New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-22
Comparative Commerce.

Colonel 4. +. Wrotnowski sends US the
Philadelphia Price Current, with the sub
joined article in its editorial columns:
The statistics furnished us periodically by
the departments of the general government
are of great value as vouch hers of the pro-
gress of the country in the various in
dustries. and it is to be regretted that the
returns are not more literally and ac-
curately supplied. In this respect we are
undoubtedly behind the age, as compared
with most nations in Europe. not possess
ing a tythe of our resources, and some
more pains, we think. should I've taken to
supply the public with the requisite informa-
ton on matters of such absorbing interest.
The official returns of commerce are spe-
cially interesting and reliable. while they
often reveal curious facts which deserve to
be pondered. The returns for the fiscal
wear lS70-7l give the value of the ten
principal ports Of the United States, as
follows:
New York *9s9:2,:7l philadelphia SIS eo3.e.2
eworleans. IL. ,es$ o.! Galveston. liS6s.6ol
San Francisco 81 1904 Baltinore.... l433o,243
Mob.e........ 22'i22ssI Charleston. lO,,:l,o7i
1t will be noticed that Philadelphia, which
is the second city Of the Union in point of
population. is only sixth on the above list
in the value of her export trade. This, for
lions. of which fully sixty per cent was
petroleum. 1t will surprise most people not
familiar with such things 20 find Boston so
near the bottom of the list, with foreign
trade of about twelve millions of dollars
per annu,n. all told. But these figures are
not whit more hnmiiating for Boston
than the seventeen millions for Philadelphia,
and those of our citizens who really do feel
pride in the welfare and credit Of the city
IL IN a<fn owl f1,y-
may make to place her in the rank as
commercial centre. which rightly belongs
to her. The foreign trade at New York is
over twelve times, and that of New Or
leans over six times, that Of Philadelphia.
This should not be. and doubtless will not
be SO long, if our merchants and carrying
companies do their simple duty and promptly
aid those who are workin. SO zealously to
reconstruct her commerce.
The entire exports of these ten cities foot
upSFl .ll9,467, SO that the proportion of
New York City is about forty five per cent
of the whole. and New Orleans about twenty
three per cent. The share taken by the
Southern ports, including Baltimore, is
large, and shows the value of the products
of the South. Out of the ten cities named
above. it will be noticed that six are South
ern. with an aggregate foreign trade of
$500, 900. These returns indicate the i'm
Uieust value VI SOulutIu t'IoAuCtS Ill Tic
various markets of the world, and make that
section of the Union the richest in the world
in proportion to population. This result is
due, Of course, to the great value of the
crops OF cotton, tobacco. sugar. molasses,
and few other products, for which the soil
and climate are admirably adapted, and
which practically place her beyondrhe reach
of competition In these respects the adj
vantages of the Southern States are immeas-
urably greater than those of the North or
West. as the latter are brought constantly
into sharp competition with other countries,
enjoying soil and climate equal to theirs
while the cost of production and transporta
ton are scarcely one-half The South expe-
riences none of these drawbacks, as she can
generally command a market for her pro
duets at prices highly re,nunerative. Truly
the prospects of this portion Of our glorious
country are bright and cheering, and we re-
oice at them without envy.