The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-25

Much of the trade with Northern Missis
sippi and Tennessee we may never regain
but 1t is Our good fortune that the produc
tion of cotton is increasing much more rap
idly west than east OF the Mississippi. in 0
region naturally tributary to New Orleans
and where with adequate railroad facilities
controlled In her own interest, she may look
with confidence TO recover her former losses
and again assume her once proud position.
A bale Of cotton sent to this city for sale
leaves here, at moderate calculation. five
dollars, exclusive Of the charges for freight
and insurance incurred In bringing 1t TO oui
wharves, and Of the profits to our general
trade resulting from the investment Of the
proceeds in supplies of produce and manu-.
featured goods. Comparing then our posi-
ton Of to-day with that we occupied in 1s5e-60,
we find that in the latter year 2.1g3,OOC
bales left us $1O $685. 900 In handling charges
alone while in the season just passed we have
been forced TO be content with $5g75 900 aris-
ing from the handling Of / 1g5, 900 bales, O net
loss in round numbers of $5,OOO,0O0. And
that. too, with our city nearly twenty years
older, and with on increased population Of no
doubt at least $4,000 souls. To what branch of
trade, interior or foreign markets, to what
manufacturing industry in our midst can we
point as an offset to this deadly shrinkage2
are hard with us, that rents are
low, that stores, dwellings, warehouses and
press yards are vacant by scores; that whole
sale and retail merchants cry bad trade; that
clerks. mechanics. laborers fail, despite earn
est and persistent endeavor, to find the work
to which they crave the privilege of laying
their hands? On what else save on the hand
ling of the cotton and on the trade inseparably
connected with our cotton receipts does the
mass of the people live2 There are those in
deed who are interested In the sugar, rice and
but for a few. Take away her cotton receipts
and what becomes of New Orleans2 This Is
problem which interests all alike. To regain
the trade an increase In our railway facilities
is essential, and 1t behooves us all to sec to 1t
that the work be done. Granted that the IS
W hich each bale leaves behind It, passes first
into the hands Of the factor, the broker, the
pre- ssman, the stevedore. the towboat owner.
and Of the other workers in the trade who are
directly connected With the handling of the
staple, an argument used by many to show
why IL cotton men want railroads, cotton men
should build them. Granting this we say,
ices any sane man believe that the IS remain
IN those hands7 Do not the s5 per bale rep
resent the gross earnings, of which, II any of
he aforementioned classes can lay by 10 per
cent after paying expenses of business. taxes,
'ent, clothing, bread, meat, light and the
thousand minor details of ones liveli-
hood, he is generally well satisfied
Do not the remaining 81 50 go to make
'he general trade of the city, Are they not
scattered throughout its length and breadth
The landlord gets his share, 80 do the mer-
'hants in wholesale and retail trade, profess
ional men, mechanics and laborers, all,
indeed, who have brains or goods or labor to
ELL We assume that we can no longer afford
he luxury of apathy. Two hundred thou
and people cannot live and prosper on
he volume of trade New Orleans now calls
Ter own.