New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-17
The Through Water Route.
[ From the st. Louis Democrat

Mr.. James l. Bard, of New Orleans, at
tended the recent iron barge meeting held
there. and was not as fully reported in the
proceedings as he thought the Importance Of
his speech demanded He, therefore. ad
dresses card to the city papers, from which
we clip the following:
s. / had the pleasure to offer some remarks
for the consideration of the iron barge
meeting and regret that you were not suf
| ticiently acquainted with my full name to
prevent you from installing lre for Samue,
Bard. l regret, also, that you did not re-
port my remarks in extensO. The impOr
tant point which made was in regard to
the transportation of grain, and alluded to
the fact that twenty years ago the whole
and entire products of the West, which were
seeking a market at tide WATER came down
the Mississippi river in the first barges ever
built and which were then called hatboats,
or broad horns, and in steamboats,, and no
complaint of any consequence was ever
made about deterioration, damages. etc.
upon cargOes shipped to foreign or coast
wise ports.
l also cited the very Important fact that
the State of California, since she has be-
come an exporter of grain. has sent large
quantities of wheat to Liverpool and New
York, and that the vessels carrying said
grain were compelled to cross the equator
twice; once in the Pacific ocean and once
in the Atlantic. in making the voyage, and
that we have never heard of any damage to
their cargoes.
| am, respectfully.
JAMES |. BARD.
The fact that grain of all kinds may be
shipped from New Orleans to Liverpool,
without any unusual damage at any and all
seasons of the year. was SO amply proven
during the years 1868 and 1863, by number
less carsOes shipped by steam and sail in
all the various months Of the year The
commercial world has come at length to add
nit that this route for the products OF the
great West to take to market is a good route,
and now that the railways operating be-
tween the seaboard and the Mississippi are
Unfortunately advancing their westward
freghts. the New York Economist the great
trade paper of New York, suggests as
follows:
1.-The extension and the Improvement of
the lines OF water transportation are clearly
necessary, it for nothing else than to break
down or check the railroad monopoly The
establishment OF the new iron barge lines
ON the Mississippi river, and the improve
ment and reduction of rates on the Erie
canal are demanded by every consideration
of sound policy. Indeed, it mag be to the
interest of New York capitalists to invest
in the New Orleans iron barge lines. Even
with the low summer rates of transporta-
ton. wheat may be delivered from the Mis-
sissiDpi valley. in this city, by iron barges
to New Orleans, and thence to New York
in light propellers at twelve to eighteen
cents per bushel cheaper than by railroad
from Chicago. OF course the new winter
railway schedule increases the advantages
i'll favor Of water transportation
via the Mississippi"
There can be no question but that New
York is now presented with an opportunity
for securing to herself for a century longer
the bulk of the trade OF the great West in
spite of the energy of competing cities
She need only put on line of iron propel-
lers to New Orleans, adapted to the ear
riage of grain IN bulk, US well as cotton:
take stock in the iron barge enterprise now
On foot at New Orleans. Before fifteen
years more have passed by. st. Louis will
De acknowledged as the largest primary
grain receiver on the continent and if New
FORK has then a line of daily propellers out
Vt New Orleans. and owns a controlling in.
crest in the proposed New Orleans iron
,arge line. she may. by forcing treights
Town. command our entire grain bu .iness
Il seems to US. however, that New York
!oes not possess the elastic spirit she once
lid and THAT the coming sea boar, points
low are Boston Baltimore and Norfolk