The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-28

what our Hotei-kecpers shy About Oui
Needs for Pacific Railroad.


Notwithstanding oil that has heretofore been
written and said In advocacy Of the New Orleans
Pacific Railway, it IL our belief that ct no time
has Its Importance been more thoroughly appre-
ciated and the necessity Of its early completion
been 30 generally recognized than at this present
writing. Hundreds OF those who, for one reason
or another. opposed the scheme at it's inception
have, TO use the political term ''oome over" and
from the noisy thoroughfares OF COM
merce to the more quiet suburbs, where
the modest householder has his
home. there come expressions Of earnest desire
to sse this road completed and 4 new avenue
TO trade opened to our city. The apathy and lag
gardness Of which our people have for 30 long
been accused appears to be breaking, and II the
opinions cleaned from interviews with merchants,
tradesmen and others can be any criterion, there
can be but little doubt but what the property
holder will realize the
MuLT1roRM BENEFITS
to accrue, and with his capital come forward and
build the email gap yet remaining to put us in
close communication with the growing inland
marts Of Texas.
WHAT HOTEL KEEPERS SAY.
A reporter Of the DEMOCRAT dropped in upon
Mr.. Mumford Of the Arm OF Mumford n Watson,
proprietors Of that we'll known hostelry, the
City Hotel. and the case, already made plain,
was made more 30 by that courteous gentle
man.
Rsporter,-Mr. Mumford. have called upon
you "a connected with the hotel where probably
more than anywhere else visitors from Texas re-
sort, for the purpos Of learning how far the re-
cent encroachme nts OF st. Louis have affected
Texas travel, that is
COMMERCIAL TRAVEL,
TO our city. Have you remarked any change
within the last two years2
Mr. Mumford-Of course we have, sir and .
very great change, too. You can hardly believe
how much business travel from Texas has
dropped off Of late since the two Ines OF railroad
have been running through Northern Texas up
to ST. Louis.
Rsp-You. then, by the registered guests, can
Mr.. M.-very easily, sir. Why at one time
there was hardly train over the Morgan road that
came In without bringing US from fifty to sew
enty-fve guests These arrivals were every day,
and they came to
MAKE THEIR PURCHASES,
and sometimes would not stay more than . day
or two when they would go back to be replaced
by more. Indeed, at one time we became so
crowded we fitted up large story over the Slo-
comb hardware store. which wae specially re-
served for our Texas friends, and which was al
WAYS full during the business season. Owing to
the falling off ia travel we have not had occasion
TO use 1t for long time.
Rep.-Do you think. Mr.. Mumford, If our Paci-
flo Railroad was completed to Texas, 60 project
ed, we would
once more2
Mr.. -Unluestionably. II we had rail oom-
munication to-day with Texas the results from 1t
would be felt almost at once. Property would
be enhanced in value, business would increase,
aud In every channel Of commerce the benefits
from this current would be felt.
Reptile Pexans prefer dealing with the
New Orleans merchants, do they not?
MIR. M.-Yes sir. and they would like 1t part-
cularly II they did not have TO cross the Gulf Az
a rule, the inland merchants have q horror OF sea
Sickness as do most other people, and IL this rail
communication was established, the trade would
be much larger than 1t has heretofore been.
wish could show you some registers Of the hotel
that are now packed away, for 1t would need but
Of to-day to convince you OF the large amount Of
travel here then and the loss We have sustained.
II seems to me that every person who
owns FOOT OF PROPERTY
in New Orleans ought 10 recognize Whist seems
80 simple to those who by their Avoostion know
best about the trade Of this city. Visitors here
always leave q considerable amount over and
above what s required for necessities and out
side Of what might be called strictly inside OF the
term "business." That this enhances the value
Of property Is too simple proposition to require
an answer, and what they invest strictly in bust
ness or trade every body knows is what gives q
metropolis its wealth.
Rep.-Would not rents be increased il this tide
set in towards us2
Mr.. MI believe they would, but all with
whom have spoken agree that they would will
ingly pay the advance, because the increase Of
traffic would warrant it,
The next gentleman called upon was
COL. n. E. RIVERS,
of the oommodious st. Charles HOTEL who was
very emphatic in his views on the railroad ques.
ton.
R.p,-Colonel, / wanted your ideas on the
subject of the Pacific Railroad, and the necessi.
ties that exist for its speedy completion ----
Col. R., with some warmth-"Ill give them to
you with great deal of pleasure, and wish thai
some hing was done to push this great work for.
dition OF the case perfectly palpable to you,
need only to say teat few days ago took the
pains to look over the
REGISTERS OF THE ST. CHARLES HOTEL
for the years 1870 and 1871 Those registers
show an average of forty or more arrivals by the
Morgan Railroad daily. Those arrivals would
leave, outside Of their ordinary bills at least s2j
here. ROW it is q rare thing for us to receive
Rep-Has this travel fallen off then as much
Is this?
Col. R.-This is not all. It is not only in the
falling off of those who formerly came here te
make their purchases and thus create trade, but
they were nearly always accompanied by some
one or two Of their family. Now, In making
their business trips they 60 quickly by rail to St
LOUIS, transact what they have to do and return
Rep.-I would judge, Colonel, that there could
| be no better place from which to
GAUGE THE TRADE
| of CITY than from hotel standpoint
COL R-There is none, sir. I can stand here
| and tell you almost with mathematical accuracy
the condition of business here. see by my OWE
business falling off that that Of the city is also
Previous to the heart OF Texas being tapped b.
the Iron Mountain and the other line our booke
show what our trade with that State was and i'm.
mediately following their opening how it fell off
Rep.-This has materially advanced st. Louis
interests then?