The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-14
RIVER TRADE.

The FLYER convention heiu At Sti Fauls Wilt
tesota, some months ago, appears 20 nave
borne good fruit and promises tohelp I'D 10 Oh
immense trade by the river. This convention,
ills true devoted itself more TO the cDnsidera-
tion Of the various plans suggested for the
Improvement of the channel Of the rtvec,
than to the trade and commerce Of the dis
siasippi Valley. Yet these are 80 closely
allied and connected, that whatever Ii done
b. benefit the one must. III necessity, prove
advantageous 10 the other.
The convention appears not only TO have
called the attention Of Congress to the neees.
stiles of improving the river and shown the
immense benefits thata few engineering enter
prises would bring b. the country, but has
attracted the attention of the entire Missis-
sippi Valley as well. To the many advar=
tages that the river ruuta offers 10 our int
rier commerce
II appears also to have produced just that
fraterna and friendly feeling 1t was expected
to bring about. st. Paul Ia farther off in
miles from OUT city than New York: yet
ilnked together as the two cities Of Minnesota
and Louisiana are by the Mississippi river,
they feel themselves close neighbors. friends
aud allies.
Thanks 10 this convention. the people OF st.
Paul have become deeply interested lii the de-
velopment Of river commerce: they see that
the Mississippi must, In theimmedIHte future
become the great freight route Of the eoun-
try, and New Orleans the port Of export Of
the entire Mississippi valley As q conse-
guence, they are now exceedingly anxious to
assist In developing this commerce and to
place their city In close communication with
New Orleans
The Bt. Paul Chamber Of Commerce has
evinced commendable regard for the inter-
ests Of the grain shippers and grain pro-
ducers of Minnesota by instructing one OF its
committees to correspond with well-informed
parties In at. Louis and New Orleans for the
purpose Of acquiring all possible information
Of the obstacles II any, which exist to the
shipment Of grain lii bulk TO Europe via New
Orleans. The committee has acquired this
information sought for. and will report In a
very short time The report will be very
favorable to New Orleans and suggest to the
Minnesota farmers and merchants the adj
visibility Of shipping ell their grain by the
river.
The margin saved between the cost of rail
attd tittt transportation. TINY say Is gteHter
than the profit expected by any dealer. Again.
the saving In weight on grain by river more
than pays for The insurance, AS for the old
lie that New York has harped on 80 often.
and that the New York Times reproduced only
the other day. although Ii has been disproved
q hundred times namely, that grain becomes
heated and spoiled by trip through the gulf.
the committee will report that instead Of this
being SO. the continuous winds Of the Mssis-
sippi dry out the damp, while the warm
climate at New Orleans partially kiln-dries
the grain: In fine, that q cargo of grain ship
ped to Europe via New Orleans liz actually
impr owed by the trip, and sells for half
penny higher than that shipped via New
York.
We Of NewOrleans have known all these facts
for many years; 1t is gratifying to see that
the people Of st. Paul at last recognize them
as we'll and appreciate the many advantages
of our city as port Of export. The whole
country seems to have suddenly discovered
that New Orleans is the natural outlet Of the
Mississippi Valley. st. Louis is seeking earn
estly TO ship produce to Europe vim our city /;
Chicago promises us large business In
grain and pork: ut, Paul becomes suddenly
enthused In our favor: and even pttsburg
looks forward to complete revival Of the
river trade in all the gigantic proportions Of
ante hellum days.
The Pittsburg Chronicle breaks out In
congratulations on the splendid outlook
for prosperous times 10 the steamboat
interests lin which Pittsburg ID specially In
terestedl, and prophecies that the grain
trade pit least will soon be altogether lost TO
The railroads. Here, then, Is q splendid ottt-
look for the coming year; 1t s too late now
for this commerce 10 be developed this season .
the ice will soon be coming down the river,
and the boats will have to lay UP. but we can
Mt least make some preparations to secure
next year this trade that the whole country
seems to be offioiously forcing Oh u.s.