New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-10
ST. LOUIS TO RIO iANE1RO.

II st. Louis would adopt such judicious
means OF expanding her commerce as is
outlined in the following article from the
Democrat, there would he more prospect OF
success than when it divides the vote OF
the Mississippi Improvement and aids our
common enemies to defeat ous joint in.
tefests:
The proposition to form st. Louis stock
| company for the construction OF enough
I sailing vessels to form q weekly line of
| ocean service between New Orleans and
| Brazil meets with general approval, and we
are pleased to note the earnestness with
which the matter is discussed. Since the
| enterprise possesses sufficient attractiveness
to make it an agreeable and interesting sub
Ject OF conversation, occasional reference
to 10 may not be amiss, especially if we can
bring to light any valuable fact concerning
the matter. First, let lis consider the dis
lance from New Orleans to Rio Janeiro
New Orleans is situated about thirty de-
grees north of the equator. and ninety
west longitude. Rio JaneirO is situated
about twenty five degrees south of the equa.
tor, and forty five west longitude. An air line
then from New Orleans 70 Rio would
be about 5000 miles long, but the track
of vessel would be fully twice that dis
lance. for the vessel must proceed eastward
forty-tive degrees, then southwark fifty
five degrees. Altogether 100 degrees OF
5000 miles. 4 sailing vessel ought to aver
age five miles per hour while under way,
therefore the passage should be made in
fifty days. If we allow ten days for stop
ping at the various ports en- route-which
is liberal allOwance-it would appear
that a sailing vessel would pass from New
Orleans to Rio in sixty days. Therefore it
will be seen that twenty vessels would be
sufficient number 20 form q weekly line.
The best vessels for the trade are strong
schconers of 1900 tons burden, flat bottom.
ed and furnished with centre boards. Per.
haps $4,000 may be too small an estimate
for the cost Of such vessels, but we feel
sure that many a ship building firm can be
found in the East willing to put the
entire twenty vessels atloat for $780,
coo, and construct them in the best
manner, too. The class of schooners
indicated would draw, with centre board
up, eight to ten feet. This wonld enable
them to touch at ports having but shallow
depths of water, and by this means extend
the traffic of che line. Such vessels need
not carry more than seven to ten men, and
could be maintained and run at light ex.
pense. Some Of the principal ports en-
route would be Havana, Puerto Principe,
Santiago. Kingston, st. Domingo, Mara |
caibo, Porto CabelIo, Caracas, Trinidad.
OIinoco, Cayenne, New Amsterdam, Natal, |
Pernambuco and Bahia. The profits which
might be realized to the company owning !
such line would be very great. First, be.
cause the people to be traded with are
not supplied with Geographic re-
ports of tho markets each day, nor !
with daily papers. as are the people of |
this country, and can not always claim |
and receive the last cent their products
will command, nor would they be fully |
posted as to the exact market value of the
various goods which would be sold to them
by the company. Second-A natural mar
gin of seventy five cents per barrel on flour
and fifty cents per bag on coffee exists in
the shape of saving in freights. Western
-four goes to Brazil, but it must first pay
81 20 to 81 50 per barrel freight to the sea
board. Western flour may 90 to New Or
leans for twenty-five to thirtv-five cents
per barrel from st. Louis. The distance
from New Orleans to Rio is not so great as
from New York to Rio, therefore the
freight from New Orleans would be no
higher, to say the least. What is true of
flour going is true of coffee coming. A saw
ing Of fifty cents per bag would be made
On all the coffee consumed in the MISSISSIPPI
oi basin. Surely, this enterprise is prom
sing one, and can easily be PUT afoot by
he mllers and coffee dealers OF st. Louis, !
f they will.