New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-04
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Proposition to Increase the Interior Mail
Facilities.

At the regular monthly meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce last night, the pro-
position to increase the interior mail facili-
ties of the State was canvassed
Mr.. j. H. Oglesby presided, and Hon. w.
NJ. Burwell acted as secretary.
Colonel J. T. Tucker, chairman of the
committee on mails, rendered report which
set forth that after comforting with the mer-
chants of the city, and finding that the faci-
lities offered for mail transportation are en-
tirely inadequate, the committee had de-
vised series of memorials to our Repre-
sentatives in Congress, asking for more
liberal mail service throughout our State.
The hearty cooperation i'll this work of
the Postmaster, Collector Of Customs and
Collector of Internal Revenue of the city
had been obtained, and letters from these
gentlemen pledging their services to that
end, were read as part of this report.
The letter of Collector Casey advised
that the services of the Postmaster General
be secured, and a re-establishment of the
old route between Red River Landing, on
the Mississippi, and Nacogdoches, Texas,
be asked, taking in Shreveport and other
towns in North Louisiana. The letter also
proposed a daily line between New Orleans
and Vicksburg, tri-weekly line to Mon
roe, daily line between this port and
Southwestern Louisiana.
The letter of Postmaster Lowell advised
the same establishment of daily lines, and
even spoke in more earnest manner of
the project
Copies of several memorials circulate
showed the strength in which the com
| mittee had put the case before the people,
and evinced cogent reasons for the compile
ton of the plan.
The report was received and adopted.
In relation to the foreign mails, letter
from Belfast addressed to the five cham
bers of commerce in the United States, was
read, showing that these mails were carried
by lines of steamers (the Guion) too slow
for the purpose, and asking that the privi-
lege be given to a faster line, or one that
will not take thirteen days from New York
to Liverpool. This letter was referred to
the committee on mails.
what measures were taken to remove the
obstruction to navigation on Red river, an
impenetrable raft having formed there.
The president answered that the work of
removing the raft on Red river, notwith-
standing it has formed in Louisiana, has
usually been considered as the duty of the
general government. The Legislature had
granted to corps of adventurers the right to
remove the raft, the privileges of toll be-
longing to the company being, in his
opinion, greater obstruction to commerce
than the raft itself, The privilege was con-
terred in the face of the fact that ST. Louis
was already tapping the great sources OF
commercial wealth which should of right
belong to New Orleans.
The president advised united action on
the part of the Chamber of Commerce, to
induce the withdrawal by the Legislature
Of the aforesaid franchises to the company,
but at the same time stated that no action
could be taken now. The president char
aeterized the bill forming the Red river
company as "a job"
1t was also stated that no help was to be
expected from the government, though Mr..
Sandidge believed it not unreasonable to
expect help from this.
In reference to this matter resolution
was adopted appointing a committee, of
which Mr.. Sandidge was chairman, in
structing them to inquire whether the re-
moval of the raft fell within State or fed
eral jurisdiction, and asking that the opera
ton of all corporations looking to that end
and requiring compensation by tolls upon
commerce be restrained.
In reference to the increased mail facili-
ties, Hon. f. Morey has already pledged
his services to secure them for the good of
the State, and the opinion of our represent
atives in general was decidedly favorable
The Cham Der Of Commerce on motion ad-
journed.