Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-11-06

Our fellow citizen, A. We'll, who has tust |
returned from st. Louis, Was interviewed |
while there by . reporter Of the Evening |
Post. Many statements were made by Mr. |
We'll which will he endorsed by merchants
from other sections Of North Louisians.
The suggestion ~ to Railroad from
Hope, through this section, is an 'mPor-
tant one, and would doubtless accomplish
the result predicted:
Among the many merchants here re-
porter VI the Evening Post met Mr.. Alex
nnder We'll, an old and well-known mer-
chant uf Homer, Louisiana, who bas been
y guest at Bxruum's during the past week.
The town of Homer is the cntrepot for one
Of the most extensive aud fertile farming
| regions Of the South, and the merchants
| Of New Orleans have long esteemed its
| trade Of prime value. Mr.. We'll states that
many merchants in his section are now
! turning their attention 81. Loulsward,
aud that all are pleased with the induce
m.nts offered by our business men. He
! himself has been buying here for the past
| two years, but many were here this season
for the first time. Previously he had al
WAYS bought in New Orleans aud New
York. New Orleans perhaps sells goods "A
ehespfS rs St Louis, but the stocks here
are larger and more complete, tins en-
abling customers to fill fuller aud more
varied bills upon the shortest notice. MI
We'll was Of the opinion that henceforwsrd
all, or 1T least the most desirable portion
Of the North Louisiana trade would come
70 81. Louis. Merchants were here for the
frat time from Bastrop and Monroe, i'm.
portant trade centers nearly one hundred
| f,r hos han La
fieved that ST. Louis could easily command
the principal trade ss far south a. the
mouth of Red River, q territory which in
cludes the best trading point in the state.
Goods for his region are now shipped via
the Iron Mountain route TO Hope, Arkan-
saS, where they are transferred to wagon
trains aud transported inland. From Hope
to Homer the distance is eighty miles, re-
curing three days for transportation.
Though the distance from Shreveport to
Homer is not one-third Of eighty miles,
goods are delivered quicker by bulk being
broken at Hope than at T-xarkana, a. there
have always been annoying delays in re-
shipment at the latter point, that have
seriously annoyed interior merchants. Six
weeks had TRANSFERRED from the shipment
to the delivery Of goSis via Texarkana and
Shreveport. THIS defect has been much
reni-,iied of late, however, aud shipments
by this route are now effected with much
more expedition than formerly. Mr.. We'll
complained that the Iron Mountain Road
charged rs much for freight TO Hope a. il
did to T-xarkauA, aud that buyers thought
there ought to be a difference of R, least
twenty-five per cent. 81. Lonis was new
-rthrlrss wholly indebted TO he Iron Mum.
tain Roal for this new trade, and il WAS an
enterprise that should be well sustained Ivy
ST. Ionsans. Mr.. We'll said that Il the
Irun Mountain could le tapped AZ Hope,
and branch road built to Homer, it would
he Of in-stimable value Ia this market.
The contamination of such an rnterprls,
wound put St. Louis in absolute aud nndi--
pn,.,d possession ola trade worth millions
Of dollars. which could be held without fear
Of competition.