New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-02

world. The delivery of commodities by
straight rail has broken up the receipts
and distribution of the river systems. In
examining this. subject and preparing the
argument, We have compiled an approx
innate estimate OF an element of our trade
not heretofore included in our annual
statements. 1t is the merchandise re.
ceived coastwise, and by rail and river.
1t will be seen from our published state
ment that the whole values thus received
amount some sixty-two' or sixty-three
millions of dollars at home valuation. OF
this. as bearing upon the general prln-
eiple OF changed transportation, We find
the values of about sixteen millions of dol
lars received by rail, as against coast, sail
or steamers. Here we see the same principle
OF financial interest operating against mere
economy of transportation. 1t is thus
that travel and commerce crosses the
river and tunnels the mountain. It is
thus that they traverse the coast in par
allel competition with the cheap trans
portation with the river, the Gulf stream
and the winds. The same railroads leave
at the villages and country stores of the
upper country much larger amount of
goods than is brought here, laid in at the
same jobbing houses with our own, sold
with less expense perhaps than our own,
and exchanged at better profit directly
for the cotton of which New Orleans was
once the exclusive fac or and furnisher OF
supplies.
The REPUBLICAN has thus enounced the
grand principle which has changed the
commercial channels of the world, and we
apologize for having had to employ these
grand truths to counteract the theory of
politicians who would use the undisputed
fact of local commercial decline solely
to promote their partisan interests. With
the materials furnished by our own and
other reports We can make rough bal
ance sheet
Exports, foreign. 462 24f
toistwi,e, cotton aud Western produce,
stinstea at. ..'..''......,-.... r. 37 7s4
Tota................,ss. ......,... s "a 600 900
Merchandise imported fsreign. ..Sl28484le
Meichandite imported coastwise and by
rail- AID river, estimated at.... 81 Isl ,58l
Total .,.........................s 75Ooo, oCO
Here would appear difference larger
Or smaller between the home valuation
Of our exports and the market valuation
Of our imports. Suppose that New Or
leans exports larger values than she I'M
ports; the inference is that this difference
is drawn for and expended for merchan-
disc imports sold in some other markets.
Thus Western produce is sold in our
market, but the representative supplies
are laid in with bills drawn against Us,
The proceeds of which are paid out in the
markets Of New York and Baltimore. The
true prosperity Of a city consists in pay
ng for all its receipts in goods, services or
other equivalents, SO that the capital and
industry of the citizens are compensated
n supplying all the wants of the GUS
omer. New Orleans does not do this,
md to this extent her capital and enter
prise are in excess of her commerce.
All this is written to prove that the
politicians are mistaken IN asserting that
he ten or twelve columns OF sheriff sales
'r the 1912 persons sent out of the city at
he expense of the charitable associations,
besides the many others who have paid |
heir own expenses, are due to political |
buses. 1t is written to prove that the
of business must be due to
'ome remedy far more radical than an
election satisfactory to the salary rangers.
The REPUBLICAN yesterday taught that
his lost trade must be replaced by new
commerce with adjacent countries, and
hat this will require the agency OF the
ederal government. 1t tropical trade and |
ravel alone, with that of Texas, and the |
additional population of the Mississippi |
lelta, which will. restore New Orleans. |
The New Orleans Times refers to "the
'ast wave. of human lite" which has
poured down upon Texas. This immi-
ration can alone be attracted and devel-.
ped upon Southern products. g..
We are glad to see the same journal
perceive and admit that "the cid policy
# Iastorags steadily but surely glides
rom its ancient landmarks" New Or
cans must expand her commerce and
mploy her people in manufactures.
Titles can nc longer live by the factorage
f the labor of others. They must also