New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-13
COTTON FRE1GHTs TO NEW ORLEANS.

sanctuary"
COTTON FREIGHTs TO NEW ORLEANS.
When we read in the papers the other
| day the announcemt of the rates of freight
established between New Orleans and GER
tain points in Arkansas by rail, we were
certain the heavy charges had been i'm
posed by railroad companies owned and
controlled by rival cities. Further in
qujries have fully sustained this view Ct
the case. D. B. Morey. Esq, general
freight agent of the Great jackson route,
informs us that there is a gap between
Fort Smith and GAINESVILLE, in Arkansas, of
seventy-fve miles, over which cotton has
to be hauled by wagons. From Clarks-
vile to Little Rock, distance of one
hundred miles, the Little Rock and Fort
Smith Railroad Company exacts ninety
five cents bale, and to Hopefeld, which
is the Algiers of Memphis, distance oftwo
hundred and thirty-four miles, the freight
charges are 50 rs per bale, including seven
ty-five cents for ferrying across the river
and carting to the eastern depot. Here the
New Orleans and jackson railroad cars
receive it, and bring it four hundred miles
for 81 so per bale. which is the regular
packet rates. Leaving out the high rates
from Fort Smith of Sc rs per bale, as the
service has to be performed for seventy
five miles of the way by wagons, we find
that. the Little Rock and Memphis and Lit
tie Rock and Fort Smith railroads charge
50 IS per bale for carrying the same cot
ton two hundred and thirty-four miles
that our road charges 81 so for carrying
four hundred miles. It is the same with
the arrangements with the Selma, Rome
and Dalton road In pro rating with the
Jackson road that company charges from
Dalton 81 14per hundred pounds to New
Orleans, while the jackson road receives
but twenty cents of that amount. Mr..
Morey assures US that these are the best
terms that he can make with these coun.
try roads at present. AS both the
Georgia and Arkansas roads are controlled
by capitalists whose Eastern interests and
connections lead them to discriminate
against New Orleans, our merchants are
Of course powerless to change the terms.
A proposition has, however, been consid-
cred to employ light draft steamers on the |
White, Arkansas and St. Francis rivers to
haul cotton to Memphis for delivery at
the Jackson railroad depot. But the sue
cess of such an enterprise would depend
upon fair stage of water in the three rivers
in Arkansas, and would be somewhat en-
by unavoidable detentions by
fog, etc. Perhaps the intro
duction Of q steamer or two would have
the effect of inducing the Arkansas rail-
roads to lower their rates somewhat. Mr..
Morey expresses willingness to allow
'he prorating roads as much for their 234
niles as the jackson road receives for its
HUI miles, and at that rate per mile for
horter distances. AS the cotton freight
S about all the Arkansas railroads have to
lepend upon to maintain them, they can
lot be expected to carry at as low rates
'er mile as the jackson, which does
arge business in miscellaneous freights,
nd does, besides, fair passenger bust
esS
There appears to be no remedy at pres
Mt for the high rates Of the Georgia rail-
Dads, as the Savannah interest appears
here as powerful competitor to New
)glaans. Unlike Arkansas, Georgia has
o havigable streams flowing into the
Mississippi, SO that competing water lines
re out of the question. One gratifying
sature Of our inquiries is, that the man
cement Of the Great jackson freight
oute have lowered their rates down to-
'eamboat prices, from all the stations !
hich they have under their control, and !
lie business Of the road is rapidly increas-
g every year. Last season we were in
rmed that great difficulty was expe-
enced in obtaining freight cars, but from
le exertions to build more which have
nee been put forth, We hope this de-
cheney has been to some extent
Ippliedo The time from Memphis here
just gorty-eight hours, which is c
st half of the usual packet time, giving d
lippers by rail two days advantage over !
ose who send their cotton by the river, s
hich Is equal to material reduction of c
eight Here, then, is an important con-
aeration for all shippers east of the b
and one which can not fail to a
IN an immense volume of transit into n
e fast freight line This is an immense g.
lprovement within very short time, to tt
followed, We hope, at no distant dav t.
such arrangements with the connecting u
ads that will secure the bulk of Ten o,
ssee, Mississippi, North Alabama and tt
estern Georgia cotton for New Orleans. I
PRAISEWORTHY. T
1t is an old and true saying that a al