New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-20
Low Wafer to Shreveport.

She Importance Of railroad communica
Zion between New Orleans and Shreveport
Gnay be estimated by reading the subioinot
editorial from the Shreveport Telegram:
oFhe present condition of Red river is {
9srlous drawback, not only to the CONNER
Cial prosperity of Shreveport, but to TIN
Sveltare of the entire country which depends
Ipon Red river as means of transit. Tbal
ats navigation has not been improved, Oh
that means have not been adopted to pre-
sent the scattering of its water through
Tones bayou, and the consequent shallow
Cess in the main channel which is the re-
o Ssult, is neither here nor there We find our
selves at the beginning of commercial
season with river almost beyond naviga-
Sion, except for the very Iightest craft about
5alf loaded. The outlook is quite serious
Srom this cause, and we opine that it con
&inces the most skeptical. among us of the
2lecessity Tor communication with the outer
%orid by some other means than Red river
Nothing will overcome this defect until we
are connected by rail with the network of
SlneS which cross and intersect each other
8ast Of the Mississippi
With a full river and plentiful tonnage.
shreveport is situated upon an artery Of
Grade that will always secure to her cheap
slnd moderately rapid transportation. But
she is affected disastrOusly by the hazards
a0 which this navigation is subjected. II
Sge would but estimate the price of addi-
Itonal transportation for the necessares Of
gite in seasons of low water merely for one
Syear, we would be surprised to realize what
ys costs the country to do without q railroad
SO the outer world. it is often the case that
Gteamb0ats will take treights from New Or
Seans to this point at half card rates, and
Che price charged is never beyond full card
Gates with anything like q full stage of
fFater in the river. Full card rates means
seventy-five cents per barrel for flour from
New Orleans to Shreveport, with other
Sreights in proportion. Down cotton is fire.
Quenuy taken at fifty cents bale, the gen
erai average being about $I, however, with
good navigation. Rates for stock taken out
gre IN the same ratio,
The amount of freights received at the
port OF Shreveport duFing.a year is some
thing extraordinary The aggregate would
look enormous We're it reduced to figures.
1he country pays for the importations,
%relghts and all. carefully kept estimate
3Y our contemporary, the Southeastern, |
shows that OF flour alone during the past |
commercial season we received at this |
point not less than liz, 500 barrels. We |
teven deem this small estimate. Taking
the article of flour as a basis, we can form |
some idea OF what low water costs us of |
the ll2, 500 barrels received here, in season
like the present, at the very time when this
staple article is in demand, we should say
chat possibly 10000 barrels will be brought |
alp during low water The present tariff is |
three card rates. Taking full card rates as |
basis, we have added to the cost Of Teach bar
Tel of flour through low water 81 80 or S45,- !
OOO upon the 10000 barrels Well the
country requires bagging and ties, bacon,
lard, sugar, coffee, salt, and the thousand |
Glnd one things estimated under the head OF |
general merchandise, all necessary at9this
particular time, and all to be transported