Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-09
GOOD In AN ILL WIND.
New OrIeanS' First Great Fire
brought Prosperity TO
the City.

From the New Orleans Picayune.
The efforts of the Spanish provincial au-
thorities in Louisiana were directed toward
the securing for Spain. If possible, all aG-
vantages which might have been derived 10y
permitting trade TO be carried ON between
New Orleans and foreign ports Ihus' III
consequence of the restrictive regulations
of the Spaniards. the trade of New Orleans
for twelve years after the permanent oc-
cupation of New Orleans by the Spaniards
was confined to six Spanish ports-Seville'
Alicante. Malaga, Barcelona, Cartagehd
and Corunna. But this trade was iallufe
for two good reasons; first, the spanish
ports could not easily supply the Loulsi-
anians with the goods that were most
needed by the colony, ana second. Inr,s .ns.
was no remunerative demand at these ports
for the chief product of Louisiana, Which'
UP to about 1879 when the crops ne
gan to fail. was indigo. In lI1S-2. however
extensive trading privileges were granted,
by which New Orleans merchants were per,
mitted to trade with ports of France, ana
also. in case of urgent need, with the
French islands in the West lndies-Hayti,
Martinique. etc. This gave New Orleans It's
first impetus, and in 1882. custom mouse
was built In the town, which then mad a
population of about 900. in order to facili-
tate the transaction OF office business con-
sequent on the increase of trade.
The first efforts of Americans 10 trade
with New Orleans. whether from the West
or from the North We're something III the
line of illegal operations although the
Spanish authorities of New Orleans per-
mitted the goods brought from Philadelphia
TO be sold in the town in consideration. per-
haps. of some small share in the profits
These things having come to the knowledge
of the Spanish minister, that official sought
by hints TO induce the Philadelphia and
New York merchants who shipped goods
TO New Orleans to consign their ships and
goods to his friends in the city. with the
view of reaping advantage in his turn from
the smuggling trade thai thus had sprung
up But the American merchants not tax
ing the hint thrown out. the minister sent
Instructions to the Spanish intendant in
New Orleans TO enforce the revenue laws
strictly. to confiscate all ships and mer-
chandise belonging to da!inquentS and ar
rest and imprison all owners. captains and
crews OF ships guilty of infringement of the
| laws. He 40 worked upon the fears of the
| intsndant that that individual complied
with his instructions TO the letter. TO the
| Gimay of all concerned in the Illegal trade.
\ While the arrested people We're still Ian
| gushing in prison and We're undergoing
prosecution for their offenses an incident
| occurred which afforded the Spanish minis
| ter an opportunity to recede from the posi-
| ton of interference which he had ass5um-
ed. and which had made him very unpopu-
\ Lar. The incident was this: on Good Friday
| of the year mentioned fire broke out in
the private chapel of the house of Il Span
| lard living on Chartres street, in New Or
leans. From this beginning resulted the
great fire of 1883 by which. owing to q
strong wind that was blowing. New Or
| leans was laid in ashes, fully 800 houses
| having been consumed. leaving the old Ur-
| sulineS convent on Chartres then Condep
| street standing amid wilderness of ruin.
| When this grave calamity occurred the
| Spanish minister ordered the arrested per
| sons to be released from prison, the prose
| cutiOns to cease and the contiscated prop
| erty TO be returned to The owners. More
| over. he ceased all interference in the trade
| between the two cities. which aftsrward
| fiourished more vigorously than ever. Thus
| was ii that the wind which brought so
much disaster and trouble to New Orleans.
| in its course brought also compensation
| and prosperity on its fiery wings.