The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-11
TIE RED RIVER TRADE.
Mhe DISTINCTIONS to Commerce III
Red River.
The Attention Of the Representatives
OF the State Called to the De-
lay ii Removing Them.

Alta meeting OF the board of directors al the
Cotton Exchange held on Thursday evening.
the delay and neglect Of tho government
authorities to make the improvements In Red
river necessary to put that stream Ill u nav
lgnble condition, which improvements were
authorized aud provided for by the Forty nth
Congress, was considered and discussed al
length. md the board determined to take the
proper steps to call The attention Of the United
States officials. whose duty II IL to carry out
tho Intentions of Congress. to the Injustice
and lossee Inflicted upon tho people of this
city md the Red River acctlcn Of the State by
tho failure oh their part to do their duty, and
expend tho money tSibo.ooo) appropriated by
the national legislature III the manner pro
vided IN tho act making the appropriations
ono of the fret moves on the part of The
board In the direction Of securing the desired
relief has been TO oall upon the representa-
tivt,a Of the State for their assistance and in-
luenoe Ia the matter.
Tho reucat Ia contained In a eommunicn-
ton. which fully sets forth tho grievances and
The Imperative necd Of prompt action on the
part Of the government.
THE LETTER
referred to reads as follows:
New ORLEANS. October 10, 1879.
10 tho Hnnornblea J Fltid King and Randall
Gibson, Members Of Congress from Louist
ana
Gentlemen III accordance with resolution
of the beari Or directors Of the New Oreaus
Cotton Exchange. beg to call your atten-
ton TO the pressing need for relief to New
Orlenna and the section Of tho Interior imme-
diately interested. from the interruption to
our trade hy reason Of MI insufficient depth Ut
III hS ff
We are credibly informed that St5O,000 was
appropriated by the Forty-tifth Congress- TOR
tho especial purpose of preventing such IN
tarruntion. and 1t IL represented to us that. al
though ample time haa ALREADY elapsed since
the p,ssage Ut the oct for the work to have
been performed. nothing whatever has benn
Accomplished 1t Ia also stated that tho rivor
has b@'n hloukadsd for several weeks past hy
all accumulation 81 mud at Its mouth. causing
an almost total suspension Of navigation oi
the Red 0uaehita and Atchafalayn rivers.
Ill addition to the detention vi hteamhoats
and heavy LOSSES thereby extreme rates Of
freight and extra risks In transportation have
resulted. entalling an onorous burden ~ our
people.
The shipments by water 70 this port Ut cot
ton alone from the country tributary To tile
rivers named within the past two years have
amounted In value To nearly or quite
sac 600 600.
Congress has recognized our rights ~ The
premises. and ordered the same government
alu III ouI hoilill WlHcH Hha ptt so !ieoI ~
tended to other sections for the benefit nt
commerce. and we earnestly request that you. |
as the representatives pf our state. inquire
into tho uanaos that have prevented the
prompt enforcement Of that order, and use
whatever influence you may possess To the
end that we may obtain tho speedy relief the
Importance Of this matter demands Your
obeiient servant, PERRY NuHENT.
President New Orleans Cotton Exchange.
That the gentlemen to whom tho communi-
cation Ia addressed will do all In their power
to carry oat she wishes Of tho Exchange, and
to aid II Id the accomplishment Of It's purpose
cannot be doubted. and tho probabilities are
that before many days have elapsed the dere-
lict officers Will be made to understand that
further delay In the execution Of their duty
will not be permitted, and the Improvement.
on Red river will be under way.