Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-23
TREIaHT-CAhRYIaa TRAFFIC.

AAN0 Az
The water and railway ~transporta-
ton lines are likely to have their ca
pacity tested during the ensuing au-
tumn and winter business season.
The volume of business promises
to be unusually heavy, and various
commodities are already moving
in copious quantities. The result
is freight rates are now stiff with strong
tendency towards continued frmness
at present figures, and advanced
prices not improbable. Many Of our
shippers are considerably stirred up at
the prospect, and discussion is rife re-
garding this transportation matter. A
printed circular recently issued by the
Anchor line of steamers, fixing a
freight tariff between here and points
below, on cotton, to New Orleans, was
yesterday a topic Of lively interest
The circular is signed by the mana.
ger of the Anchor line and approved
by Captains Hicks and Thorwegen. of
the steamers Henry Frank and Chou
teau. 1t puts cotton seed cake at 20
cents per cwt. and cotton at S1.25 per
bale from Memphis, Helena, mouth
Of White river and Arkansas City, and
$3.50 per bale from intermediate plan
tation landings. This is from 10 to
20 per cent. advance over last years
carrying figures. The rate last season
on cake fuctuated between 50 and
$3.50 per long or English ton of 224O
pounds, aud 75c. to $1.25 per bale for
cotton. The Henry Frank received
the latter figure on several of her later
trips from Helena to New Orleans.
and while the cotton movement was
heaviest. The steamboats, named
herein ran throughout the season
from Helena down, and are to do the
same again the ensuing season, though
it is understood that the Ohouteau,
now on her way south, having passed
here yesterday, will make a trip or
two as high as this port. This vessel
passed down yesterday with but little
more than half a cargo, the low stage
Of the water having prevented a full
trip being taken above here. An
offer Of two hundred tons of cake
made here at the new twenty cents per
hundredweight rate was declined by
the boats commander, for business
reasons not apparent to outsiders, as
it is understood the boat needed
nearly a thousand tons to fill up her
cargo. Our neighbor, the city Of
Helena, is to be congratulated upon
her increasing traffic, as we'll as the
recent accessiOns to her commercial
marine. She will control a line of
steamers to New Orleans and one to
this port, besides numerous boats en-
gagged in the local and coasting trade
near her doors, together with the St
~
Francis and L'Anguille river lines
Her railway to Clarendon, on White
river, and that now in course of con
struction through Mariana to con
meet with the Iron Mountain road to
st. Louis, also the road opposite from
Glendale down into the SunAower
valley country, add largely to her busi.
ness interests, aud will make
liberal additions to her freight
age business. Last year Hel.
ena marketed and shipped
$1,000 bales Of cotton, and there is
good reason for estimating the coming
seasons business at 10000 bales. The
growing commercial Importance o.
Helena is gratifying, not only to the
people Of that pleasant mart, but t
all OF her neighbors and friends inclu
ding a host of business men andI 9th
erS in this city. In the meantime tn,
firm freight tariffs exotic attention
though it is reasonable to suppose ths
with wages Of deck hands at fifty 40,
sixty dollats per month and fuel a
twenty cents per bushel and other OK
penses largely increased, freightl
must go up correspondingly.