New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-30
THE EXPORTS OF NEW ORLEANS.

THE EXPORTS OF NEW ORLEANS.
The exports of New Orleans. according
to statement made by the Philadelphia
Price Current, based upon information re-
ceived from departments of the general
government are next in importance to the
city of New York. The returns for the
fiscal year 1901 make the exports OF
New York 5000, 972, All, and that of New
Orleans s1O7, 658, O42. The exports of
eight other cities for the same year are
given as follows: San Francisco $50, 1885,
O21, Savannah $40. 749, O53, Mobile $780,
422, 621, Philadelphia SIG, aO3,O 72. Gal
weston s14, S69, COL, Baltimore s14,33O,-
24s, Boston sl2,251, 267, Charleston
$40, 772,O7l.
According to this showing, New Or
leans has already foreign trade over six
times as large as Philadelphia-the next
largest city in the United States to New
York. We repeat these facts at this time
to show the standing of New Orleans as
a great commercial centre. And if she
has achieved this important position I'M
der all the disadvantages that have sur
rounded her-disadvantage that are sus-
ceptible of being removed by the energy
and enterprise Of man-is it not plainly
manifest that, with proper exertion on
the part Of her business men, capitalists,
real estate owners and public men,
she may within the next twenty
five years bring her exports
up in amount to the first
city in the Union? For many long years
the material interest of this city has suf-
fered from the want of sufficient depth
of water at the mouth of the Mississippi
river to admit the ingress and egress of
the largest size vessels that traverse the
ocean. There has never been certainty
that even vessels drawing no more than
or eighteen feet of water could
at all times pass the bars that accumulate
at the mouth of the river. This has been
q most unfortunate obstacle to the growth
Of trade in this city. At times the depth
Of water has been considerably less than
seventeen feet at the passes.
What other city of the same size,
amount of taxable property and natural
Advantages possessed by New Orleans,
would have suffered so materially from
cause that can he remedied? How long
would the people Of New York allow OBJ
'tructions at Sandy Hook to prevent the
arrival and departure Of vessels from that |
bort? We believe that no other city of |
he size and prospects of this would have
70 long neglected obtaining the proper
lepth of water as an outlet for the mag
lificent river that flows by this city; and
We know that the people OF the city of
tew York would not be long in
urmounting like obstacles to its foreign
nd domestic commerce. There must be
n outlet to the Mississippi sufficient for
he demands of commerce, and if the
merchants, property holders and public
AeA Va AOOAoAAus. HIcSc III luc mAtlcI 1
properly and vigorously, the aid of the
lational government can be had in the
york in way that will speedily remedy
he evil. This is one Of the disadvantages
hat New Orleans has had to contend with.
The science and energy of man can sur
Mount this difficulty.
Another great disadvantage to our city
las existed here in the shape of conta-
ious fevers that frequently assume an cpl
emic form. The want of proper sys-
EN- of drainage, it is believed, has caused
he sickness that has prevailed here to an
farming extent in the past. Our city
uthorities, acting under State law,
ave commenced q system of drainage
nat is intended to drain not only the
ity, but the swamp lands in its rear.
Ihen this work is completed it is believed
mother obstacle will be removed that has
God in the way Of the growth of trade in
ew Orleans.
Remove the two great disadvantages
AIMED, that have materially retarded the
rowth of the trade of this city in the
asst, and give us population to develop
le vast resources of Louisiana, and rail-
'ads to connect us with Texas and the [
aterial parts of our own and adjoining
tates that form the Mississippi Valley,
I'd who is there that can not see that, with
lese aids, and the growing trade that 7
ust come from the great West by means /
our immense river navigation, in course '
time the commerce of this city must ex- a
ed even that of New York? t
AS We have often said before, New Or i,
ans has the position to make her one of il
e great commercial centres of the New b
orld. 1t only requires a proper spirit b
the part of her business men, public O
N, and the men who are known as "
ldlords, to aid in the work of extend "
, her commerce. Let them move C
,orously in the work of opening the 81
'uth of the Mississippi to sufficient
pth; to the work of giving us railroad
nnection with Texas; and urge on the
stem of drainage already commenced, in
d the results will soon be visible in "
yumented trade.
PRESIDENT THEIRS. y. W
The position which has been taken by ~,