The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-20
THE COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.

The movement inaugurated by the various
commercial bodies of New Orleans looking tc
| the holding of commercial convention in
| this city in the fall is meeting with prompt
| response and universal commentator
throughout the MOI thern and Western cities
The Chicago RGitecGV ReUteaU, In an able arti.
Gle commencing the movement, uses the fol.
lowing language:
| early, will result in the holding of q conven-
| tion attended by representative men from all
parts OF the Mississippi Valley. The oppor-
tunity which would thus be offered for an in
| terchange of views and a thorough discus
sion Of the difficulties to be encountered and
| the advantages to be gained, as well as the
methods to be pursued, could not fail to re-
suit Ia much practical benefit to all interested
In the movement Possibly an organization
| might be effected which would gather to q
focus and give intelligent direction to the eff
forts Of those who would effectually promote
the object intended, and thus secure in
creased power and influence which would be
permanent in character, and probably in the
end crowned with success. The whole coln-
try Is watching with the deepest interest the
progress OF the experiment now going for
ward Of making the Mississippi river the
great channel OF foreign export, and the ad-
vance already made as shown by the StatiS-
tics of the export movement at New Orleans,
Is contributing powerfully to create q wide
spread confidence in the ultimate success of
the movement. 1t Is now but in its infancy, and
the aids to be derived from thorough discus
sion, and the organization of it's friends, are
not inconsiderable and are well worthy of at
tentiOn.
When it Is known that grain can now be
placed In New Orleans from Chicago at
cheaper rates Of transportation than 1t can be
carried from that point to New York, the in
terest Of Chicago in the experiment now
going forward of making the Mississippi
river the great channel of foreign export" of
which the RaillUGy Revie,U speaks, will readily
appear. The truth Of the matter is that
Chicago has no less an interest than New
Orleans herself in each of the great measures
shat are to be brought before this convention.
Between the improvement of the navigation Of
the Mississippi river and the Brazilian trade, |
as these great enterprises affect Chicago, |
there exists a mutual dependence which does |
not apply to anything like the same extent to |
New Orleans. Safe and cheap transportation |
to New Orleans, with easy transfers of cargo, |
especially OF grain in bulk, will place Chicago |
in direct communication with Brazil and the |
Spanish Americas, whereas, without these, |
she will have no chance of competing for that |
tagonism between us and the people of Chi
cago and those of the other Western cities,
all OF which are situated precisely as Chicago |
Is. 1t will be the business of the convention
10 make this fact apparent and to convince
the West that levees are just as necessary to
transport grain as to protect sugar and
cotton.
The st. Louis Republican discusses the
question In the same vein in an able article,
n which it says:
A leading feature of the convention will be
20 secure the early establishment of steam
ship line from New Orleans to the Atlantic
ports Of South America, thus greatly increas-
lucts. The open mouth to the Mississippi
secured by the success Of the ietties, removes
he last obstacle to the establishment of such {
! line, and the great and ever-increasing sur
Dlus of the Western and Southern products
mperatively demands more extended faciIi-
les for both internal and foreign transporta-
ion.
1t will come naturally within the purpose
If such a convention to take proper action in
avOr OF improving the Mississippi and COM
)leting southwestern railway from that
liver to the Pacific. We must have safe, +
'heap and easy transportation to the sea, and
hen steam merchant marine to connect us =
With all the markets of the world These
II
inqed growth and prosperity of this great ,,
ALLEY as are light and air to animal life.
The Republican then goes on to commend ]
+en Bussey, the president of the New Orleans
chamber OF Commerce, for the sagacity and
mercy he has displayed in forwarding this
movement, and suggests that he be invited to
address, the Merchants Exchange and other
commercial bodies of st. Louis upon the sub
ects to be brought before the convention, and
hen that an able delegation be elected to rep
esent St Louis therein. The Republican says '
n conclusion:
One thing is quite certain; If the West and J
'outh cannot unite in an earnest petition for T
uch legislation as Is absolutely necessary to !
heir welfare, they will never get it. 6
Truer words than these were never spoken. I
he one supreme result that we hope to see
stained by this convention is the bringing J
lome to the people of the West and South the
Of their identity of interest and
he establishment between them of an al
lance for the protection and advancement of
hose interests. 1t is time that these great
Producing sections should unite to emanci-
ate themselves from their unnatural bond
ge to the East, which has lived on them for i
ears like parasite, and ruled them like an I
utocrat With such an alliance we need no g
1nger be beggars, but shall be able to take J
THAT each is entitled to, with none to gain i
ay. {
Washington Eitv is tho moot dico c,roaobYo .