New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-03
ouR COMMERCE WITH FRANCE.

lished by Mr.. P. Abzac, French consul at
this port. 1t is based upon the reports of
various citizens of France resident here
representing "a colony" of 10000, of
whose interests the consul has very prop
erly taken charge. We differ with the
report in attributing, as it delicately does,
the decline of our commerce ''to social
and political difficulties against which
New Orleans struggles to-day" These
things ''no foreign fellow can understand,
you know" The agricultural produc-
tons of Louisiana are of greater value
than ever before, and the profits made by
the merchants of the city ought to be at
least satisfactory. These profits have
been so reduced by the diversion of trade
and competition of other markets that
they will not support the same popula-
ton as formerly.
New Orleans has not undergone the
same industrial injury from war that Paris
has done, yet Paris has recovered from in
vasion, from siege, from the losses of war
and the liquidation of the ransom imposed
by Germany. The reason is that the
manufacturers and mechanics of Paris re-
sumsd production, and with the cessation
of war the wealth of creative industry re-
commenced. New Orleans must pass from
the factorage of products to the creation
of products. VOLTA tout That is all.
The lugubrious complaint that the Sher-
man tariff is too high for the importation
of French goods; the allegation that the
Americans are initiating French manu-
features, is very well for the manufac-
turers in France, but it should, in our
opinion, furnish great encouragement for
the French colony here. 1t seems that
the French and Americans have taken ad-
vantage of this high projection, and have
established in the United States the man.
ufacture of those fabrics formerly inn
ported from France. We will give few
of the articles formerly imported here
which have greatly diminished in extent,
or which have ceased altogether. The
importation Of porcelain, glass, hardware,
watches, jewelry, paper and books, medi-
cines, silk goods, cloths, millinery and
artificial flowers has been greatly reduced
in consequence of the high duties and
transfer of these manufactures to the
United States.
With the extraordinary success of
American manufactures, why should not
the French residents of New Orleans
adept these manufactures and profit by
this tariff themselves? Why should not
they import or encourage the immigration
of skilled labor from France, as has been
done at the North and EastP
We will give some examples: The first
production of silk manufactures in the
United States was in 1859. There was,
during the war, an increase of duties
up to sixty per cent ad valorum. The re-
suit has been that last year there was pro-
duced something like one-haf the silk
goods consumed in the United States.
The investment in buildings and ma
chinery is about seventeen millions of
dollars and the annual product twenty
seven millions of do liars. There are
eighteen thousand operatives employed,
two-thirds of whom are women. Ma
chinery, weavers and dyers have been
imported from France and Italy, and raw
silk, dnty free, from Asia and Europe
This fourishing industry has been organ
lied in Rhode Island, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Massachusetts and other North
ern States. The conditions for the same
business are infinitely better in New Or
leans. Can not the French consul and the
numerous FrenchI people here do the
same? With the skill and intelligence Of
these people there can be no doubt that
manufactures Of wool, of cotton, of silk
and many other articles could
be conducted better here than in
the Northern States To await the
reduction Of the protective tariff, when
every part Of the United States is daily
deriving more and more encouragement
from its operation, would be like the man
who waited until the river should flow
away that he might cross dry-shod. Pro-
lection viii outlast the French colony in
New Orleans, and they had better resign
themselves to the necessity Of making
their abode permanent, and providing
some industries useful to themselves and
Others. We are satisfied that with the
views advanced in this article the colony
Of French in New Orleans can render in
valuable service BY engaging in the man.
ufacture Of the articles indicated, and
thus aiding to relieve our city from the
decline which diversion Of trade and 8
change in the pursuits Of her citizens have
occasioned, May we hope from the
present consul Of France some eo-opera.
ton on this subject? May We expect from
him another inquiry how The industrial
resources Of the French colony in Louie
lana can be made more prOspsEouS an
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