The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-18
THE TEXAS TRADE.

THE TEXAS TRADE.
There seems to be an impression among our
merchants that tho completion Of the rail-
road to Texas will mark new era In tho COM
mercial history Of New Orleans; that the
rich products Of the Empire State will nat
urally flow into our city, and that her plant
ers merchants and business men will ut once
sever their relations with other cities and sec
tions and come here to lay In their supplies
and form commercial relations with our peo-
pie.
This Ia mistake 80 grave that We are I'm
PEELED, while there Is yet time, to direct the
attention OF serious and rejecting men
thereto, In the hope that steps may be
promptly taken to secure for our city fair
proportion, at least Of the trade which the
superior enterprise OF other cities and the
intelligent use Of capital have diverted from
It's natural channels and which cannot be re-
covered except by the most systematic exer-
ton and the use Of precisely the same means
employed to take 1t from us. The days of
sentiment In business-the days when Texas
and Arkansas would purchase goods In New
Orleans even at higher rates than they could
be obtained elsewhere, because New Orleans
was Southern city-are gone forever:
the world has made enormous strides
since we monopolized the business
of the South and Southwest, and the construc-
ton Of railroads and the extension OF the
telegraph have brought the producers or the
South and Southwest into close and intimate
connection with the capitalists and cities OF
the East and West, and business Is now done
on a purely unsentimental and practical
basis, regardless Of sectional lines and sec
tional prejudifes Goods are bought where
prices are lowest, and produce is sold where
the best prices are obtained, provided that
market is not shut of by prohibitatory rates
Of transportation.
Money is the only basis now recognized
among business men In all sections, and those
who with folded hands are awaiting the COM
pletion Of the railroad to Texas with the hope
OF seeing spontaneous rush Of business from
Texas on the old sentimental theory will be
sadly and suddenly undeeeived. 1t may be-
safely assumed that not one bale Of sentiment
tai cotton will be received at this port from
Texas. Not one bale will be received that is
not sought for and worked for on business
principles. The vast capital OF the East and
West has been lavishly used to secure the
valuable trade Of Texas, and for years her
cities, towns and villages have been thronged
with the drummers Of Northern and Western
manufactures and houses, who have succeed
ed IN introducing their goods and making
commercial connections which are not to be
broken In day, and can only be severed at
all by Offering superior Inducements.
Our business houses have for many years
been too inert and have rested content with
the ordinary methods Of securing business,
while their rivals In other cities have been
putting forth every energy, Offering every in
duoement. sending their statesmen all over the
State making liberal advances on cotton.
and as natural and inevitable result they
have successfully invaded territory Justly
tributary to New Orleans, and carried off over
great lengths OF railroad the valuable and
vast trade Of Texas.
It Is an old, homely, but exceedingly cor
rect adage that you must fight the devil with
fire" and Ii we are now to successfully CON-
pete for Texas trade we must adopt the plans
and methods Of our commercial rivals. Our
merchants must go to Texas themselves,
make the acquaintance Of Texas planters and
merchants and 60 there provided with the
means to do the business they are looking
after. New Orleans statesmen should visit
every section of the State, and be as active
and energetic In seeking and securing busi-
ness as those from other cities, for In this
way, and In this way only, Is 1t possible
under present conditions to effect diversion
y, ~ Ynr ~ Nayr- nrlnoro
Our merchants must wake up. they must
arouse to realization Of the great revolution
which has been effected In late years in bust
ness methods, and In the modes OF transport
alton. Work Is the essential element OF sue
cess nowadays and IL we ever see an era Or
In this city again, 1t will be the re-
suit Of hard labor intelligently directed by
capital.
AZ an evidence that there must be some
thing radically wrong in the conduct OF bust
ness here we may cite the fact that vessels
have recently arrived at this port from New
York with coffee and other similar articles,
destined for st. Louis; and the town OF Amite, |
only ninety-tive miles from New Orleans, has
ately received several car loads OF sugar and |
nolasses from Chicago. These facts speak |
more eloquently than can any words Of ours, |.
nd we leave 1t to our merchants themse YES