The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-15
A TRADE NECESSITY.
The New Orleans Pacific Railroad Must
be Built, and that soon.

|
| be Built, and that soon.
| There can be now no Disgusting the fact that
| has been SO well proven by the testimony of q
| hundred Western cities that in tho progress oI
the national body as well as State railroads
| have become a part of the arterial channels OF
| trade. The pulsations of commerce. those
heart throbs that give vitality to industry, vigot
| to agriculture and employment to labor, have
become in the great advance so well recognized
that 1t ut this day needs bare mention. Rail
| roads. like river currents, bearftheir burdens
| from sources to centres, and this country has
| proven for inland transportation the rail has
become another avenue for trade where water
does not flow. and Of necessity nature has to be
| taken hold of and conscripted into the service
| Of the needs and necessities of this growing
people. The good work already performed by
the originators and energetic founders of the
NEW ORLEANS PACIFIC RAILROAD
| needs no encomium at our hands.
| The good work already performed has met
with the hearty oommendation of all of our far-
seeing and progressive merchants, but much as
has been done 1t will not bring home to us the
desired benefits unless the little more' is
added to it. The progress made already under
the direction of President Wheelock will not
bring to home the desired. and indeed neces-
sary, results the present condition of the trade
OF New Orleans SO much requires. The ener-
gizing effects OF the examples given by st. Louis
merchants should have more than ordinary in
hIence here, and their work ought to be full
verfffeation Of every argument used with the
property holders and landed proprietors, show
ing that
REAL ESTATE INTERESTS
are just as much as purely commercial ones
deeply interested in promoting speedy connec-
tion with available trade points. st. Louis has
within O comparative short space of time at
almost her own expense. built two roads tap
ping the Texas business centres and the earn
ings of these roads already amount to $4,000 per
mile. What the effect of our sister cty's energy
has had upon our own commerce can better be
told in the interviews q reporter of the DEMO-
cRAT had with some of our merchants.
Yesterday the reporter cBllt d upon Mr.. Swan,
the well l-known and genial travelling agent of
McStea. Value 81 Co, tue large dry goods house
Of Canal street. Mr.. Swans business for the last
TWENTY-FIVE years 4 = hag r. carried him through al
and visits almost every small town within the
borders of that hat sate and he is therefore well
nication there II we wish to
KEEP UP A PROSPEROUS TRADE
wi b that section.
The reporter. after an introduction said.
called in on a matter that is of great interest
TO our. people. and | want to get your opinion
upon 1t. refer to the G. growing nece sity o. rail
enough to give me your views ON the subjeet2
understand that you have been for many years
engaged in this trade'
don't know what / can say more than has
already been said. Everybody ought by this
m1 Il to Eea1s an1 a the f results Of the enterprse Of
Rep9rter-Do you. then, find that the push"
Of IT. louis has Vas seriously trenehed upon as2
through Texas Or at least large portion Of 5i' It
in O buggy. and have thus an Opportunity of
visiting the smaller PLACES In the upper tier
ern ones, find that where we used to sell large
bills of goods they are now all supplied from ST.
Louis, and in some counties they don't
BUY A CENTS WORTH
Rep,oTo what cause. Mr.. Swan. do you as
cribe his falling off?
Mr.. Swan can only say what the merchants
at this row Of goods pointing to large pile Of
llnsay. woolsey and inans) | sold last year |
consignment of those for winter
for northern Texas town. 1t was March when
they reached their destination, and OF course |
were out of season. st. Louis now, with her |
there. and then too, she don't have to pay the |
fr9ights ns w we t do oyer the Morgan route.
f,ntn aepmThen this s matter of freghts is large
=, Mr., Sit is, sir. very powerful one. st. |
Louis men, under existing circumstances, have |
an advantage over us. for freights over to
Galveston are
MUCH AGAINST US.
Rep Everything being equal, don't you |
think the Texas merchants would prefer to |
deal with New. Orleans
Mr. swan-Unquestionabl I have talked |
with numbers of them, as you may know and |
all express the most heartfelt rnestness to-
wards New Orleans, and look forward anxious
towards ,6,tin IF Nntu nrin
Pacific Railroad
Rep.-Then they are supporters of this road
zoo, as well as our most progressive citizens In
Mr.. S.-They are. Texas has always been a
sort OF sweetheart to New Orleans. and only the
lmperious demands Of trade has called her else
where. II that railroad was finished to morrow
you would see hundreds of Texans coming over
% lay in their winter supplies. / don't see
come forward and fnish the work. Why, it is |
o their own interest. just rs plain as the nose
On your face We've been hanging on to those
OLD FoGY NOTIONS
1ere M - go long that wa can't see anything that is
out OF the old groove. Rents would go up. and
rade wouldn't be like what 1t is now We must
push that road through.
The reporter then called upon
MR.. THos. sIMMs,
i that large grocery firm of Simms & Levy.
NJ. Simms was engaged in coming the morn
ng papers when the reporter called upon him.
or kffbporterMr fbe u aslpms dr9pned in upon y9p
With you. Have you time now to give me few
eisure moments?
Mr.. Son that subject always. don't think
1me on this subject could bs possibly wasted
e tainly. will give you all the time you de-
ire.
Rep.-I would like to know. Mr.. simms. as
me of our leading merchants. what Won think
8 the effect upon the value Of real estate here
#
THE INRoADs OTHER CITIES
ave of late made upon our trader
r. D. matter
0 me. to answer. Take for instance my own
ase Feeling satisfied that our trade would
evive soon, we rented a store below here at a
entail higher than business has since warrant
a. After remaining there for some time and
ne business OF the city fallingspf, the landlord
efused to decrease it, and we moved back
nto our old store at a reduced rent. What we
,ad $1,000 Tor before we now pay $1,000 but if this
'aclflc Railroad was built we would willingly
'ay twenty five per cent more.
Rep.-Do you think that the merchants in
,eneral won be willing to increase their rents (,
!, Daar rGa,.< II s1xG