New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-15

Baltimore after them. With postal ap
preparation for q weekly mail between
New Orleans and Vera Cruz, Aspinwal
and Rio Janeiro, the connection between
the cities of the river and lake and the
Spanish American States of Mexico, Cen.
tral, Insular and South America, on both
sides of the continent, will be complete.
How can this be best effected? At this
precise point it happens that the Chamber
OF Commerce asks exactly the same ques.
ton, thus: The following resolution, Of.
ferred by Hon. W. w. Howe, was adopted
! Resolred, That committee of five be ap-
pointed to examine into and report the most
feasible plan for an establishment of steam
ship lines to connect the railway and steam
boat system of the West and Southwest
| with Mexico, Central America, the West
| Indies. Brazil and other States of South
| America
Looking back at our premises, which
show the importance of this tropical
trade and the interests vested for its
development, we propose this solution
Of the question:
l. Constitute at least three companies
for connecting New Orleans as the COM
mon terminal point of her rail and river
lines, with each of the three tropical ports
OF Rio, Aspinwall and Vera Cruz. Let
each of the railroad and river companies
take shares Of the capital stock Of each of
these lines pro rata, according to the share
which each of these rail and river COM
panles represent in the gross commerce to
be conveyed over the whole ocean and
overland line. Such pro rata shares to be
ascertained by conference and subscrip-
ton. Do not be alarmed at the novelty
OF this proposition. There is no.
thing new about it. It is pre-
cisely the mode by which the
credit of completed railroad has
extended the road itself by aiding its ex-
tension or connection companies with
loans, leases or Endorsement of construc-
ton bonds. It is exactly the means by
which the Illinois Central has extended
itself to the sea, first by means of the Mo-
bile and Ohio road, and second by in
dorsing the construction bonds of the Mis-
sissippi Central. We may imagine, then,
a company formed to put on line to
Brazil or to Aspinwall, with capital
stock of two millions of dollars. This
stock is subscribed for principally by rail-
road and river boat companies The |
steamship company will then be governed
by the rail and river transportation COM
panies as directory. The connec-
ion between the ocean and overland
service will be connected and continuous.
The importation Of goods in bond will go
IN without interruption. and the interior
titles will hold their own goods in their
'wn bonded warehouses and their own
lands instead of paying out the duties in
dvance at an outport. These ocean and
companies would each ship over
he lines Of the other on through bills
Without delay or exaction.
Steamships might either be chartered by
be company, or they might be built. In
be first place the connecting companies
q the directory would furnish the neces-
airy guarantee on the charter party. If
shall be determined to build or buy
bonds for their construction or
urchase should be made by the directory,
,dorsed by each of the shareholding COM
anies according to the proportion Of I
nares held byeach, and either negotiated
/ market to raise the purchase money. or
elivered directly to the contractor or seller 8
the steamship. II
The object of this plan is to make the | I
edit of an existing interest contribute | i
the construction Of a great system, for Y
hich we have not adequate capital other q
Use. 1t is in effect adding steamships to 9
lie rolling stock of our railroads, and in ! o
ke manner extending the voyage of our I
yer craft to and beyond the tropics. O
here might be shown peculiar interest ! y
the railroads between New Orleans and | r
ew York to put on line of weekly | q
Gamers between New Orleans and Vera
ruz. Our purpose, however, is but to I
'tline proposition which will apply q
e means we have to the work we want.
Enough has been written to show tina. q
e true basis of alliance between New =
leans and the upper West consists in ;,
ening the tropical trade inboard, and -
It coastwise, and in making our city the
trepot and mart, where the products of -,
lio and Missouri, and Michigan may be ;,
changed against those of the Amazon :,
d the Plata. This subject can not be =,
ndensed into a newspaper article. It -
" serve to call the attention of our
amber of Commerce to specific mode o,
giving effect to its inquiries. Since -,
, embarrassment of our reasonable :,
N to participate in the European grain n
de, We must in addition endeavor to p,
lvince the upper West that it has an ;s
Ter and an important interest in com. q,
rcial connection with New Orleans, .,
lthat upon this interest we may har- e.
nize in and out of Congress. q,
CITY IMPROVEMENTS. 6.