New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-16
sHAL. WE LOSE DUB TEXAN TRADE.

sHAL. WE LOSE DUB TEXAN TRADE.
Our sole connection with the empire Of
corn. cotton and beef is made tri-weekly
by rail and steamer, with two transfers.
We connect at Galveston, shallow out
side port, subject to storms and 9uaran-
tine. Then We incur the expense Of ira.
versing the State to reach its productive
interior. Our competitors of st. Louis,
Chicago, Cincinnati and New York en-
ploy double daily mail train, with an
unlimited supply OF freight trains.
They have also the telegraph. by
which all purchases and shipments,
all contracts and orders may be
communicated instantly. In view OF
these comparative advantages of inter-
course, how will this contest end? In
reversing almost the entire trade of Texas,
sending i. across Tie Mississippi 70
Eastern ports, receiving by the same route
il return The commodities purchased in
the railroad cities.
With the immense loss of trade which
New Orleans has sustained from the val.
ley of the Mississippi it is plain she can
not supinely permit the trade on her
western borders to be cut off. A railroad
connection with the system of railroads
which are now developing the whole
interior of that State is indispensable. 1t
may be that the railroad System
owned and controlled by our rivals may
so discriminate against New Orleans as to
interpose difficulties in securing the
commerce Of Texas even by the
means we propose to employ. The
Texas railroad being then necessity. it
becomes important to inquire l. What
should be the line and theory Of its con-
structlon: The locati on Of the line
should be projected to command the
central and upper trade Of Texas. 1t
may be safely affirmed that the trade Of
Southern Texas would not cross that line
to go North. Lateral ways would be
thrown out from this trunk, concentrat.
ing and conducting the trade of Texas to
the deep water port Of New Orleans. So
SOON as this road rea che1 its connection
with existing roads. i: would derive
an existing trade: SO soon as it
crossed those roads on It's way West, i:
would become iniepend ent Of the rival
control to which we have referred. The
:os.,: thus projected would lead to juno
ton with the Texas Pacific road at about
the intersection Of 80 north Ia titude and
400 longitude. This would command for
New Orleans a fair participation IN the
trade Of Arizona. California and Asia,
while its intersection with the lnterna.
tional OK Mexican railroad would not only
give it two feeders in Texas. but would
open the rich States Of Sonora. Durango
and chihuahua. with the mines of Guam
a;uato and Guada!ajara. to the merchants
CT New Orleans. The capacity for do
nestle and foreign trade which
road projected from New Orleans
diagonally and centrally through
Texas, owned and governed from New
Orleans, can be estimated from the sue.
cess Of other roads into new territory.
There las never, however. been opened a
road which presents such rich and varied
resources. OF this all Our merchants and
other thinkers are convin ced, and can
convince any others who may be s.septi-
cal, if any there are.
2. The means Of constructing this road
to and through Texas.
New Orleans will be required to take
the first step in opening this road, at
least, to her own western boundary, the
Sabine. A. that point she may expect the
cooperation which always results from a
demonstrated capacity.
As We understand the plan proposed
for ettecting this work. it is by submitting
to the people Of New Orleans a vote
whether the Legislature should empower
the city government to subscribe to the
stock Of such . work 10 issue bonds for
the payment Of tat subscription, and
impose tax on real estate to pay the in
terest and extinsa;sA tie principal Of
these bonds.
While we are very clear az to the vita!
value O: this road, We confess that the
means proposed appear through a very
misty medium. The State IS at this mo-
mert deeply agi.ate! on the subject Of
taxation. The Legislature has reduced
the public debt nearly oue-Lai:. upon the
alleged inability o: the people to pay.
4 larger debt and far heavier taxa
ton remains on account Of the city.
He who can not pay the State tax on a
house can not pay nearly double the city
tax on the same house. The city having
waived the reduction Of its face debt. the
Legislature has s.b:ai.ted to its voters
the question whe;he. tie city shall be
allowed on any p-e.ense to contract any
other debt. The appropriation Of money
70 build this road. II honestly applied,
would porbably meet The approval of real
estate owners. whose highly taxed houses
are :erantless. But there would be a con.
tradic.:on in denying tie city the power
70 create debt. and a. the same time au.
tao.iziug debt OF s2,5ot.O0o. Much as
We value this read, We should advise the
people to vote TO. both amendments 70
tie cons.itution-sAe one ;egsliz;ns the
scale contract with State creditors. the
other limiting the power Of the city gov. |