The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-29
MORE ACCOMMODATIONS AND LONGER
CREDIT, AND A LARGE FALL. +a.
.' @%ss3 TRADE IssECURED. -'..> ..
From the New orleans Times.l

CREDIT, AND LARGE FALL 4
' 1895 TRADE IssECURED.
- From the New Orleans Tinies.l @ Fl
For some time we have advanced the
theory that eXhorbitant taxation was
not the sole cause of our commercial
troubles, and have. received not q little
unmerited censure therefor. It has
been the design of q few to establish
the idea that while the present rates OF
taxation prevailed, nothing, can be done
to advance our commercial and material
prosperity. .ss t. ,yssc.. 1o4siss
That taxation had. driven trade from
our doors and there was no use in trying
to recall it until we removed the cause
of its flight. We have cOmbatted this
idea and in return been misunderstood,
or what is worse nlisrepresented. We
have been -. represented as saying,
that excessive taxation was not injurious
to the prosperity of a people, and o
senseless clamor has been raised against
us by those who envy our success. We
have been numbered as the advocates
of q ruinous policy by the politicians
whose views we refused to endorse, and
we now propose presenting to our read
ers a VindicatiOn of our character as q
journal having closely at heart the in
teresbs Of this people, and a refutatiOn
| of the yapid .xreasOnings OF those who
| would not have. us look at home for
many Of the evils Of which we COM
| plain. s..s. .-- 4.4.... ......s.....q.. ....s,
Several years ago it became apparent
| that much of our trade with Shreveport
and the country contiguous thereto, had
| been drawn from us by our energetic
| and yenturesOme sister st. Louis, and
4 faI
/ credited with the loss. We were told
| that there was nothing to be gained in
efforts to recover it, unless taxation was
i reduced, and we regret to say that this
! idea widely prevailed. We. however
! thought differently, and had the temeri:
| ty to say so; and we are thrice happy. tc
| be able to state thata change of opinion
has taken place among our merchants
and that they are now graphing witt
the real evil. ...a,,i t...,sys...s,
Yesterday we had the pleasure O
! meeting and making the acquaintance
Of very Intelligent gentleman from
Shreveport, not uncORnected with steam
boat interests, who gave us a full expo
sition Of the causes which have opera
| ted against us, and we present his views
trusting that the seed may. not fall, Il
/ barren places, but may take root AM
4 flourish, and that our city, III he!
| autumn may reap the fruits promises
| by the spring. s.<,s,-,i.sst.,.5 -.
busnes Win 0t' LOUIS % ttiiu ovil0t " COZ a
4 ern cities? Ia
/ A-Yes. sir: we carry on a very lafg
trade with the West. For two month
mast ST. Louis has been. landing tW
| tons Of freight per week in ShreVepof
and will continue to do Sc for some tim
o-Dd Shreveport formerly carr
on that, trade with us a.,
A-Yes, sir, every bit Off and Woul fII,
have continued to trade with. you
your merchants had offered the sam
/ facilities to our buyers as the merchamn1 y
o.~-HoN did New Orleans lose tll .tlll
'A0By not being as accommo datin
), as the merchants OF, the West.
O.-What facilities were obtalne
There chat could not be found here
Il A.-The Western merchants entere
~ the ring RING to compete with New Qrlean
>. and finding that little or no credit II;
given to our buy yeTs, they came g to ShlreVF' l I
: mort and offered their goods and war
- on the most liberal terms. They, gay
II unlimited credit, and yon Wollidt gl'
y none. and the result was YOU R 70
the trade. However; many OF q z
: largest buyers. came down here in Il
st9ri11g and purchased their goods, al
/. / think many more viii do the san
o. thing in tile fall. rs.{ .,.3-5,sal..E., -,
Il Sot1s oeHow do YOU account for tllis2 ,
ST. Louis losing her trade !? s.s.;
Il A-We1l, al things being equal, our pc
4 ME would rather trade here than in +
: West. YOIr merchants have found q
!! their errors, and are now Offering rae
r ities they refused to afford before, al
l. tIa f trade III gradually finding It's W
Sacls. Formerly q SllreYep pOrt nlereha
caaidn,6 buy goods, here, unless be ga
the hest, ,ncitY acceptanGes;;n and th
fI1a hiil was presented on the first OF
,s9S.1fhz following But any one cor
q On to St. Louis, and buy on ninety da
fis,se, and frequently on better tern
Y T7La result was, our merchants Went
II fIa market offering the best accOn1n
1 SFrfiOns. Il our merchants have chang
their Dolicy. and are now giving cred
not al indeseRin linately as st. L0
did. but more jldies l.Ilndersfa 7! it e.
fIaf our merchants aA gOou stalnel al {
can obtain any credl5 tiiey neslre he
and many OF them nave I9oNgligs gls Aal
. %;lIs n consea auence; and when it is 81
pssiI Lii 8 n,Ia,derstood that New 0rlea
81 H. H. u Tspllis.. will sell Con tiine,n
,naarchanf,s , YEilI pafrOnize you.
nd met an Camp street d few days
o,sa n fIle rgesb neChants OF ShTe
nd ,sa.t and asked him # he was go
an IN Give me, any upward frelgllts.
Is, said he didn't expect TO IJIlggt lase
No stock here. as the merchants Weutq
llv aeeede 10 his terms. met nlm 9
S sess davs after and he told me that ne bous
ay, sy averyfhine he wanted right here,
s. much "a lis surprise, he had fount
s. mareIant; Who would sell on as g
81 terms A could be had ia ST. Louis.
- i afheTs large house sent q representa- z
mere harpFon his way to ST. Louis, Wh0s p
20 sp mo mo, vanr terms liberal. teIe
nd fact to his principals, and they rep
sas IN iinsfracfing linn to purchase p
'ck which He did, So you see lt rests y
!. New Orleans TO say who shall mono
lie the trade of SShleY eD0Yt an dtne c0
q oN haf Z cotton trade did st. u
ion tIos with Shreveport the past seas
she Very little not over two !. fil %
i eaFnd bales vent est from ellTEfeVel
nobwit thstand ding their boats were 81
F7E inc t6 carry the cotton q qlstta1lee
by thirteen hundred nalies for ~ cen
ven Ieale. The last trip OF my beat 1Iop
as. sses, 5a.E,, ) hundred bales. which were ..
) oonanressed for St, Louis. heard
- 9Iap western line offered to take lI1
rs IS eentss. and / offered to bring I6 l
fa1, fl1e same price. found no 5allll
- ins setting it. This shows that
the fI1insgs being equal, Shreveport ~
rather give New Orleans tne pEe
- sa4asssa5 ss - ~