The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-10
THE TEXAS TRADE.
Importance Of Railroad CGnlHiuni lea tion
and Active Enterprise.

and Active Enterprise.
ST. LOUIS, June G. 1877.
Editor Democrat am truly glad to see. in
your issue of the Sd inst, that you are advo-
eating the early completion Of the New Or
leans Pacific Railroad | make four or five
trips through Texas during the year in search
of orders, and find majority of the very best
and most solvent merchants Of that State
disposed In fact, quite eager, to return their
patronage to the dear old Crescent City. And
when once you have railroad connection with
Marshall, Texas, your merchants will be as
tonished aethe immediate and speedy resto-
ration Of their long lost trade The old land
marks, merchants ,cho can pay cash for goods,
say, all they want is an invitation and rail-
road transportation to go to New Orleans
They wonder why you solicit them no
longer. Red River freights were very low and
in your favor last spring, and had your mer-
chants sent their live, wde-awake statesmen
(you have plenty of this class on the road
after spring trade, they no doubt could have
taken many orders which, as usual, were COB
bed up by st. Louis, Chicago and other cities
through their persistent and energetic tray
cling men.
Your city has given up the fight for the
Texas and Arkansas trade too soon In be-
lieving you have lost 1t forever, you make a
great mistake when you cease to solicit it,
The bulk of this trade Is now done by taking
orders on the road, and why can't your mer-
chants compete for 1t in this way and sell ii
as Sc. Louis doesP
This city has railroads passing over her
great bridge discriminating against her, and
enabling Boston, New York and Chicago to
ship goods by our very doors to many points
In Texas Mississippi and Arkansas at less
rates of freight than Is allowed to u.s. This
fact does not deter or prevent us working for
and controlling liberal share of the Southern
trade; on the, contrary 1t stimulates us to
work the harder, and we sell trade which
naturally belongs to New Orleans Your
merchants could sell much Of it now If they
would only make up their minds to do 50 and
work fol- II energeticallly. II cant never does
succeeds. Your merchants very enormously
contend that it does not pay to send men on
the road for trade, saying, when you have
added the expense of obtaining trade in this
way to the salaries and bad debts, there is no
profit left. Strange to say, other cities are
pleased with their experience in this line. and.
think, sell three-fourths of their Southern
business through travelling statesmen, laden
trunks of samples, Your city is the natural
depot for the Southern trade and as a cotton
market gives universal satisfaction. l heard
many merchants in Texas complain bit
ton to New Orleans last fall owing
to low water and high freights they
were forced to sell in Shreveport or in other
markets at unremunerative prices. / know of
one instance where cotton was billed to
another market, and having heard of rise in
Red river, l suggested that they telegraph to
Shreveport or to Marshall, the headquarters
Of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, for special
through rates to New Orleans, and when the
answer promptly came, mentioning reasona-
bic rates, said cotton and many other bales
We're shipped to your city. Your people
should exert themselves to complete your
railroad, and by SO doing you can get lots Of
good trade from Arkansas, as high up as
Walnut Ridge, on the Iron Mountain Rail
road, and from Texas as far south as Navasota
and Austin, as far west as Brentwood, Co
manche and Palo Pinto, and north to the In
dian Territory line.
AS you have remained strangers to this
trade SO long, you may think it long-cinded
and undesirable, as much of it used to be.
But in this you are mistaken; they can and
do pay in four months, many discounting
their purchases They are willing to sign
our notes, payable at bank, and always with
current rate of exchange. By dealing with
other Cities where more rigid and less lenent
terms are adopted, and these country notes
are expected to be met at maturity they have
learned the Importance of promptness and to
avoid protest fees. One can afford to sell
more cheaply on four months, when they
know these purchases vii be- paid for and
on eight and twelve months time. 1t is better
for the buyer to have to pay promptly, which
fact urges him to sell carefully and to coerce
collections. This is why st. Louis sells SO
cheaply, and very well does she know how to
appreciate the Southern'trade. In fact, it is
the most desirable trade we have.
L will soon be on the war-path after fall
orders, and would be glad to meet some of the
energetic and gentlemanly statesmen of New
Orleans in Texas and Mississippi. even in
competition with me, and we will have nice
and jolly time Crop prospects are splendid,
and all of us ought to have a heavy trade
Please perSuade some of your merchants to
try for this Trade as they formerly did, some
eight years ago, and ! am sure it will pay
them handsomely.
Finish your railroad to Marshall, Texas, at
the earliest possible date, tapping all of that
nice and solvent trade and, my word for it.
you will have good times, heavy trade and
every one in good humor, like 1869.
You will find many warm friends of your
city and obliging merchants coming to see
you on the first train, who can pay cash for
goods, and will continue to trade with and
ship to New Orleans.
You will also find many who left your city
in consequence of Frustrated business, high
taxes and a theying Radical government,
who will gladly return to their dear old home
and assist in rebuilding her lost trade.
Most respectfully, DRUMMER.
Eifvar Sna nina