New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-01
9lfw ORLEANS 8epllblifat1.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS


the New Orleans market we propose TO no
tice as sucClIctly as possible the courses "
the principal articles Of trade, with the view
of placing before cur readers clear repre-
EentatiOn OF their general movement anu
fluctuations.
The value to the merchant Of commercial
statistics mainly consists in the differences
that NAV be drawn from them with regard
to whatever fluctuations may have occurred
in prices to what extent they have been
the legitimate effect OF the laws OF supply
and demand, IL what such lays have been
interrupted 0ruuiIifcd and the causes q al
ahnoruial movements. Trade would bf
very simple matter if the merchant could
accurately estimate the extent Of the de-
Tnand. be correctly informed OF the amount
of the supply and then lay in his stocks with
an assurance OF q certain sale at rcmuncra-
five nr;crs, unaffected by the disturbances
CaIsed by speculative and other irregular
Influences. But in the competition among
fine multitude who engage i'll commercial
cpternrisps. al eager for success, many
reckless ia their adventures and some IN
scrupulous in cEecting their objects, there is
haTdlya branch OF business IN which correct
information, a Bagaci0us judgment on the
mast and prudent forecast are not essential
10 prevent disastrous results or obtain the
reward fairly due to tho regular merchant
for the use Of bis capital and to4 his per
sOnal services,
The commercial reporters first duty ia to
present his readers al impartial statement
Of the general course Of the market, adding
whatever details may be Of interest or
Importance to the reader. With such facts
clearly placed before him, the sagacity Of
the merchant enables him to comprehend
the causes Of the various fluctuations which
have occurred, and draw from them con
illusions for his future government. Hence,
We attach great value to the commercial
charts or diagrams which delineatc the up
ward and downward course of prices Of
specific articles. Such representations not
only show at a glance the general move
ment, but, clearly exhibiting the dates and
extent Of its principal variations suggest
important reflections and lead to valuable
inquiries with regard to their unexplained
causes.
The same advantage is derived from com
meFcial tables, which, oven without any ex-
planatorY remarks, may prove OF 9ubstan-
tial value to the sagaciOuB merchant, en-
abling him to. profit by the events Of the
past, and acquire sound commercial phil
Os0phy from the teachings of commercial
history
II is for this reason that we propose to
devote more space in our present review to
tabular information, without, however, re
iecting such suggestions as appear to Us
pertinent and useful,
What is true in these particulars of the
merchant as an individual, applies with
equal if not even greater force to the mer-
camille community us a class. To Illustrate
this point, let rs make a short RETROSPECT
For several years after the war our com
'merce was properly regarded as in transi-
ton state. The conflict Of arms had ceased,
but the paralysis it caused in the CONNER.
cial body was only partially relieved. The
revolution il our system Of labor, the inter
ruptiOn to the natural channels Of trade
the new outlets opened for Western pro
ducts, and the destruction of plantation
buildings agricultural implements, animals
and fencing, seemed at one time to render
rocuperation hopeless and future pros
perity UlUpian. Such de5poudcucY soon
vanished before the indomitable energy
Of Southern manIiness, and the tran5i-
ton commenced slowly at first. more
rapidly atterward, from utter helpless
ness 10 restoration of our former
welfare. That in so short a period as has
since elapsed. Southern agriculture should
have been rehabilitated, is one Of tue mar
ycls of the age-as wonderful as the resto-
ration Of tie great lake city after it bad
been virtually swept away by the flames. |
This Illustration is more opposite than may |
at first appear. The fires of war were no |
less destructive than the blaze Of the con- !
Migration and both lett ruin ana desola- |
ton IN their wake. But in both cases it |
was only the operative machinery that was |
destroyed, the Sugarhouses, cotton gins, !
engines, machinery, implements and fences |
on the one hand, and the warehouses. mpr- !
Chandise, elevators, and motive power Of |
on the other. The chief-the |
prOvidential source of the common prop |
eTtY Of both communities rcmained-Lhe |
rich lands and genial climate in one, and |
the productive prairies in the other The |
seed has again been sown, the har-
I snE q rgT latfr Il J
continuance of production has gone far 10
restore previous prosperity.
With regard to our Western trade how
ever, the aspect il less encouraging, Tile |
diversion over the interior lines Of trans. !
pOrtation, which was promoted blythe war,
has been only partially arrested, and the
extension OF railroads and connecting
lines has enabled wealthy and |
populous districts in the South and South
west, which formerly obtained all their
supplies III this market, to get their bread
stutts. provisions and Western mH1ufar-
lures directly from the Western cities Our
tables of receipts for this wear
and the last partially indicate the extent Of
TINS diversion, ami must suggest to the mer-
chants of New Orleans as 4 class the imppr8-
tive necessity Of adopting such measures as
may at least prevent further losses It can
no doubt be demonstrated that with river
lreights reduced to their minimum By
Darges or freight steamers expressly
adapted 10 cheap transportation, aud rail
rom the city to the upper Red river. tile
after will be able 10 lay down Western
GOODS cheaper when bought in this market
han II ordered directly from the West
such suggestions will naturally occur from
IN attentive perusal Of our various tables
1t the same time wO shall not refrain from
uch remarks rs appear to u pertinent to
he matter pointing out in what our com
nCrcc has refrigerated, that the proper cor
ectiye may be applied, while at the same 1
inc we shall show in what il has advanced ;
1t has long been urged that among the ! /
lOst pressing needs Of the South is a home ! ,
emand for her principal staples from home !
and it has been argued that
he saving Of freight, commissions aud in.
urance would in itself he sufficient to in (
ure the success of such enterprises. That {
diversion of industry, especially bv man {
establishments, Is emiuen'ly cal {,
ulated to promote the general prosperity !
lere can be no doubt, but success in man I
requires that the capital invested .
leir full capacity. With a capital of I
100 600 a cotton mandatory however /
lilliullY managed may hardly pay eN-
'Hses, when. if the Investment were dou- +
ed it would pay large dividends. In this /
IS the secret of the success OF some OF the <
eorga manufactures and the failure of G.
me i'll Texas. But there is another point 4
htch demands the attention OF the press {
Id the cooperation Of the people. Io in IL
ire success the mills should meet quick ?
turns. This can best be effected by \
'me market, and to this end the people a
-Ould take proper pride in using the | p
briCs Of Southern mills. and purchasing | ii
oln in preference to either Northern or ! tC
ported goods. b