New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-15

spectiyely.
Now, if we take the population Of the
| Atlantic, Western and Northwestern
States, which is naturally supplied from
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and
| Boston, it will be found to include about
two-thirds Of the forty millions Of people
| inhabiting the Union. At the assumed
average, this population would consume
| about 1922, 900 tons, leaving for the one
third properly to be supplied from New
Orleans about 161, 900 tons. But the do
nestle sugar Of Louisiana, assumed for
the year stated at $4,000 tons, would
naturally supply to that extent the
wants of the country Immediately
around and above New Orleans,
leaving for importation by way Of New
Orleans something upward Of 100 900 tons
Of foreign sugars. We do not, it is true,
import so much as this, while New York
imports half the whole foreign consump-
ton Of the Union, New Orleans standing
about fourth in rank as an importer Of
sugar. We agree with the Picayo4ne cor
respondent that our port charges should
be reduced, and also that the cost Of tow
age and stevedorage should be brought
within competition with other ports.
With our large steam tonnage it is proba-
bic that the charge for towage may be dis
penBed with, and sugar imported by steam
direct, without any burdensome charge
which it can not pay here as well
as elsewhere. There are, however,
some obstacles which the disput-
ants of the Picayne have not
estimated in their comparison Of these
two importing cities.
l. New York sends to Cuba all the man
ufactures and merchandise made in the
United States and consumed in that island.
Baltimore, perhaps second in the sugar
trade, ships a quality Of -four that New
Orleans can not at present command.
While, then, the vessels Of New York may
40 into Havana in cargo, ours have last
year carried very little Western provisions;
and, indeed, most Of the Cuban sugars re-
ceived here came as way freights from
Havana, or coastwise or foreign steamers.
2. New York, Baltimore and Philadel-
phia have system Of railroads, with the
highest convenience Of transferring car
goes from ships into the cars.
This expedition and economy has
tended to distribute sugar all over the
interior West with more convenience than
can be effected at our port, The vessels
spoken Of by the Picay,ne correspondent
as preparing to load to New York with
sugar at ninety cents rather than to New
Orleans at 81 20, probably took into con
sideration that there was a better chance
for an out freight from New York than
from New Orleans. There are now. how
ever, measures on foot which will connect
all Western railroads with the New Orleans
wharves, and so far as the distribu-
ton Of sugar is concerned, the Hi
nois Central Jackson railroad, Iron
Mountain railroad and other lines
connecting the Western cities Of St.
Louis, Chicago, Louisville and Cincinnati
with the Mississippi will enable us at all
seasons to send foreign sugar to any in
terror destination on as good terms as any
other outport in the Union. There is a
point, however, in which New Orleans de-
sircs the cooperation Of the Western press
and representatives. in Congress. It is in
having the Spanish duties on provisions
placed on something like a reciprocal
footing with the American duties on the |
products of the Spanish islands. The
American duty on sugar does not, at usual
prices, exceed twenty per cent. The duty
on tobacco and cigars is perhaps seventy.
five per cent, but the revenues derived |
from this source are comparatively small.
Coffee il admitted free. Now look at the |
rates Of Spain on provisions: Hams. per
quintal, $4 03; bacon, 81 63; lard, 81 II: |
corn, 675 cents; -four, per barrel. S. 81:
lumber, per one thousand feet, Sc y.
Here then, is an average of about eighty !
per cent on provision, Of which the West
8rn States are the chief exporters. and |
which they could supply cheaper than any
other producers. The duty Oh corn is
more than forty cents bushef, 50 that |
New Orleans can not send this cheap and
abundant article, now almost at the fuel |
point il Iowa, to q customer who needs it |
5reatly. The Western States are now
to send their corn past Cuba to
/ Europeon market, where they meet in
the largest producers Of
Northern Europe almost at their own
loors. The direction Of the sugar trade
5 determined, we think, by the causes al
eyed in this article, and the best means
u bringing that trade through New Or
cans will be by calling the attention Of
lie President and the Senate to tie i'm
,ortance cf placing these duties on some
hing nearer q reciprocal basis between
be two countries, Our government gives
virtual protectorate to the Spanish do
ainion in Cuba and Porto Rico ~ the
deity with which it enforces its neu-
raity laws and prevents all organized
id from our ports. Should To: Spain
this great service BY reducing
ar duties to something like the level Of
mrs? She has ever since September last