The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-09
RAILROADS. AND STEAMBOATS,.

Legislature to report upon the pfac'
ticability Of reducing the charges upon
ships and steamboats, entering this
port. and of thus relieving oul
commerce of the heavy and almost
prohibitory buftbens which Cypress IT.
This commission will find a rich and
lsxtensive field of inquiry. and Ii II
takes. rs we assume II will, broad and
enlightened view Of the situation and
Of the reforms required In our CONNER.
eial system. it's report may prove OF in.
estmabie benefit to the city.
Tho difference in the policy the
towns and cities III this country have
hand and the river interest on the other,
| has often occurred to ts as singular and
unwise. We have nothing to say against
tho general policy Of aiding railroads
by granting them subsidies and fran
chises, and extraordinary privileges on
streets and landings; though we do be
lieve that such largesses have been
sometimes too indiscrimately bestowed ;
often without exacting proper guaran-
tees Of the rights and interests Of the
public. and not infrequently to enter.
/ pfiees which have ssafFFed the trade and
impoverished the people whose mis-.
taken generosity created them. These
evils, however. are the results Of the I'm
Wise extension or application Of pol
Icy In itself proper, and they constitute
no argument against aiding railroads
and granting them certain privileges.
This policy within the limits of sound
principles. we are in favor OF and shall
always support. What strikes us "a
80 short sighted and unwise Is that.
while our cities and towns are ready
and eager TO lavish their aid upon rail-
roads Unfortunately, they seem to
regard II as absolutely necessary to i'm
pose upon steamboats, and ships visit.
ing their wharfs every imaginable tax
and burden.
Levees and landings arc given over
to railroad companies; tho property Of
such corporation is often exempted from
taxation; streets are permitted to be
blookaded by them. and subsidies
are voted. and valuable properties
donated to them, while our steam
boats and ships are made to pay the
most enormous and multitudinous
charges for landing at our wharves,
though they bring the trade of states
and empires to our marts.
This is system which must be
changed. The same liberal and enlight-
ened policy pursued toward railroads
should be adopted and pursued toward
our steamboat and shipping interests.
II this were done. the commerce OF New
Orleans would be relieved OF an oppres-
sive tax. and encouraged and stimulated
almost as much as IL would be by new
railroad.
A great deal has been said by the
press and the people about the need of
railroads to restore the trade and pros
perity of our city. In very nearly ali
that Is said on this subject we very cor.
daily agree. But 1t would BIO we'll for
us, before fixing our hopes upon rail-
roads alone. and depending for our
salvation upon unbuilt lines which are
yet to cost millions Of dollars, to bear
In mind that we are permitting to exist
among us. almost without u protest, u
system watch is driving to other ports
the trade, which our natural advantages
ought to secure to us. railroads
or no railroads. and that while we
are talking Of building railroads to
bring back to us, with its augmented
volume, the trade Of Texas, 1t Is costing
the ships which visit our port to meet
that trade ten dollars per ton to come
to our wharves and depart to sea.
We are for building railroads and for
doing all to encourage and aid their
construction that is in accord with
sound principles Of government; but at
the same time we are not unmindful
that the Mississippi, at whose mouth,
and the sea on whose margin, our city
lies, have created and still constitute the
support OF our commerce and wealth,
and that IL we hope to make New Or
leans a great commercial city we must
adopt toward our river and shipping in
terests the same liberal and enlightened
policy we are urged to adopt with rela-
ton to railroads. Tt is to devise and
suggest the ways and means to inaugu-
rate such policythat the commission
we have already referred to was APP
pointed, and IL that commission shall
accomplish its true mission we are sure
that the legislation Of the next session
OF the Legislature will practically make
New Orleans free port.