New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-28
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COM
. A1lTTEE. wstiiI .

The Senators comprising the Transporta-
ton Committee met yesterday morning in
parlor 2, of the St. Charles Hotel.
At eleven O'clock Judge Kennard, at the
head of the committee appointed by the
Chamber of Commerce. welcomed the SEN
ate committee, and presenting pamphlet
prepared under the direction of the cham
ber, desired to offer testimony to the com
mittee on the subject under investigation.
Senator Window said the committee would
be glad to hear any evidence that might be
| offered. l.sas ..,. ss . f.....
Colonel William N. Burwell, secretary OF
the Chamber of Commerce, was first called.
He sAsT the route from New Orleans to
Liverpool was safer than that from New
York. Only six vessels had ever been lost.
To Senator West he said that If there were
| . greater draft of water there would be q
| greater influx Of vessels. Senator West
asked what was the value Of domestic pro-
duce other than cotton and sugar. Colonel
Burwell said the amount Of -four from there
to the ports from Key West to Bangor
| would not load schooner. and that to
Europe would not load steamship.
Mr.. Burwell responded to an inquiry as
to the Importance Of q reciprocal commerce
| between the United States and Spanish
American and other States upon this CONT
nent. He stated that the Importance of
the Mississippi outlet was, in his opinion.
useful not merely for the conveyance Of
heavy Western produce to the European
| markets, but as . means of conducting an
exchange trade with the tropical countries
more natural and more profitable to the
manufacturing and agricultural interests
of the United States than that conducted
across the Atlantic under a heavy competi-
ton in the sale Of both these great national
products. There were serious lmpediments
in the way Of this commerce. Not only
was the outlet navigation of the Mississippi
imperfect, but the rate of duties imposed
upon foreign imports into the Spanish
American States were, in many instances,
excessive.
The average rate of duties on provisions
imported into Cuba was about eighty per
cent The correlation of duties in the
United States was much less upon Cuba
products. In like manner. the rate OF duties
In Mexico was abnormal and excessive. 1t
is important that the diplomatic department
of our government should, as far as possible
convince these States that a more liberal
and equitable rate of duties would be alike
for their interest and our own. The removal
of the distractions at the mouth of the Mis-
& 10 vol
merce ultimately, in the opinion of the wit
ness, of more value than the export trade
to Europe. In reply to an inquiry, as to the
effect of improved navigation upon immi-
grafton, witness expressed the opinion that
an enlarged class of sea-going vessels would
favor the transportation OF Immigrants.
He recited some of the advantages of the
Mississippi route into the interior, as afford
ing safer ocean transit and m;lder win
ter climate than the direct line by the way
of New York and the railroads into the
Northwest He stated this route &s cheaper
than the New York route to any common
point in the West. In answer to question
by Mr.. Window, why with such advantages
the immigration did not adopt this route at
present, witness attributed it to the want
Of organization. IL was now regarded as @
local route to q Southern port only. The
city of New York had established perhaps
the most complete protection to the immi
grant in the world. The immigrant and
the Northwestern land agencies naturally
proposed to patronize q system SO admir-
able in all its operations. He was of opinion
that the Northwest would, under improved |
facilities at the port OF New Orleans, adopt |
that route as the cheapest, most comfort |
able in winter and safest for human life.
L. j. Highly, Esq., was then called and said |
he had been in the grain elevator business |
since 1874. Did business in Milwaukee |
twenty-four years. Could keep grain longer
in the elevator here during the summer
th IN in that city. Grain is six or seven |
days coming down the river from St. Louis
and goes through = drying process in that
time. 1t comes in two ways; in bulk and in
bags. 1t is not stored hero as in Milwaukee,
but is usually stored separate, according to
ownership. The humidity of the atmosphere
in February in Milwaukee causes the grain
to spoil. 1t is not affected by this climate; it
can be kept year without damage. In an.
swer to Senator Davis. Mr.. Highly said grain
is treated the same here as in Chicago,
and gave a list of the freight charges from
St. Paul and st. Louis. To Senator Sher-
man he said no vessel drawing over nine
teen feet could cross the bar. More water |
Is wanted. Three times as much corn in
sacks is brought here as in bulk. The
former is for home consumption; that in
bulk is exported. May and June are the
great heating months. We receive most
,priBg wheat. Mr.. Highly said considerable
N the subject Of port charges which the
hip has to pay. He did not consider them
,xOrbitant. The elevator company has .
privilege of exemption on all vessels which
ouch at no other wharf than theirs. The
ity owns all the wharves. The advantages
# the canal proposed were detailed by Mr..
1igby as tending to reduce freights and
ertain to double the steamship tonnage of
Jew Orleans.
Captain A. K. Miller was next called. He
aid at present his line lthe State liuel
vas running three steamships from this
ort to Liverpool, and was principally ,
wned in Scotland. He shipped 200 900
ushels Of corn aud never had any com ,
laints. 1t was shipped in bulk and etored
4 sections for convenience. There were ,
hree ventilators on each vessel. The ships
hat come to the wharf sverge draft Of
ighteen feet They are not loaded to their
Ill capacity because then they could not
ross the bar. They could be loaded to
rem kv-onA feat If fherA vas vshar