New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-12
On the Down Grade.

From the last ropOrG OF INC damUuTS
American Packet Line Company, we learn
that the company is considering whether or
not it ought to discontinue it's connection
with New Orleans. Hitherto, four steam
ships have kept up direct communication
between that unlucky city and Europe, two
belonging to the Bremen line and two to
the Hamburg line above mentioned. AS
New Orleans is by nature the most favor
able point for immigrants from which to
reach the Western and Southern States of
our Union, affording. as it does, direct and
cheap water communication to every Sec
tion OF that part Of the country, those
steamers formerly did good business. en-
joying also the advantage Of carrying back
heavy cargoes of tobacco, grain and cot
ton. But the mouth Of the Mississippi has
now become So bad that a passage up
the river can be effected only at a
great expense of money and loss OF
time. One OF the Bremen and one of
the Hamburg steamships have recently
been detained several weeks on one OF the
bars, and it has cost some thousands OF dol
lars to set them ahoat again and reload
them. The Bremen line has already re-
solved, under these circumstances, to dis
continue the New Orleans branch Of its SER
vice, and upon learning of the present mis-
erable condition of the mouth Of the Mis-
sissippi, has recalled the last vessel, that
had already proceeded as far as Liverpool
on its outward trip with large number OF
emigrants. If the Hamburg line, therefore,
carries out its threat. New Orleans will
have seen the last European steamship, and
may as we'll close up her immigration office,
that in the past years has rendered such ex-
cellent service to the immigrants from Eu-
rope. The Hamburg company says in its
report that it has kept up it's New Orleans
line now for seven years, and that the total
result has so far been a loss to the COM
pany. If it transfers its two New Or
leans steamers to the West Indian line,
however, they will be quite sure to bring
in profit, or it might reinforce its New
York line with them. which would pay still
better.
Still the company promises to do nothing
in haste, and to close it's New Orleans line
Only if the interests of its stockholders
should absolutely require it. The company
is in an excellent condition financially, has
Just declared dividend Of twelve per cent
on its capital stock, besides placing large
sum to its reserve account, and though 1t
has to report falling off in its passenger
list for the year, owing maini y to the estab-
lishment of a ne " competing line from Ham
burg to New York, boasts of a steady in
crease in the business of its freight depart.
ment; the crisis OF last year having had
seemingly no influence on our imports from
Germany.
The above is from late number of the
St. Louis Democrat The following addi
tioral facts are furnished:
The German steamship Strasburg, on hel
asst trip, so seriously strained portion O.
her machinery at the mouth of the Missis
sippi that it became necessary to send bel
to dock in Scotland, and she will not come
to this port again very soon. However, j
was not intended she should make NOR
than one more voyage to New Orleans
The other tesseis in the North German
Lloyds will continue to make regular trips
The Hamburg line, for which Messrs
Ruperti & Co., are agents, has been entirel..
withdrawn for the summer season, and pei
| haps forever. The Saxonia, Nandalia AM
Germania composed the line.
The last time that the Vandalia sale
| from New Orleans she remained On the ba
| at the mouth of cur river several weeks
which probably proved too serious d dos
for her owners