New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-12

siDDi river opposite the mouth OF the big
Black river, May 2l, l542.-St. Louis Repub-
HcQn.
Trade With Brazil.
j. Z. Cooke, late of the firm of j. c.
Rodriguez & Co., has written the following
communication to the New Orleans Price
Current, which will be of interest to the
readers of the REPUBLICAN:
In response to your request for my views
on the matter OF direct trade between the
Mississippi valley and Brazil, do not sup
pose can say any more than has been al
ready said by the press Of this city and St.
Louis, their columns having been literally
supplied the past year or two with able ar
ticles upon this vitality important matter;
vet, as l have this subject very much at
heart and can claim some credit tor the in
terest which ia now manifested in the South
American trade by Eastern merchants and
manufacturers, word OF two may not be
ont of place.
1t is unnecessary to cite figures and sta
tistics to prove the value of this trade to
the valley, these having been given time
and again by your valuable paper and con-
tempOraries, and are apparent to every one
who will but even glance at the subject.
Suffice it to say that nearly everything
raised or made in this valley is needed by
our tropical neighbOrs, and whether the
| West and the South are always to pay
! tribute to the East in this matter is ques-
| ton which must sOcn be answered in the
negative.
Permit me to glance for moment at
| what Eastern shippers and manufacturers
| are doing in this matter. Previous to 1870
but little interest was manifested in the
| South American trade, for the small trade
| we had enjoyed previous to the war had
| largely fallen of owing to the increased
cost Of our goods. Although the United
| States was the largest customer South Amer
lea had, England, Germany. and France en-
ioyed monopoly of it's purcha ases, firstly, on
account Of their age and enterprise, and
secondly, on account of the inferior quality
of many of our goode, and their additional
cost. Toward 1870 this condition of things
began to change. There we're few indi-
vidual firms who, manufacturing special
ties, and appreciating the value of the
South American markets, had made special
efforts tor them and with success, but the
cases were isolated.
The conditions Of our manufacturers had
changed from what it was previous to 1870;
the cost of material and labor had increased
in Europe and decreased here; many arti-
cles of machinery and other manufactures
of practical use to the people had been in
vented, and found US able to compete with
Europe for this valuable trade.
The United States does not stand, with
regard to European competition, where 1t
did six or eight years ago. On account OF
the increase of skilled labor, it's decreased
plicity of inventions and the perfection OF
our machinery (Messrs. William Sellers &
Co., of Philadelphia, took the first premium
at Vienna for the finest machinery IN the
world) there is hardly q nameable article
that the United States can not now manu-
facture cheaper and better than can Eu
rope, and yet it gets hardly twenty per
cent of the South American trade that IT
shonld, and even of that the Mississippi
valley gets none that does not 90 through
the hands of an Eastern shipper.
The sympathies of these people are with
us. and other things being equal, prefer to
buy of us than of Europe.
Now. sir, these being the facts in the
casa. how do they affect the people of the
Mississippi valley? The expansion Of tbs
| West has, in q great measure, ceased, and
the producers Of the valley can no longe!
find at home market for their wares, aoo
strin pency, and finally bankruptcy follows
It follows. therefore, that since the goods
which the valley produces or makes can nc
longer be sold at home at profit, 1t mus
lcok elsewhere for q market. Where ii
there so natural and valuable one as tia
Of South America9 It lies at our YER,
doors, and will be only too glad to open
reciprocal trade. The Mississippi valley
needs at least 81, ,00O, 900 worth annually o
Sonth American productions, and for thi
It need not pay q dollar in gold, but erer!
dimes ,rorth in kind. There is bu
one obstacle to this-the lack Of direo
communication. This brings me to tn
Question of the practicability OF the esta6
lishment of the New Orleans and HI!
Janeiro steamship line. On this subject,
need say but little. Here are the facts Il
! the case: The United States exports 7
: South America only about twenty per cen
of what it ought, and will sooner or later
B OF what it does export it is safe t
say the Mississippi Valley can export seven
tenths quicker and cheaper than can tn
East. It has not got to make new mai
ket, it already supplies it. partially, BY .!
}. other and more expensive route. GOOD
f shipped from the cities of the Missiseipl
t valley will reach the shipping point, Ne,
than to the Atlantic coast; they can b
i shipped from here, via this proposed lin'
Q to Brazil by much less dangerous an
:, quicker route, and less cost of freightag'
9 Shipping from this city, instead I
n New York or Baltimore, will say
Q at least ono handling. and cons
F. auently one profit. What are I'll
Deductions: The valley has the goot
:, Brazil wants; they can be quoted at LEI
o prices here than at the East; they can !
n shipped quicker, eafer, and cheaper. d
n not see that more is needed for the succe'
= Of any enterprise. The line will undouo
i edly be literally supported at the other en- 2
. by return freights, passengers Ut would
+ altogether the preferable route tor tne% p
# and the company has good reason To
II lieve by subsidies also.
r Now, to insure the permanent success
l. this line it is only necessary for the peop
ls of the valley to look out for number one:
l. consult their own interests. 1t IS questiG
l. of dollars and cents. of profit and loss. !
,s other cities of the West rather than Ne
10 Orleans lproducers and manufacturer
10 depends the principal support of th
= enterprise, for any man who makes an
If thing to est or to use, is more or less j
If terested in the Inauguration of this expo
v trade. A personal application to thr
il cities for support in this movement. whi'
J. will at once be made BY the secretary
1t the company, Mr.. Mogridge, and myee
u will undoubtedly result in tho Dractlc
support Of this much needed enterprise.