The weekly Louisianian., 1874-03-21
THE LNDUSTRLAL FEATURE
OF THE MISSISSIPPI
l.

lALLEY.
THE DIRECT TRADE COMPANY:
The arca Of arabic and fertile
land drained by the Mississippi
and its tributaries-the salubrity
of the climate-the favorable
ness OF seasons-the presence
of equitable laws and Of an
active, vigorous class of laborers-.
all these, covering as they do, the
possible and actual conditions that
enter into the support of a large and
contentcd population, guarantee the
industrial future of the Mississippi
Valley, and especially Of Louisiana
and her metropolis, New Orleans.
To secure the progress and full de-
Of this favored section Of
the Union, three important prelim-
mary conditions must be provided
First-The protection of the pro-
ducts of the country from destruc.
ton from foods and oyer1ows,
This end is being rapidly accom-
plished by private capital, acting in
corporate forms. aided at tho pre-
sent, by the credit Of the several
States interested and prospectively
claiming national aid in tho sans
direction. The result is, that the
Mississippi and its tributaries, SC
important as channels Of trade, are
becoming more and more under
control by perfected and adequate
leyecs, so hat tho haz9y toll that
produces the Cotton, Rice, Sugar:
Tobacco, Wheat and Corn, of this
fertile region, has reasonable guar
antee of an appreciative return and
security to the values produced.
Tho second condition, is an i'm.
provement of the water channels o.
trade and q compilation ofthc railroad
lines connecting the country and
cities of the great valley with The
Gull. Much remains to be dono il
both directions, yet much has
already been done. St. Louis
Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, De
troit, Toledo, Memphis, Nashville
the representative cities of the val
10y, have some of them water con
nections with New Orleans, and al
Of them railroad connections. Th'
large majority, without break o
guage or bulk, have direct connec
ton by rail to our great Metro
polls.
From New Orleans to Cairo ther'
is about 500 miles Of rail on thu
trunk and from Cairo to St. Louis
Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati ant
Louisville respectively, there is al
average Of $40 miles. Putting thi
aggregate OF length of rail, a
$50 600 per mile, it would malz'
about eighty millions of dollars OK
pended to perfect the carrying con
nection between this point and tn
principal cities OF the valley. Th'
third condition Of our progress ant
the one most necessary at this june
ture is IN outlet to the Gulf, eithe:
by an improvement at the mouth o
the river, or the construction Of tn
Fort st. Philip Canal. A nationa
interest is felt in. these enterprises
which are too largo for State o:
private capital to accomplish, an<
We, at an early day, may hope to
some substantial action. In tn
meanwhile the future is hopeful
Steps here and abroad, looking t.
direct trade with South American
countries and with Europe, espe
cially the British Empire, hav
been taken. We need trade will
both and can greatly contribute t
the prosperity Of tho countries thu
obtain our trade.
We call attention to the Euro
pean movement as it finds devel
opment in two noted instances il
this city. First-The organization
of a branch here OF the Mississippi
Valley Society, as will appear fron
the following notice in the 7snaes'
Pursuant to notice there was
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