New Orleans Republican., 1873-03-26
DIR TRADE WITH ARKANSAS.

| against It, and at the same time to eXtenu
that aid to our commercial and agricul-
tural interests which is Indispensable to
their prosperity. To open trade with
all portions of the country geographically
tributary to New Orleans is an object OF
the highest importance. That vast and
productive area comprised in Texas, Lou
i5iana, the Indian Nation. Kansas and Ar
kansas. which could once have only sought
the worlds markets by way Of the Missis-
sippi, now seeks an outle. by other and rival
routes. What is our duty: Plainly. to
counteract the facilities held out to these
sections by Offering to them superior
| means O. commercial! intercourse. Let
us confine ourselves to that area which
lies between the Red and Arkansas rivers,
| extending back into the region referred to.
The Southern half o: Arkansas alone g
says competen: authority. ''is capable
of producing yearly more cotton than the
present crop Of the United States" The
climate affords abundant and timely sea-
sons Of rain each summer to insure the
incoming crop OF cotton. and ''as sure as
the revolving yea. comes that long dry
spell for picking the cotton and preparing
it for market. No where else can the
planter so certainly rely upon making
more cotton than he can pick. No where
else can he SO certainly look for at least
one hundred days of fair weather suited
to cotton picking between the months of
August and November inclusive" Here
then, is where New Orleans may look for
permanent supply Of cotton. To this
fertile and favored field will the cotton
labor of the East fall back, abandoning
the exhausted lands of Georgia, Alabama
and Mississippi. Here will the battle be
fought by the American cotton grower
against the Zemindar and ryot of Hima-
laya and Atfghanistan. Here will New
Orleans triumph over Calcutta. To secure
this victory, however. New Orleans has
done nothing. and it is said by the au-
thOrity already quoted: "In all this re-
gion there is not to be found one railroad
or turnpike. or even dirt road passable for
a full loaded wagon-not one." 1t now
costs the farmer in Southwest Arkansas
from ten to fifteen dollars per bale to haul
his cotton to the nearest steamboat land
ing.
New Orleans occupied with grand
and grave political questions has paid no
attention to the value or needs OF this
country. She has kept it locked up with
Eastern vigilance and incapacity to enjoy
it. but there are others awake to
the value OF this prize. The Cairo
and Fulton railroad is completed from
st. Louis and Chicago to Little
Rock. 1t will soon strike the Red
river above the raft. II ;nvades the terri !!
tory Of New Orleans. and will bear off its
precious capture directly East and North.
These invading lines are strategically |
devised to cut OFF the base of supply from
New Orleans. Very soon they vii be |
complete to Eastern port, and Western |
markets. Now. as long AS New Orleans |
shall neglect to provide this region with
any means Of getting out their crops and
obtaining their supplies from our market,
so long will they resort to other markets.
We are confident the advantages of New
Orleans as a shipping port are such as to
command this trade a. against the long
overland line that connects it with East
ern ports. But to make this fight New
Orleans must arm and equip her mer-
chants with the means of warfare.
In the midst of this area is the town of
Camden. situated upon the Ouachita, a
tributary of the Red river. The popula-
ton of Camden is about two to three
thousand: her cotton shipments about
thirty thousand bales. She enjoys
trade with the interior. The government
of the United States has undertaken to
render the Ouachita navigable all the
year round. This will provide one mode
of regular intercourse with New Orleans,
but the town OF Camden aspireS to make
a railroad connection. forty miles, with
the Cairo and Fulton road. and SO receive
the trade which this road would carry else
where. For this section of road the city
of Camden has voted two hundred thou
sand dollars. and the county O.
Ouachitl one hundred thousand dollars in
bonds. The signs axe favorable. and
"a I'D Of y !
of New Orlean, in completing these from.
tier defenses. this protection against the
trade raid Of st. Louis and the East. In
no reSpec: do We regret the state of public
credit and individual ability IN New Or
leans more than that It prevents aid to
lust such enterprise, a, that thu, pre-
sented. However. considering the magni-
tide Of interest and the insignifcance OF
the sum needed. may We not appea. to our
merchants to do something for moneyed
nen in this work: None could be laid
before meeting of our citizens more de-
serving. il our opinion. :hei: countenan>e
md AID.
THEIR VALUE? AND THEIR
ABUSES.
We have been shown letter from T. T
Il. e-gusog. Esq. Of Toy. New York. .
ssklng the cooperation .: our merchants,
Il forming IAN association of the shippers, :
merchants. CONSUMERS ana producers of
he inlted State, ;or .protection against ,
abroad eXtortion." NJ. ferguson repre-. ,