New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-02
Taking general glance at the progress of
,ur trada for the mast yeas il Is IL anifes- that

in some branches our merchants have eX-
tended their connections and obtained fair
returns for their capital and enterprise. In
others. we regret to say 1t has been the
reverse. The sanguine, hopeful and ener-
getic look forward to the future with
undated confidence. Many others, who
have been involved III the disasters of short
crops or suffered from falling markets and
a diversion OF trade to other commercial
points. are even more depressed than the
facts Justify The very causes which have
diminished trade, may be used to increase
it. The railroads, which have diverted
from us large portion OF our former bust
ness with districts once exclusively tribu-
tary to our commerce, may and we are
confident will become among its prin-
cipal feeders. Granting that with
direct railway communication between
the West and the Southwest, the
former can supply the latter most
advantageously with Western products,
especially with breadstutfs, provisions
and Western manufactures, vet here the
advantage of the West will end. When our
connections are made, as they inevitably
will be at no distant period with the gen
eraI Network OF railways Oh both sides OF
the Mississippi, New Orleans will possess
the advantage OF being nearest to the
sources of supply of all other articles re-
quired for consumption: IN some cases near.
est by actual distance, in others oy mer-
chandise being laid down at our wharves at
less cost than it Can be at any competing
market. Capital ultimately finds its level.
and must flow to our city until the demand
is supplied. Cheapuess of transit is daily
becoming more important when compared
with speed. The idea that commerce is
now conducted with electrical rapidly is
fallacIous. Competition reduces profits to
a point at which it can be made remunera-
tive only at minimum treights This is
especially the case With such manufactured
articles as coarse cotton and wooden tab
r1cs. and most descriptions of hardware
and crockery, as well as with such i'm
ported products as salt. sugar, moIasses
and coffee. The transportation charge by
rail.'on some articles OF those classes OF
goods is simply prohibitory. and as they
can be laid down at New Orleans as cheap
| " as at any other seaport, the question Of
| the prices at which they can be furnished
| in the interior must depend upon the rates
| of inland freights. 1t is here that New Or
| leans merchants have the advantage over
| their Western competitors for they will not
| only have a shorter distance to transport
| by rail, but shorter distance by water.
| the superior cheapness of which compared
| with the rail is every day becoming more
| manifest. Il is not on Y our large rivers
that are available for the purpose, but the
! lUuuIBtIaDAc jas anu ouitslAti
streams that flow into the Mississippi or by
lateral channels into the gulf. III the course
| of time all merchandise requiring cheap
transportation will be conveyed III freight
| boats or barges at minimum rates OF freight.
| either to the southwestern town or land
| ing, or to the nearest connecting railroad.
| More economy will be used in handling,
and the charge for transferring from
| the barge to the car, or from the
| 70 ha ha will he rrpaf1U raiuapf
What is done by elevators with regard to
grain will be effected by steam machinery
! for all other merchandise and produce. Il
| is the natural advantages OF our waterway
too often deprecated by the advocates OF
the rapid rail advantages that are never
| or rarely suspended by low water or the OBJ
| structions OF ice - that must inevitably
make New Orleans not only the chief out
let for the products OF the West and South
west, but the most available point from
which they can obtain supplies OF immune
| rable articles OF merchandise which they
can not produce as cheaply at home.
In looking TO the future OF New Orleans
it is unnecessary to indulge IN any extrava
| CANT flights OF fancy with regard to the
| immense territory watered by our grea'
rivers, and which IT is supposed, from theil
most distant sources may De made tributary
| TO our commerce, or to cross the noun talns
and claim the entire Pacific trade. What
ever may happen in the course OF time, We
! find enough IN the immediate present, IL
the resources even now within our reach
10 convince the most skeptical that New
Orleans has great future, which what
ever may be our temporary rev erses, shoule
inspire our people with increased confidence
and energy.
But, while we take this practical ant
hopeful view of the future, and of our ad
vantages in the immediate present we ar
not insensible to the disasters of the pas
year, which have had even more depress
| ing Intneuce on our commercial classes
than is due to their actual magnitude
While the receipts of our leading stapl'
| present an important increase over las
| year, and have impaired greater animation
to various classes engaged IA its handling
prices have too often been either unremune
rative to the planter, who has consequent,
been unable to meet his obligations to hi
factor. or been attended with serious losse
TO country merchants, who were the orr i
nal purchasers, and in whose misfortune
our factors have participated.
The shipping business has, moreover
been unusually unsatisfactory and resulted