The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-03
THE PROBLEMS OF THE DAY.


before the Commercial Convention which as
anmbIes in the Varieties Theatre to-day.
Practicable and impgactieable projects will be
proposed. Schemes the accomplishment 81
which will necesstate the circumvention Of
the jmmutabe laws!.o nations, will be urged,
and enterprises necessary for the develop
ment Of this greats valley and It's cities will
probably find earnest advocates and violent
opponents. IF the convention attempts too
much or If II surreliders an undue amount Of
time 10 the discussion of magnificent. but
Utopan, theories liz labofs will have little Of
feet upon public opsnion or Congress
The four great practical questions which
will be presented TO the convention are: !.
The construction OF tho Mississippi levees by
the Federal government. O. The revision Of
our present tariff laws on free trade basis
or through reciprocity O,aties. g. The sub
sidizing Of mail line between New Orleans
and the Atlantic ports OF Mexico and South
America. I. Tho Sharpening Of transporta-
ton ~ cotton, grain and all other com
modties Of the Great. West and tho Missis-
sippi valley TO thi5 ely.
Tho latter problem Is. to vast portion OF
this republic, the subject OF the most imme-
date and pressing Importance The capital
and enterprise Of Che! East actively, and tho
poverty and lack 81 enterprise Of our own peo-
| pie negatively. hayo directed tho currents Of
trade from New Orleans and other Gulf and
South Atlantic ports TO those Of the North
east In other worlds tho East has kept up
with tho material civilization Of the age, it
has built long lines Of railroads into the West
| and Southwest t,hcGpening and facilitating
1 Transportation ends drawing out of It's
natural channel all that vast and rich
commerce which once flowed down tho Mis-
sissipp and it's 9tributa'nries TO New Or
leans, whlla we lave rested supnely on our
natural advantages without lifting an arm on
investing dolaf Of capital to hold our trade
and maintain our superiority.
This is the trus cause of the decline Of oui
commercial impasrt,nce Whit Is tho remedy
The cbrnpn'ing oT transportation.
Nm eminent anI large minded merchant o
: this city, In an stnterview with representa-
tive Of this paper. e;fcw days Since demon
strated that at laast 81 40 per bale could b.
saved in handling cs,tton in this city by I'm
proved metho5s.9a saving on tho number o
balca which pnsssd through Nav Orleans las
, season Of S5,75s III. Tho producers would b
the chief bcneiiciarite IF this economy, and
. hence, were uth}meihods adopted, New or
! leans would csoirman-. as nearly as posi-
/ bio. tho whoh cotton crop OF the South
/, The establishment :of. another barge lin
would reduce tho rate Of freight on cotor
and increase the saying in q like ratio, Thi
Is a large question for the merchants Of Nov
Orleans and tlf, producers of the Mississippi
valley 10 consider If the figures given al
T correct, here Is psactical plan not only u
check the diversion of cotton from New Or
r leans. but to etht:the. current Of cotton, grail
, and other produce, now flowing Eastward. i
|. tho direction % this city, and by which all TIL
valley Of tho Mississippi and the cotton an
> grain region contiguous TO the Mississippi an
. It's tributaries may be enriched.
A resolution or set Of resolutions recam
!. mendhg Congress "a inaugurats q system {
\ works to deepen the Mississippi. SO as to col
q stitute great ship canal through whlc
ships may sail arp ITO st. Louis and take !
9 their cargoes. will probably be brought befor
the convention Such scheme Is too will
visionary and useless to command, for an
8 length of time tie attention Of such a CONVEX
u ton as that which will convene In this cit
to-day Even If the scheme were practica
it would cost an incalculable sum Of none.
and when it was accomplished It woul
: be utterly useless. 1t would never 20
y a ship to 60 UP the Mississippi
!" ST. Louis, load with grain and retur
TO this port. The proposition is prepo
:, ferrous. 1t Is "n,uch cheaper to bring tt
! grain and produce $of the West TO New q
leans on barges and load it into ships here
;, hence, even II The Mississippi were convert'
:, at vast expense in'o ship canal, 1T wou
never be used rs such.
This wild project + scarcely worth discus
! ing. If the convention hopes to benciis II
~ commercial and agricultural interests Of tn
A. great valley and q tho country at largo
! must conGue itself = such practical schem
]. and propositions ny those we have cnume
n ated In tho ;lrst part Of this article, al
J. especially 70 tho revision Of the tariff a.
of to plans of cheapenpg transportation and q
r. handling Of cttton end other products of Il
Mississippi visllcy.