The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-30
ST. LOUIS NEWS.
THE EFFORTS BEING MADE ny ST.
LOUIS TO OPEN UP TRADE WITH
SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
The Proposed New Iron Barges-The Ex-
p0sItiOn-A Mississippi valley Celebra-
tiOn-The National GreenbaCk Labor
Party.


Especial Correspondence of the Democrat
ST. LOUIS, June q, 1878.
st. Louis is on the lookout for a capitalist
with a million or two to invest in
STEAMBOATS, AND BARGEs.
There is no longer any dispute as to what
the greatest commercial need of the city u.s.
All agree that 1t is river outlet for it's trade,
more boats and better boats than are to be
found on the river at present; not more costly
boats but boats better adapted for carrying
freight. In fact the cry is for new pattern
of boats altogether, revolution in boat build
ing on the Mississippi. The new boats must
have iron hulls, the barges as well as the tow
boats, and the latter must be barely large
enough to carry their own machinery and
| fuel.
MIR. CHARLES P. CHOUTEAU
has gone to Europe to find capitalist to I'M
dertake the job OF placing the new boats on
the Mississippi. He is prepared to show that
the Investment would be a good one that
line of iron boats and barges built expressly
for the transportation of freight can be
operated with more safety and at less cost
than the present river boats can, and at the
same time carry freight at cheaper rates and
!
built on his plan will, with ordinary care, last
forty years, and that the annual cost of re-
pairs will not be more than 81 per cent of the
original cost Of the boats. The towboats will
run faster and use less fuel than the boats
now used in the river trade, and the barges
will not be so liable to sink or burn UP. The
insurance on the boats will be less and the in
suranCe on freight will hardly amount to any
thing at all. These are some of the points
claimed by Mr.. ChOuteau, and the merchants
generally Of st. Louis are ready to back him
up in everything he says. What they want is
CHEAP RIVER TRANSPORTATION TO NEW Or
LEANS
and the jetties, and as they can't raise the
necessary money themselves they are anxious
that Mr. Choteau should do 1t for them. That
they are really in earnest in the matter will
be seen by the following, adopted few days
ago by the board Of directors of the Mer-
chants Exchange:
Whereas, the interest in the development of
direct and more intimate trade relations be-
tween the countries of Spanish America and
the great manufacturing cities of the Missis-
sippi valley is nowhere more deeply felt than
in st. Louis, and as the establishment of
direct lines of steam communication between
the ports of Mexico, the West Indies Brazil
and Central and South America will no doubt
IN the near future be secured by the granting
OF subsidies by the Congress OF the United
States; and
Whereas, the commercial interests of these
| countries IN their relations with st. Louis as
the central and chief emporium OF the Missis-
SIppt Valley, require that every facility for
the development of amiCable and commercial
relationship be extended with the least posi-
bic delay; therefore,
RegoIUed, BY the Board Of Directors of the
/ nT1fLs EyyE1I
the governments of Mexico, the West India
Islands and the republics of Central and
South America (which have no commercial
representatives in st Louis be respectfully
requested to appoint cOnsuls or consular rep
resentatives for their respective countries to
this city, with the view OF furnishing such in
formation and extending such facilities to the
merchants and manufacturers of the Missis-
commerce demand.
Res0tred, That copy of these resolutions
be sent to the Minister of Foreign Relations
OF each OF the following countries, viz: Mexi- |
co, Honduras, Salvador, Guatemala Costa
RIGA, Nicaragua, Venezuela, United States of
Colombia, Brazil, the Argentine Republic.
Chill, Peru Bolivia and Ecuador; also to the
Spanish, French, English, Dutch and Danish
governments which have possessions in the !
near waters of the Caribbean sea.
ResOtped, That these resolutions be pub |
lished in Spanish in Et Concrete de Vallte, of
this city, and copy of same be sent to the
each OF the countries mentioned.
The establishment Of line of steamers be-
tween New Orleans and
THE WEST INDIES AND SOUTH AMERICAN
PORTS
Is about the same in the opinion of St. Louis
shippers as the establishment of Mr.. Chou
teaus line of towboats and barges between
st. Louis and New Orleans, for the one would |
necessarily follow the other. The Spanish
paper published here has the following to say
III it's last number about the trade of st. Louis |
with Spanish America: "The tide of foreign
commerce, and especially the trade with |
Spanish America, has begun to flow into the |
heart of the Mississippi Valley direct. st. |
Louis, though still without steam line from
New Orleans, is making steady progress In
this, growing trade. Shipments have been
manufacturers direct to Mexico, Cuba, St.
Thomas Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil"
The paper also gives q list Of st. Louis houses
having direct trade with Spanish American
ports The list embraces some twenty odd |
houses, mostly mills, breweries and packing
houses.
THE ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION
this year will open September and continue
until the beginning of the fair, October, and the
fair is to last six days The exposition is really
Of the exposition, the only difference being
that the fair is devoted chiefly to display Of
agricultural implements and farm products,
and the exposition to display of dry goods,
furniture, carpets and store goods generally.
The exposition was originally intended to be
an advertising medium for St Louis mer-
chants and manufacturers, but this year it
VIII nave good many features OF regular
State fair. During the first week the principal
interest outside Of the display Of merchants
goods will be in the drilling of militia com
panies. A prize of $3.50 is offered for the best
drilled battalion of not less than four com
panies, and the same amount is offered for the
best drilled company in the United States.
Several other prizes are also offered. The
second week is to be devoted to musical con-
tests. Prizes amounting to $4,000 will be Of
tered for music, both instrumental and vocal.
In the third week there will be trial of agri-
cultural machines and implements and fire
escapes, and several races in the amphi-
theatre. The fourth week will be given up to
the gun clubs boat clubs turner's, gymnastic
Tt