New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-15
HOW TO REPLACE OUR LOST TRADE.

HOW TO REPLACE OUR LOST TRADE.
AS there can be no doubt Of the diver
sion of much trade between the West AM
East, which once belonged in modopol.
to New Orleans, it shows that our cit
must replace what it may not regain Ii
; this connection we do not hesitate to So.
that the demand for an outlet improve
ment, on the sole ground of providing
cheaper transportation for bulk grain, ha
been serious obstacle to our success. 1
has concentrated against us the apprehen
sions of all the great grain centres and
carriers of the lakes and of the At
lantic coast cities. To us this grair
trade is perspectively valuable; to some o.
them it is indispensable to commercial
existence The proportion in which oul
foreign grain exports stand to that Of
those cities and carriers with whom we
contend, is as one and half millions OF
bushels is to ninety millions of bushels.
When we regard the powerful interest OF
representative numbers, wealth and en-
terprise enlisted against us in this fight,
the real reason of the opposition to our
outlet work becomes apparent
There are other interests in which these
lake and river cities, and these Longitude
nal railroads, are in perfect accord with
New Orleans. st. Louis has a railroad
| and river connection. Chicago has rail
from Lake Michigan to the Mexican Gulf.
Detroit, Toledo, Indianapolis, Vincennes,
Louisville, Cincinnati, have all direct
through rail, without break of gauge, to
New Orleans. These cities represent GER
tainly one-third of the American con-
sumers of sugar and coffee, of fruits, fur
niture and dye woods, Spanish hides, wool,
etc. Each of these cities exports provi-
sions and manufactures. Here, then, is
basis of trade which, assuming this COM
merce, out and in, at but $25 per
head, would be worth at least S4O,-
100000 to begin with. There is
another most important consideration.
IldCu VI tuSfo w CotCAA ClIlCo ID CICotOu
in railroads and river craft, conducting
trade between themselves. and New Or
leans. But the tropical goods consumed
by them and the supplies furnished in
exchange are conveyed in chief part by
shipping coastwise and by Eastern rail-
roads and canals. In addition, then, to
the importance of becoming first hands
and centr es for tropical goods, these cities |
turn from their own roads and rivers |
freights worth surely more than a million |
Of dollars year, and pay exchange and |
profit to the Eastern cities, which import |
for them what they might as well import
for themselves. Let US, then, set up the
and its railroad system as
carrier with the coastwise and
route. In this contest we may
expect the cooperation of each of these
titles in all modes for improving our out
et and thereby extending their lines to
he tropical markets. Let us briefly con-
ider how this may be effected:
1. From st. Louis, Chicago, Detroit,
Cincinnati and Louisville to New Orleans,
We will assume, there is an aggregate
ength and value of railroad as follows
from New Orleans to Cairo, trunk line,
so miles; average length of rail from
Jairo to each of these cities, $50 miles;
pproximate total of running rail- $500
niles. Putting this rail. stocked, at
80, 900 per mile, there is an investment
hown of $75,OO0,000. We will mention
hat there is no grade, tunnel, curvature
r climatic interruption on these roads
Now add to this interest and investment
he shipping on the Mississippi, Missouri
nd Ohio, with other principal tributaries.
his we will assume in round numbers at
value of 25,000,000 We leave out the
rye number of persons employed in this !
But here is shown an esti-
late of Sl00,00O,0OO invested in trans =
ortation and travel between the upper !;
vers and the ocean at New Orleans. Re- \
ember that this investment and these
nes have been made for trade almost | {
ltirely domestic. New Orleans exports
reign and coastwise next to nothing Of =
'estern produce, Remember that this
st power of passage and transporta- Il
On is ready made, running and paid E
r. Can it not be made more useful q
IN it not be made more profitable to its y
vners? Can not these boats and cars a.
hich now run back nearly empty be n
AIDED with tropical products, and thus o,
neft us and their owners? o,
All modern railroads are held to be i'm y,
rfect if they only come to a dump oh m
e seashore. 1t is only such as find or r,
rnish themselves adequate ocean trans q,
ration to insure the complete transit of :,
foreign goods between production and nj
that realize full usefulness ~
w York has always shipping up for .,
erywhere. Philadelphia and Baltimore =,
re not so well of, SO the Pennsylvania =,
d Baltimore railroads built for them q,
yes lines of steamships to European m
rts, and can thus guarantee to immi-
ants and shippers through transporta-
n and positive delivery on time, with ~,
1l,,oI ,,o oxportar Nv xx;Jl | =