country, and from which IN
return, should be drawn all necessary sup
plies. Hence, until very recently. such
thing as a bost from any other point but New
Orleans ascending Red river was looked
upon as preposterous and was ftOwned upon
by the men who controlled that trade.
i But at present shere are several boats
(mostly light sidewheeD running up tnat
river from st. Louis, and have been dong
80 for months past. They must be doing
we'll or they would scarcely remain IN the
trade 30 long.
1t is said that there are not near enough
light boats in upper Red river to do the
business, although planters have been offer.
ing ten or twelve dollars per bale on cotton
1 l.
from upper Red river day or two since,
this significant paragraph. "Plenty OF cot
ton, but no boats, and corn worth two dol
lars per bushel, and scarce at that NOW.
if st. Louis can maintain a trade IN Red
yer, why not Louisville as wellP The dis
lance is nearly the same. Are not Louis
lie manufactures and produce as cheap as
| Tor the planter or dealer to buy his pork ,
corn, flour and implements at headquarters,
than to wait until these articles are shipped
to New Orleans, and then pay for two or
three landings, besides the profit and COM
mission of the New Orleans shipper?
Alexandria, Louisiana, can be reached by
light draft boats the greater part of the
year. The falls make navigation difficult
in low water, but above the falls light boats
can run to Shreveport, even in quite lew
water, making connection at Alexandra,
the freight in some cases being hauled
: around the falls in wagons; but this is only
in extreme low water.
There could undoubtedly be a lucrative
trade established between Louisville and
shreveport and the country along upper Red
river. The large amount of fre1ghts even
now being offered and taken by New Orleans
boats for reshipment proves this cCnclu-
sively. With three light draft sidewheel
or sternwheel boats, one might leave Louis
vile for shreveport direct every ten days
(tno distance Is ABOUT eighteen nuuui GU
miles), with connections thence for Jeffer-
son (Which does an immense trade), and
, upper Red river. This would give ample
, time for boats to do their business and
, leave one nearly always in port at Louisville
Not only, therefore, is vast field open
, ing for the extension of trade between
{ Louis vile and the Southern streams, but
| even along the whole lower Mississippi
With sufficient number of good boats
there might be a great Improvement, giving
to Louisville boatmen aud Louisville mer-
chants great deal of business now diverted
to other points.
: New Orleans should make every effort pos
sible to retain the Red river trade
and to promote direct commercial inter
| course with Louisville.