New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-31
THE GULF PORTS.
FORECASTS OF COMMERCIAL SUPREMACY.

FORECASTS OF COMMERCIAL SUPREMACY.
..o0,rr.s pEcADENcE AND REv1vA1~REMARK-
.e,p PROSPERITY AND IMPENDING DIS
,srERs OF NEw-oRLEANs- CALVES
TONS GROWING IMPORTANCE.
,,nox A STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE rRBUSE.l
Many years ago one of the most progressive and
..sacious Southerners, Commodore Maury pre-
,'s..a that the Gulf of Mexico would be the focus
:. tho future commerce Of the world. The Civil
- o.. ,,tervened to retard the fulfment Of this
,.-.,ost The impoverishment OF the cotton belt.
~ ~. nor,lvsis of the Industrial energies Of the
r'.,,h and the revolution wrought in the condi-
.,.rs Of labor were accompanied by temporary
...,,ra If the fortunes Of the three Gulf cities,
ss,hue New-Orleans and Galveston AS ports
.,,h rich traffic in cotton. sugar rice and other
s,,.,ropical staples. they suffered from the de-
-,osn,ent OF the commercial and economic sys-
,o, Of the Southern States and lost their pres
.'uu and influence. The effects Of the war were
,,ost destructive to those cities because their
.r,snerity had depended upon the vast crops
.or, 20 them for shipment. With the shrnkage
=, trade there was lack Of employment for the
commercial and working classes and material
as,line in population. The restoration of their
,,runes has been one Of the results OF the d.
,srsiAcation Of the industries OF the new South.
Mobile was stagnant and unprogressive for
many years after the war. 1t had been a rich cot
,on port with an extensive river trade and light
srase business. Its fortunes languished during
The transition period, when Southern planters
we're adapting themselves to new conditions Of
labor and gradually accommodating financial re-
sources; and even when the volume of cotton pro-
duotion increased. trade diverted from 1t by
extensions Of railways and by the consequent de-
cline Of liver transportation. Low water at the
outer bar was an insuperable obstacle to the,re-
viyal of the commercial prestige Of the city. The
incubation continued TO shrink there was no
hustle Of commercial activity in the Streets and
a city highly favored by Nature. and apparently
destined to be the outlet for the rich deposits
OF Alabama and Tennessee. the produce Of the
central section Of the cotton belt and the finest
timber resources Of the Continent. remained in
its fallen state. shabby, helpless and neglected.
with the melancholy air OF town that had
seen better days which would never come again.
The proongation Of this transition period was
partly attributable to the conservatism OF the
people. In proportion 10 population there was
more wealth in Mobile than in other Southern
cities but men OF means shrank from investing
money in local enterprises. They lacked courage
and faith In the resources OF the city. They were
convinced that the commercial prestige OF Mobile
could never be regained. and that the safest
course for them to pursue was to put their money
into State bonds or good railway securities and to
live on their incomes without attempting to stim-
ulate the business interests Of the city.
But the time came at last when even the most
conservative men began to open their eyes to the
future prospects Of Mobile and to its unrivalled
advantages OF position as Gulf port. The tide
which had been running steadily against the city
turned about ten years ago. and there is now
complete change in the currents OF local enter
prise. Two great railways have converted 1t into
a terminal point for Western grain as well as
Southern cotton. coal and iron; and third one Is
which will open one OF the richest Sec
tons OF Mississippi for its benefit While was
in the city ship drawing twenty-three feet went
down the channel from the wharves and crossed
the bar without accident or delay. That achieve
ment marked the fulflment Of the hopes OF the
engineers who had been promising to convert MO-
bile into one of the best ports Of the Gulf through
the removal OF Instructions at the mouth OF the
bay and the deepening OF a channel which was to
be lighted by electricity all the way TO the
wharves Without these harbor improvements
there would be no future of industrial develop
with the wharfage facilities now enjoyed. there
are the strongest reasons for believing that It
will again become prosperous commercial
centre There are signs Of hustle and activity in
the streets the business quarter has been largely
rebuilt during the last decade and there are I'M
erring indications Of hopefulness and buoyant
confidence among business men.
The casual midwinter visitor is not at first
impressed with these evidences Of industrial
progress He Is preoccup!ed with the picturesque
beauty of an old Southern town and with the
luxury Of existence in bamy. sem-tropical
climate that is so evenly tempered by sea breezes
as not to be enervating at any season OF the
year. No loveer drives can be had in the South
than those along the shell roads of the bay and
among the outlying farms and gardens Of Mo-
bile. The streets are broad and shaded with fine
oaks and magnolias; stately, old-tme residences
look down at every turn with conscious pride
upon newer and more ambitious villas; every
dooryard is frightened with flowers, and wide
reaches Of the sandy plateau surrounding the
city are under successful cultivation in the heart
Of m.dwnter; and varied landscapes OF enchant-
ing beauty are illumined by rich msts Of soft
mellow sunlight. Mobile is a lovely town. with
unrlvaIled facilities for comfortable and luxu-
rious existence and 1t is not strange that its resi-
dents were content for many years to take life
quietly. to be content with what they had. and
not 70 harass themselves with the risks and
vicissitudes Of industrial enterprise. But they
are now wide awake and fully alive to sense
Of their responsibilities for the restoration OF the
cty's commercial fortunes.
For when they look at The map they find Mo-
bile at the mouth Of one Of the largest river
systems In the United States with 1000 miles Of
navigable water. which can be made tributary
TO cotton, coal iron and lumber. With St Louis
as a centre. they can describe circle producing
81 per cent Of the exports Of the country. every
acre Of which is nearer TO their city than TO
any other port; and with Birmingham as sec
0nd Ms ..onu