New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-15
DIRECT TRAOE WITH SOUTH
AMERICA.

AMERICA.
Juto-Beundary Of an American Grant
America Shipping Theatres to Veae.
zuela Made 70 Order.
BRANCH o''lcs M..sIssIrR, 81 p AND oslsoco cox-
| New orleans. April IA, 1876.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
since last had the pleasure of handing
you an article On the subject of direct trade
With South America and the valley of the
Orln0co, l am in receipt of . letter from
Mr.. I: A: Smith, manager of the Missouri
Flax Mile, OF High Point, Missouri, por-
ton OF the contents of which submit for
general information:
est. Louis now manufactures more bag
ging for cotton bales than all the rest of the
United States, nearly all of which is made of
iute, imported from India. About 5000 tons
are received annually, and transported by
rail, from Boston and New York; to say
nothing of our tow, made of flax.
'Jute is the cheapest. and for,many pur-
poses the best fibre grown. Efforts have
been made to grow jute in this country, but
1t is difficult to compete with the HindOO
labor of India. Aid from the government
has been asked, but the consumption is so
great here, being about one third that of
cotton, that it does not appear to be advisa-
bic to increase duties or otherwise aid in
the more thorough development of jute cul-
ture in North America. The valley of the
Orinoco should grow jute as we'll as the
Ganges of India, it being q tropical plant,
and If the active labor is as cheap as that
Of the Hindoo, the raw material can be laid
down at St. Louis or other points in this
valley, via New Orleans, cheaper than it
can be transported from the interior of In
dia to Sundee, the largest manufacturing
city of jute in the world. Sundee CON
sumed in 1874 loo, 900 tons. London has .
corporate company growing and importing
fibres from New Zealand (all long fbre)
which is largely exported to this and other
countries. England, France and Germany
are constantly developing new sources for
long staple, and Q few years since some
Bostonians arranged for territory in Mexico
not produce fibre either as good or cheap
a. jute."
will say for the benefit of every one in.
terested, that within the boundaries of the
grant confirmed BY my colonial expedition
to the Orinoco, the boundary limits of
which are as follows, on the north line
that marks the eighth degree of north lati.
tude ~ far a. the town Of Santa Cruz fol-
lowing from this point the north bank of
the Orinoco river as far as the mouth of the
river Meta, following the same bank of
this river to where it touches New Grenada.
and thence this Same line on the east: on
the south the boundary line of Venezuela
and the empire of Brazil, and on the west
the frontier between Venezuela and Eng
lish Guiana, and finally the Atlantic ocean.
there are hundreds of thousands of acres of
land ready for fencing and the plow. with
ample and cheap labor that will work under
direction, that will produce jute and the
best cotton, cane and tobacco in the world.
That BY application to me parties may avail
themselves of the privileges acquired and
ample quantities of land. But experience
has taught me that We have first to estab-
lish lines of transportation and trading
posts, under q staunch organization Of
capital and . defined system Of action, that
will develop the extraordinary agricultural
resources Of the Orin0co valley, and then it
will be as impossible to keep capital and
enterprise out of Venezuela as it is to keep
air ont of q vacuum. An addition of onlv a
few thousand dollars is required to move
the first vessel and cargo that under our
plans will open this trade to New Orleans,
by practically showing what percentage
per quarter can be made on Investments
handled not only by the orists, but gentle.
men who have lived in Venezuela. and are
respected both at home and on the OrinocO.
Then the cautious and prudent capitalist.
when he sees two dollars for one, will put
en- sailing vessels and steamers, laden with
our produce and manufactures, and make
it rough for England, France and Germany,
who have no show in the world to compete
with us, except for the reason that our
people are either too indolent, ignorant or
to venture q cent to secure the
trade that geographically nature has placed
at our threshold.
"A theatre rs feet by 1893 feet, with stage,
properties, scenes and machinery has lust
been constructed in Jersey City, together
with frame house So by 81 feet, for ship
ment to Venezuela in sectione," and yet We
have q stagnant lumber market, idle me-
chanics, and just as much idle capital in the
country ss ever. In view alone OF the gen.
eral benefit to accrue both to Venezuela
and New Orleans. if one or two enterpris.
ing capitalists will call and see me, will
show them freely what inducements I can
offer, carte blanche for which have only
lately been possessed Of
FREDERICK A. JOHNSON.