The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-09

| the Mississippi and the lakes. A line drawn
| from Chicago to the port OF Aspinwall via
New Orleans, would show a length OF about
24oo miles, by rail a. and steamer i. With run.
| Chicago to Aspinwall, via New York, would
| be about $500 miles by rail and steamer,
with O. running time of eight and half days.
| Indeed, the adoption OF o steam postal ser
vice from New Orleans to Aspiinwall would
| not only effect great saving Of cost to the
government, but would save day and d half
| mail time between Aspinwall and New York
| over the. present connection between those
two points.
It has by no means escaped the observation
| OF the Western and Southwestern people, that
| by denying them this connection, and forcing
them to make this detour, their trade and
correspondence with South America Is sub
iected to virtual supervision by the Eastern
to pay Eastern Atlantic railroads, canals, fac.
tors, insurance and shipping @ tribute equal
| to the difference In the actual cost Of travel
| and transportation via New York and New
Orleans respectively. These Western people
are indebted to Eastern capitalists for rail
roads and for much Of their river shipping,
and these vehicles OF transportation are thus
compelled to contribute Of their Legitimate
business to the support OF rival system OF
transportation. The government has, by lib
eral appropriations, fostered the maritime in
forests of the Eastern ports. An impartial re-
gard for the great interior interests would
emancipate at least their continental com
merce from the thraldom under which 1t now
suffers
Some idea of our utter disregard of the vast
future possibilities of trade In our own hemis-
phere Is indicated In the report of the Post
master General. who, In referring to the ne
cessity of improved postal facilities with
South America, uses the following language
"There Is no portion OF the world with
which the United States has as unsatisfactory
mail arrangements as with South America.
The correspondence for Brazil and other
countries on the east coast, IN The absence Of
ap,g regular, direct mail steamship comm,7,ica-
ton, Is forwarded via England; and the cor
respondence for countries on the west coast,
sent via Panama, can only be prepaid to the
ports OF debarkatiOn On that coast, with no
assurance Of its being forwarded to interior
destinations, and always leaving a local
postal charge, excessive in amount, to be col
lected from the addresses on it's delivery"
As your memorialists have thus protested
against this monopoly. it would by no means
become them to claim the natural occupancy
Of any commercial territory not legitimately
their own. It would be proper to divide this
continental commerce and postal service
among these great longitudinal districts
/. The Eastern Atlantic States and seaports.
Q. The Pacific States and seaports.
8. The States lying between the Appalachian
Each Of these great commercial districts
should be provided with equal and adequate
facilities for postal communication with its
peculiar and appropriate continental ter
ritory. Your memorialists, however,
eontlne the themselves elves, to , asking at y9ar
they consider this great commercial
district represented by them entitled They
respectfully but earnestly request that the
Senate and House Of Representatives will in
quiz o into the expediency OF
l. Granting an appropriation from the
national treasury adequate to the support of
two lines of postal steamers, American built
and American owned. One to run semi
monthly between the ports Of New Orleans
and Rio Janeiro, in the Empire of Brazil.
The other to run semi-monthly between the
ports of New Orleans and Aspinwall, In the
State Of Panama, and United States of Co
lombia, according TO such schedules of time
and stations as Congress may In it's wisdom
prescribe
Q. That the President is respectfully re-
quested to take into consideration the expe-
diency of directing q review of all CONNER
cial treaties and conventions between the
United States and other powers having
dominion upon this continent with view
upon commodities, the growth and product of
the said contracting powers, respectively,
and to secure such modification OF port and
other commercial charges in all cases as will
fraternity Of such contracting powers, and
especially to secure the adhesion of all such
powers to the international postal union.
8. That the Senators and Representatives
In Congress representing the interests pre-
scented by this memorial, may extend such
legislative aid as may be necessary to give
effect to the international steam postal
service herein asked for, as well as to favor
the principles of commercial reciprocity and
friendly intercourse with our neighbors and
allies Of this continent, by such modification Of
our revenue duties as may be necessary to
give effect to any treaties or convention of
which may be negotiated by the
proper department Of the government.
Respectfully submitted,
CYRUS BUssEY,
President Chamber of Commerce OF New
Orleans.
VIM. NJ. BURwELL, Secretary.