The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-22
ABOUT THE TEXAS TRADE,

The San Antonio Herald predicts that be-
fore many more months shall have elapsed a
spirited competition will be inaugurated by
| the wholesale dealers OF New Orleans and st.
Louis, having In view the control OF the trade
Of Western Texas. 1t, therefore, reminds the
merchants OF these cities that their success In
attaining the object desired viii depend very
much upon the promptness with which they
make themselves known to the retail dealers
Of Western Texas, basing It's argument upon
| the adage Of the early bird" which is cred
tied with unrivaled opportunities Ia the
| worm catching business. Our San Antonio
contemporary starts out with the assertion
that nothing could prevent New Orleans
from losing our trade at least for time, IL
the international were here, but when the
New Orleans and Texas road Is finished the
Crescent City will have the best chance If
her merchants are sufficiently enterprIsing
to avail themselves of It." This is, doubt
less true as the completion Of the Interna-
tional from Austin to San Antonio would
give st. Louis an almost direct line to the last
named city. q distance Of some $50 miles, an
advantage that could only be overcome by
the completion of the New Orleans and Texas
direct communication by rail and give them
an advantage In distance over st. Louis of
about 800 miles. 1t would therefore appear |
that the vast and highly remunerative trade |
of Western Texas may readily be directed to |
this city If our business men have the energy |
and enterprise to solicit 1t. But 1t will be |
wise at the outset to abandon all notions OF |
natural advantages. Our merchants must |
not expect that the mere opening up Of rail-
way communication with Texas will set the
people Of that section mad with the desire to
come and spend their money here. As our
San Antonio contemporary remarks the busI-
ness transactions that may ensue will be
based to a most Insignificant extent only on
sentimental relationship" 1t will be reduced
down to a matter OF dollars and cents strictly,
and the wholesale dealer who can m AXE the best
showing OF low prices and goods and freights
will be most likely to gather the commercial
persimmon. The section OF Texas to which
we have referred has made large accessions
TO It's population during the last few years.
Many OF these are thrifty farmers from
England and Scotland, while the already nu-
nerous German population is being enlarged
These new corners seem Dos l
sessed Of both the will and ability to make
he most out Of rich and fertile soil and are {
lot only able to surround themselves with |
he necessary comforts of life, but In most In l
stances find 1t convenient to lay aside some {
hing substantial for the proverbial "rafny 9
lay 1t will not do, therefore, for the pos |
SCISSORS Of superannuated wares to look for an 6
4 dorado In Western Texas. AS general e
hing the inhabitants of that section are t
Intelligent and progressive and have lost b
much, II not all, OF the rude frontier manners 9
attributed to them. Even the an T
ient city Of San Antonio, since Its adobe walls g
AVE re-echoed the shril whistle OF the rail- II
way locomotive, has lost much fits primitive \
spanish simplicity, and affects airs OF metro v
'oitan order. As the Herald says, It's ..peo- q
10 have become not only more accustomed a
0 business ways, more susceptible to the in a
uence of society and fashion, and more taste s.
III, critical and economical, but more adj O
icted to reading" 1t Will, therefore, be wise q
/ those seeking the patronage OF these peo- Il
le to study their tastes and prejudlces some b.
hat at the time they are making known b.
le business advantages at their command B
Fhateyer is to be done in this matter should al
3 done at once The representatives of er
her competing markets are already In the pt
cid, and our merchants may expect that 70
rong effort will be made to divert the trade N
Southern and Western Texas, as well as nc
at Of the Northern portion OF the State, to VI
!. Louis and other Northern and Western 81
les, And 1t Is equally certain that without ] WI