New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-21

larger market than even that afforded by
the Southern States. 1t is, then, natiifai
that statesmen and merchants should IN
Guire for a market beyond that when Is
limited by the present commercial bouiiaS
of the republic The committee on TINS
subject reported the following resolution:
ResaJrcd, That the great Importance OF
the project Of encouraging and building up
reciprocal trade between the United States
and Brazil and other South American
States, demands the careful consideration
of CONGRESS- and to the end that the adyaii-
tagc5. 10 accrue thercfrom to our country
may be more fully impressed upon the ma
tional legislature, the Hon. Icter Clark,
of New York, Hon. James Z. Fletcher, OF
Missouri, and w. NJ. Burwell. OF New o.
leans. are hereby authorized to prepare a
memorial on the subject for presentation
to Congress at its next session.
II is thus made the duty Of o. permanent
committee On the subject to sit during the
recess of the convention and to impress this
important subject upon the attention OF
Congress As Il summary OF the policy pro
posed, il may be stated: l. HE review OF the
treaties of commerce between the United
States and the American States. and Euro
pc;.n powers which govern tho American
colonies to the south of the United States.
8 The establishment of postal steam service
by nati0na! subventicn from Southern. Cult
aud Atlantic ports to the principal ports IN
Europe aud America. 3. The adoption OF
an American continental policy which VIII
enable the people OF the United States to
participate Oh terms OF reciprocity III tho
commerce of those continental countries,
the integrity of whose government the
United States now guarantees.
In this connection il may be mentioned
that a inst discomfort was manifested
toward the Spanish government, which, IN
dehtcd to the strict neutrality OF the United
States for the continued possession OF Cuba,
has imposed an additional and excessive tax
upon the introduction of American products
The political relations between the United
States and Spain would seem to demand
some relaxation, on The part of the latter, Of
the selfish and suspicious policy which be-
lOnged to an earlier era of commerce.
The delegation might here close It's re-
port, but they could not feel relieved from
the duty contided to them did they not call
your attention to another class of measures,
which, though in themselves perfectly
proper, must yet initiate against the inter
csts of the city of New Orleans. While,
therefore, it would not have been just or
honorable to make opposition to those
measures III q convention assembled Tor
equal Justice to all, it is yet perfectly right
that the city of New SOrleans should adopt
IL competitive policy calculated to insure
for her citizens an equal participation III the
common commerce.
There can certainly be no improperly if
the scouts come in and warn thOoe III COM
nand that a movement is going on which
may involve injury 10 the cause. Some of
the measures referred to are as follows:
DISTINCTIONS to navigation by narrow span
bridges.
Continuous water line between the Mis-
sissipyi river and the Atlantic seaboard.
The enlargement of the more important
lines of canal in the United States, 80 as to
make thom navigablo for vessels propelled
by steam.
That all railway viaducts over navigable
rivers be made highways for railroad com
panies which will pay them pro rata toll on
the same. and that forts be made to secure
legislation TO that effect.
Improvement of seacoast harbors.
Ample railroad facilities from the Ohio
river TO the central South.
CaDitcl and science, which have everywhere
wrought such wonderful changes IN the map
Of commerce, have produced important
notifications in the geographical position
of New Orleans. Once the Balze was the
only outlet for the commerce OF the empire
drained Ivy the Mississippi. Now, this com
inercc is uncQuai!y divided with tho St
Lawrence river; the Grand Canada Trunk
Railroad, with its Portland terminus; the
New York and Erie Canal the Erie
Railroad; the New York Central Railroad
the Pennsylvania Central Railroad; the
Pennsylvania Canal; tho Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad; the Memphis and Norfolk
Railroad; the Memphis and Charleston Rail
road.
These lines are engaged in an active com
petition among themselves and this ma kes
combined competition against the hissis-
90, Dr tIasa limos thn mr. ma.
destined for consumption in the Eastern
States arc carried directly across the great
rivers Of the Mississippi and Ohio. Indeed,
the power of railroad transportation is so
far developed that tho cities Of New Urk
and Chicago complain Of the direct carriage
of provisions to the consumers of New
England and ether Atlantic States, while
the sa ne tendency ID manifested to conduct
the provision trade between Western cities
and the interior Of Alabama, Mississippi and
Georgia.
Toimpress upon your mind the formidable
character Of that competition, it may be
mentioned that more than six million
tons have been last year carried,
by artificial ways. across the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers, and the territory which
lies between the interior and the At
lantic. The foreign and domestic values
imported into the West by these direct lines
ls immense. The foreign imports into the
United States for the year ending first July
im ported direct into New Orleans less than
$l4,0O0,00O. Her coastwise imports may be
safely stated at $50, coo, 900 more. Thus there
was more than three hundred and seventy
five millions of value imported into other
ports than New Orleans. A very large pro-
portion, then, of these imported values must
have been received at the Eastern Atlantic
ports, and sent by rail and canal directly into
tho Western interior.
Again, We have another indication Of tho
limited value of Western produce, which
now seeks market for export from the
mouth of the Mississippi. Among the prin-
cipal exports of Western produce from New
Orleans during the year ending September,
1870, were as follows: Flour. 22S ,S19 barrels,
Of which 100, l02 went to Cuba; corn, l52,
227 bushels; wheat. 1874; tobacco, Ia, 062
hogsheads.
Such examples show how small q portion
of the great products of the West find an
outlet to the European markets by the port
values imported and exported, which now
cross over our mighty rivers and the lofty
mountains, once deemed an impassabio bar
rier to all direct commerce.
1t is not for your delegates at this mo-
ment to do moro than remind your hOnora-
bic body OF tho vast crevasse by which q
trade once doomed the inevitable property
of New Orleans, is now rushing to the East
err Atlantic outports. Such a paper might
well emanate from u department. or com
mittee of your honorable body, as a measure
of counsel and cooperation with the mer-
chants and property holders of Tho city
We>may say, in conclusion, that the situa
ton only imposes upon New Orleans the
duty Of adopting all the means of modern
commercial progress, and applying to her
own relief the very inventions which have
arrested her advance in population and
wealth.