The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-01-08
COMMUNICATION.

complaining Oh Tue hi9h iioie''' sS
charged by the Pool-line, viii meet
with q hearty Amen from the ship
pers of this Parish. There can pe
no denial that the existing rates are
relatively too high, and constitute
too heavy a burden upon the produc-
tive interests Of the country 70 pc
quietly submitted to.
1t is, unfortunately, undeniable
that the stringency now existing in
our community has never been sup
passed, and this condition exists too
in spite of the growing during the
past season Of fair crops, of both su
gar and cotton. Much Of this, OF
course, is due to the excessively low
prices which our products bring
these, of course, are beyond our con-
troll, and are regulated by tho Ia" OF
lsupply and demand. There ere other
causes, however, affecting US most
j iniuriously, which should be, can be
and naust be modified ii we ever expect
J to retain even portion OF the pro-
}, ducts of our labors: First, as sugges-
ted by Country Merchant" the
freight tariff is too high and should
, be reduced at least one-third. Tbs
8 correction of this evil rests entirely
S with the producers and merchants OF,
: 1.-The country, with the cooperation Of i.
the shippers in New Orleans. Inc
remedy simply requires the eSiaol-
ton of little back bone aud a good
It deal of unanimity, and there can be
t. no doubt that the transportation
e Company will come to terms, The
IS evil is serious one, and the neces.
n sity for change is undeniable. The
agitation Of this subject, therefore,
rel is in order, and the demand for re-
h tluction can't be made too soon. But
st why stop here? Are not excessive
s. charges made in other ways, which
a. can be and should be reduced. Lei
us sec-e. g., take the cotton planter
or Ijust now the most unfortunate 9. OF .. his
h. race. To begin with, in shipping bis
as cotton, he pays (not counting th'
er warehouseman) to the steamer no
less than 81 so per bale, i. e., TO &c
er his cotton to a market, he pays q
of least six per cent Of It's value. Doe
~ tue drain stop there3 Unfortnnatel..
no, it rather increases in volume
of Put upon the levee, it is turned owe
70 to the tender mercies of the Commits
&C. sion Merchant. What proportio
re-. does he exact and collect2 Let U
see. Taking up recent acct. sa
oa- the first item after freight, ETC.,
rly brokerage / per cent, about = cen
ess Eper bale: next is storage, drayag
has labor, weighing and samWing, f
rlv which a round charge of 20 cents p
bale is made; then comes river ms
lee rance at J say aa2aa cents per bale, al
10 lire insurance on sale at ! say i
cents per bale, and lastly we ha
commission q cents say LOG p
bale, asgregating total charge aft
reaching New Orleans of $3.50 r
OF bale, or nearly 8 per cent of its Walt
'ey and including the freighls, it is
= 90 : per cent, or to put it more plainly,
ord takes one bale in every q to pay
penses. Now these are facts viii
lar cannot be controyerted, and we o
ex- in all fairness are not the chars
met excessive, and can the cotton grow
urns already weighed down by combi
sion lion Of unfortunate circumstanc
eem stand them aud live2 We point
lutte the Strengthened condition of t
class everywhere for an answer.
are But to all this it 10 asked, W
enov will you do about it? Cotton,
ears all other products, cannot be
del without expense. Granted.
or. producer does not object to the
they ment Of any legitimate expenses,
!. he has the right to demand
more these expenses be reduced to-
coep, lowest point consistent with just
,' : and further that no charges 8
-. therein be included, save those q
,sas; lufely necessary and incurred in
a. ,of handling Of the cotton. Takin!
not again the account sales, let US
what is unnecessary and can be
The duced. First comes the charge
at the brokerage. This is SO clearly
an in feasible, that very few merch
,hood, are found who will attempt to j
IDS Of fr4;teeTt ia adhered to bpcanse
No MS sthe CUSTOM" but really bec
S, in producers have always meekly
e1sets mitted, and never offered serion
II z I
9 fact position. luis expense can
ut the saved. The next is for sto
ntains ato * eonte Tn f.