The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-09-04
Annual Report of the
TRADE AND CO M Nj Il R = n
the City of New Orleans.
IS19-SO.


own business men, but also by capitalists |
abroad. Even this early in the season,
trade in every line is highly satisfactory.
The country is in flourishing condition;
the crops of sugar, cotton and rice promise
a large yield.
Under the perfected labors of Capt. Eads |
at the ietties the channel at the Passes has
been maintained at depth of water which |
enables vessels of the largest size to enter
the river and come alongside of our
We can now compete with New
Y ork in respect to ocean freights to Eu
rope and other quarters of the globe.
In connection with an easy and deep
outlet to the sea, we have our perfected
system of steam and barge transportation
on our great river and its tributaries. We
are bv means of barges enabled to bring
down from the Great West grain and other
staples at such low cost of transportation
as to defy competition of any other port on
the Continent
AS the IS States and Territories west of
the Mississippi have an area OF more man
four times the size of the oripi.,al II States,
it is natural that, with :. nc development of
production and manufactures, and the nat
ural adva.-.ragee of Our great river, and the
ran. DIV increasing facilities OF the railroads
centefing here, New Orleans will become
the great distributing port OF the United
States.
Besides onr commercial advantages, we
certainly enjoy many facilities for obtain
ing the raw articles for VARIOUS manutac-
turing purposes. The cotton manufactures
in other Southern States are crowded with
orders for months ahead, which proves the
prosperity of this branch of industry. With
The facility of getting wheat down in barges
at less freight, and selling flour, bran, etc,
at full prices, Touring mills certainly offer
a profitable employment OF capital. Tan
neries established near East Pascagoula
river get their bark from the Tchetuncta
river, but a few hours distant across the
lake, and hides are so abundant in our mar
ket that they are exported IN their raw state
to Atlantic cities; besides the economy OF
transportation charges alone would be an
element of large profit to tanneries here.
We have also the very best of material at
hand for the manufacture of glass and
earthenware. The application of bagasse
to the manufacture of paper could be easily
utilized on our sugar estates.
In regard to the fertility of our soil, the
production of Louisiana lands is something
wonderful. Fer confirmation OF this state
ment the following passage from the report
of the Department of Agriculture is quoted:
THE sugar estates of Louisiana are gen
orally located on the Mississippi river, be-
ginning some 90 miles below New Orleans
and going some 200 miles above. There
are also many estates in the parishes to the
westward of the river; in fact, the greater
portion of the State south of the Red river
and west of the Mississippi is good sugar
land Yet of this immense area only I5o,
he M a
ty, is cultivated"
No greater illustration of the value of the
crop can be given than the simple fact that
the product of only 10000 acres Is so great
as to be considered of National Importance.
An area of $4,000 acres produces a crop
that brings in hard cash more than $780,
100000. If what is, by comparison, mere
spot in the broad territory of Louisiana
Yields such astonishing results, what might
not be expected if the whole area of her
territory could be brought into cultivation?
The prospects of larger crop of cotton
are established, and the energy displayed
by our people in bringing about this result
is supplemented by the development of coal
and iron mines, rolling mills, machine shops
and numerous cotton mills. In fact, taking
all things into consideration, our Southern
people have every reason to feel eminent
pride in the successful energy that has
brought about the most extraordinary re-
suits, Notwithstanding the most adverse cir
cumetances that any brave and heroic peo-
pie have ever suffered from.
Financial.
The following is the exhibit of Clearings
and Balances of the New Orleans Clear
ing House from June I, 1873.
Year. Clearings. Balances paid.
1880. ..$372,65I,I5o.Io s4t579,o0I.67
I870-So.... 1901, 636.52 5o,I57,o5o.22
AS indicated by the above clearings, the
business movement of 1879 shows con-
siderable Improvement over that of 1875
To- which is partially attributed to the in
crease in the grain trade. Taking every
thing into consideration our general COM
mercial prospects are very encouraging,
and we have every reason to congratulate
ourselves, not only on our present position,
but on our Frightening prospects also, for
our Northern and Western friends have
discovered the immense value of our river
facilities; besides, the further Improvement
of the railroads already centering here will
open up field of incalculable wealth,
which, "taken at the flood, will lead on to
fortune"
Freights.
The following was the course of prices
during the year: Cotton to Liverpool, IL
1907 -I6d., sail II-32@38d. Cotton to Ha
vre, sail II-I6@Rc. Cotton TO New York,
steam, 36(019c.; to Boston, Fall River and
Providence via New York, steam, 1a(0rI-
I6c.; to Bremen, steam. I5-32 @9-Iod-
Cotton.
The first attempt of the cultivation of
hX-f he
was made in Virginia about the year
1921 From this small beginning in Vir-
ginia the cultivation of cotton has become
one Of the most important industries in
America. From a few thousand pounds
produced in 1900, it has grown to pro-
duction of about 1900, DOC, 900 pounds.
The enormous magnitude to which the
Gotten trade of this country has attained in
so short space of time stands unparalleled
in the history of The world.
No country ever before had so valuable
a product or one so capable of making it
as the United States has in the
cotton crop.
The people of the South are quietly ma
king substantial industrial progress. The
crop of raw cotton has been materially in
creased the past season. The cotton mills
in operation have proved very profitable.
New mills are projected. More of the best
agricultural implements and laborsaving
are used on the plantations
More white people are going into the fields.
The building of new mills of the largest
capacity, and with the latest and most i'm
proved machinery at Augusta, Columbus,
Atlanta and other Southern points, the IN
vestment of large sums by Northern capi-
talsts who have looked into the subject, and
the really extraordinary rate of dividends
that have been earned by the well managed