New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-29
1.-THE GREAT SOUTH"


A REPLY TO EDWARD KINGS ARTICLE IN "sCRIB-
NER's"-THE sUFFERNGs AND DEsrTUTIoN or
THE PEOPLE GREATLY ExAGGERATED-NEW-
ORLEANS A PROSPEROUS AND GROWING CITY
INCREASE IN HER COMMERCE DURING THE PAST
YEAR.
To the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The November issue of Scribner's
Monthly contains, ~ its leading article profusely Illus
trated proiusely advertised tho frat OF series
under the above tltlo IL IL from the pen OF Mr. Edward
King al gentleman well known in literary circles as
graceful and pleasing writer; and the style OF the
present contribution is worthy OF his reputation But
TO Its matter ut least material portion OF IT, excep-
ton be taken by Southern man who loves ana
respects his section and s people and who desires that
both should be placed before tho rest OF mankind as
they are THE Great South has often had occasion
10 utter tho despliring refrain, "save me from my
friends" before during, and since the war; from PresI
Johnsons day down to the presents but never was
the cry applicable than In response TO this we'll
meant, II tardy, manifestation OF friendship For we
do the writer OF that article the justice TO believe that
his sympathies enlisted by what he aud what
has been told him in wronged and miscoyerned New
Orleans and that he has written under the impulse OF
generous Indignation, kindled by eloquent complaints
from elderly gentlemen who live In yesterday The
trouble is that he but half and that the darker hat
OF the situation making bad and difficult des-
perate 10 the detrment OF the people he sought TO
serve If his picture be accepted as correct one.
As Southern man. born ana Bred whose life and
abors have devoted the people and interests Of
| his seoon and whose knowledge Of both 10 derived
from actual residence there refreshed by recent tour
through the whole Of the Cotton States feel tiny duty
| TO supplement the statement In ScribReFS H0nHy Dy
another. which will put entirely different face on the
whole matter, aud prove how the utterance OF half
truths may be misleading than that OF Elschoods
All that is SAID rs to the suftrngs and wrongs of tho
people Of Louisiana true in 50 far as political pres
| sure has been brought TO bear. Language can eXag
ccrae neither What Mr. King repeats as the language
OF his ncrOcutor, and adopts as true rs regards the
actual condition and prospects OF the population OF INC
city and State in material and financial point of view
Is an exaggeraoD of existing evils, untrue IN ITSELF ana
cacn,ted to cripple the credit and damage seriously
ue interests and progress of the community and city
thus held up CHASTITY and grinning c1put ni0rH"m
without blood brains life left in it, For though there
| may be at this trnc few unpatFlOuc
| Iouigiaulaus nvng in Paris yet, as the ar-
| Gle states they i've on their rents, derived
from the very property said 10 be yaucess aud
are exies from choice, not from necessity OF those
that remain in the city alone to the number OF near
100000 the great majority although compelled TO curia
their expenditures and live economically are neither
suffering from semi starvation, nor ia want oil the com
forts OF life. Neither they compelled to dispense
with Injuries as the carnival pageants painted by pen
aud pencil prove. To this may be added this very con-
elusive fact that a subscription OF nearly $lc00o was
raised New Orleans 10 enable the managers OF the
French Opera House TO to Paris and engage the best
talent there for the coming season. The mpTeSt9 mas
Just returned after having accomplished his mission,
! and visitors TO Now-Oreans the ensuing Winter Will
Gnd there operate troupe equal If not superior to
any that has ever delighted Eew-YOrccrs. Moreover,
the reyyng confidence OF the people one o; the won
dcrs Of the Crescent City, which with the language Of
France to have Inherited much the recuperaye
powers and airy gayey Of that mother country There
two sides 10 every shield aud Mr. King, unfortunately
seems TO have shown the black and not the white
one The article in ScTibner's, though prepared In
March was not published until the middle OF October
! On the lst Of September the annual Review OF the
Commerce OF New Orleans for 1928" was issued IN
! ouadruple sheet by The Pcdyune OF that city, and
| tho facts and figures II contained establish
| the rcyiying prosperity OF city and state
beyond the possibility of cayil commend those facts
aud figures to the publishers Of Ser6Hes Monthly rs an
appropriate supplement TO the article which they de-
clare their intention Of spreading broadcast over this
country and Europe they indeed desire TO do justice
10 the South The writer OF that article IS not TO be held
re ponsibe for s shortcomings in this regard; for he
is stranger who had TO rely on the information given
and the statements made him by the few persons he
was brought in contact with upon the spot; and the
topic as well the place and people were new to him.
To save space the following brief extracts only
made from the copous stores OF facts named but it
VIII be seen they are sufficient:
The year Just closed has been one of most remark
able perhaps, ia the history ~ New leans. Bhlanc-
ing the misfOrtunes disasters, ana drawbacks against
The improvements. success aud progress OF the metrop
Oils We may hesitate 10 pronounce II prosperous sea-
son But 10 has been 10y means disastrous IL h not
our province to discuss political complications; CON
fne ourselves to the more pleasant task OF reviewing
the commercial history OF the past twelve months Inc
first great element of prosperity was not wanting
The abors % the ers Of tie soil were rewarded with
n generous yield. Though the crop OF the state
MAS very small one, the production OF cotton was
/
| since the war; with the exception OF 1901.
This has been marketed at pro1Jabls prices, and the
sales OF plantation supplies and general merchandise in
return have been therefore liberal scale.
our cy has lost none OF IT. prestg9 as great
wear exact proportion to the Increase In the total
crop. - -, $500. .,, r., 1900,
472 an amount eqitdicd only hcce annals Last
year was s9i 43oOO and the year before SIOlOl5i
The total value OF receipts OF produce from the interior
has been fully Sl0O00OO Increase over the proceed
ing season of SIS 10000 The exports to foreign
tries for the fiscal year ending July g. were s0I,995,
| compared with s35,0O000 the preceding season
Tie imports from foreign countries show correspond
ing Improvement
The tables of exports imports show that both have
doubled during that interval. Tue dearth Of un
mercial progress Of New-Oreans which would have
otherwise been more marked The rise IN freight rates
quantities OF cotton, grain and tobacco seeking that
| outlet and compelled to hud others
Our steam marine is IN hOurishing and growing
condition. several lines Of steamers already
slng are In active operation, and large profits have
resulted from the high prices OF freight New lines
| in contemplation, one Win vera Cruz about being
opened, and line of mammoth steamers carrying i'm
10y English shipowncrs. In addition 10 these Brazil
aud NewOrleans line rs under organization Several
nne ships have also been built and put existing lines
during the season
Again repeating seriously the suggestion that the
article in Ser1nsr shall be made by the addition
OF supplement. embodyng these facts and figures, as
an act justice 10 place and people to The yndeation
OF whose character aud interests the article was vol