The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-02

| York, the cause of its decline and the
means of its revival. After having heard
the several speeches made on the subjects
of rates to gulf ports and the trend of
| Kansas export trade, he was rather afraid
that instead Of New York regaining any of
the commerce Of Kansas and the sections
near by, New York would be likely to lose
more of IL. But, he said, if the matter of
cheap rates Of transportation should be the
controlling feature in a diversion TO gulf
ports. then let the gulf ports have it.
Cheap transportation, he said, is an ire
sistible commercial magnet, and it not
only helps commerce, but actually creates
it. Mr.. Smith stated he had listened with
deepest interest to what had been said
| by the two gentlemen from Louisiana, on
the needs of another outlet TO the gulf
by the way of Southwest Pass. He said
it would be a calamity if a ship should
happen to get across the channel in the
present only navigable pass from the gulf
to New Orleans and completely block COM
merce. In the course of his study of COM
mercial statistics he had been surprised
to learn, he said, that during the four
years preceding the civil war, the export
trade from New Orleans was greater than
that Of the port of New York. During
those four years the export trade of New
Orleans was 800, 900 greater in value
than that of the port of New York. But
the blockading Of New Orleans as a result
Of the civil war, and the diversion of it's
commerce to the other places has been so
serious that New Orleans had never been
able to regain the lead she once had, but
that New York and Boston were now
greatly superior to her in the matter Of
their export trade.
Congress provided at its last session,
continued Mr. Smith, for the creation Of
a new channel from the sea into the har-
Dor 40 feet in depth and 1000 feet in width
There would still be the Old channel in ex-
istence after the creation of the new one,
giving to the port of New York two chan
nels to the sea It was essential Mr.
Smith said. that New Orleans should have
two outlets 10 the sea, and if necessary,
for the cheapening Of transportation and
the accommodation Of commerce, three
outlets to the sea, rather than by any pcs
sfblitv permit of its commerce being
blockaded. What he said Of New Orleans
he desired also to say Of Galveston and
Houston ard Sabine Pass and all other
gulf ports. and all the other Atlantic ports
where there was a commerce requiring
greater depth in channels, because M was
sure that every dollar so expended would
inura 10 the benefit. not - much Of the
ship-owner. as to the benefit 81 the con-
sumner and producer. Mr.. Smith said that
it was a fact that the actual profits Of snip
owners were at best uncertain and always
meager; that from TO per cent vas the
average rate Of returns 20 ship-ownere
from their investments. Bur the reduction
in transportation rates which followed the
improvements OF harb8rs were benefits
that the producers ot articles and the con-
sumers Of them were the greatest oene-
fciaries And he concluded his remarks
by saying that the nearer the producer
could get to the consumer. that is % say,
the nors the cost OF transportation could
be eliminated. the nearer We would Dc 10
the millennium