Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-24
THE WEST INDIA TRADE.
importance of the MOVement Now
Being Made I'm New Orleans 90
Secure the Trade OF The Antilles.
Memphis appeal.


No American possessed of a Just pride in
his country and hearty desire for its
welfare can look over the map OF this
continent with the reflection that the i'm
portant nationaliies south of 1t are SUD
piled with products we desire to export by
European instead of by cur own nation,
With tariff favorable to our trade, and
with power to buy our own shipping where
We can buy 1t cheapest, with our splendid
resources we could do an immense business
that is now, by our national fmpolicy,
thrown into the hands Of rivals Under
these circumstances it gives us pleasure to
notice that New Orleans is awakening to q
sense of the rich harvest which lies within
her grasp. Just now commerce with the
important island of Jamaica is exciting at
tention in the Crescent City. That island
has an import and export trade that amounts
to SIS, ,OOO, 600 year. II trades with Hall
fax and some of the Eastern cities, but New
Orleans is nearer and more accessible than
the other points, and ought evidently, from
its geographical position, and from the vast
resources open to 1t along the Mississippi
river and its tributaries, to be able to out.
rival anything they can do.
Two or three Influential New Orleans
houses are attempting, at the present time,
to renew commercial relation with Jamaica,
and their advances have met a very salts
factory reception. The New Orleans Times.
Democrat has been at pains to ascertain
what sort of trade the city can do advan-
tageouslV with Jamaica, and learns the
following, among other facts: That the
Jamaica market will take four-Southern
brands preferred-hog products, which New
Orleans can receive direct by river; common
cotton goods, which Southern mills can
supply In abundance; lumber, especially
Southern, which Jamaica prefers; canned
goods, which are in great demand,
and which are plentiful throughout the
Western country; common dry goods and
common hardware are also 10 demand. Once
get an active commerce In operation with
Jamaica, and 1t would increase indefinitely.
As Jamaica learned the vast resources of
the Mississippi valley It would draw upon
them more extensively, and It could find no
country able to supply her with feed pro-
du'cs at as favorable scale of prices. Nor
would the trade be confined to that island
alone-Hayti, Cuba, Trinidad, Barbados and
other places would prove profitable
and permanent customers. Beside its
other advantages the semi-tropical
climate of New Orleans adapts It
especially to the Gulf trade with the tropics,
Let but an active West India and South
American and Mexican trade spring up with
New Orleans, and what an immense mart
of commerce would the Mississippi country
become The river would be crowded with
vessels carrying Southern fruits and other
products Of the country, and bringing down
meats and breadstuffs and animals for ship
ment to the tropical markets. Every city
on the banks of the river would become the
centre Of an important trade, and the many
advantages possessed by Memphis could
not fail to attract commerce and make our
city prosperous.