The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-06-12
GOTHAM GRIP
LOOSENING
NO Longer Monopolizes the
Export Trade.
NEW ORLEANS ADVANCE
She and Galveston Becoming Chief
Exporting Centers.
WHY N. Y. is RETRoGRADING
Gulf Ports, 1t Is Believed, VIII Yet
Get All the Mississippi
Valley Business.

From The Journal Bureau. Room k6 Post
Building, WGShiR0tOn-
Washington, June 12.-The fact that New
York is gradually losing her hold upon the
export trade of this country is now a
matter of official knowledge in Washing
ton, as is the further fact that New Or
leans and Galveston are making rapid
strides forward as exporting .centers
Very recently in these dispatches refer
ence was made to several new lines of
steamships which are to ply between gulf
cities and European ports, and to the ef-
fort which is to be made by the owners
OF these lines, aided by the cities in ques-
ton, to divert the export trade of the
upper Mississippi valley, which now goes
largely via New York, to the southern
route. Since that article was published
some additional information bearing upon
the subject has been secured through gov
eminent sources. The treasury bureau of
statistics, in its latest bulletin, notes
the growing disposition of our exporters
to distribute through the ports south of
New York a part of the export trade which
During 1900 the bulletin says that New
Orleans has taken second rank as an ex-
porting port, displacing Boston, which for
many years occupied that place; and then
it adds:
The gulf ports increased their exporta-
tions materially during 1900, especially in
cotton, wheat and flour. Galveston increased
her exports over those of the year before
about $7.O0O.0OO, and New Orleans increased
hers about $2S,OOO,OOO.
For several years the business men of
New York have been noting a gradual
falling on in trade, and numerous devices
have been contrived to prevent it, but
without success. First, the railways were
importuned, and with some success, to
establish rates which would still further
emphasize their frtendliness for that city.
Next a series of excursions was under
taken, for the purpose of bringing to New
York the merchants from the principal
towns OF the eastern states. This idea
seemed at first to promise good results,
and the scope of the plan was so extended
as to reach as far west as Illinois and
Kentucky, merchants being either given
free transportation, or greatly reduced
rates, and some sort Of especial enter
tainment at the clubs while in New York.
But in spite Of all that could be done, the
decline in trade continued, until now it
is an admitted fact everywhere. The fol-
lowing paragraph from the bulletin of the
bureau Of statistics states this loss con-
cretly as follows:
study of the percentage which each of the
principal ports handled of the commerce of
the country in 1900 compared with preceding
years, develops somc interesting facts. Be
ginning with the port OF New York, it is
found that it handled only HOB per cent of
the foreign commerce of the country, against
SIS per cent in 1890, 51.4 per cent in 1896,
and 4S per cent in 1897. The loss is principal
ly in expectations, which in 1900 were but
1921 per cent Of the total expectations of the
country as against 41.3 per cent in 1894.
While New York has been steadily los
ing ground as an exporting center, Phila-
delphia has been stationary. For five
years last passed there has been no ma
terial increase or decrease in her foreign
trade. Baltimore, on the other hand, has
been increasing her foreign trade, as have
Newport News on the Atlantic coast and
New Orleans and Galveston on the gulf
coast
1t is claimed by men who have carefully
studied trade questions that the gulf ports
are eventually to take care of all of the
export business of the Mississippi valley
as far north as Minneapolis and st. Paul
and that the drainage canal out of Chi
cago will open up great region directly
tributary to that city and make 1t also
tributary
this connection comes the suggestion that
nothing of this kind can happen without
bringing about a sturdy revival Of steam
boating on the Mississippi, and that with
that revival will come the recrudescence
of the numerous small Mississippi river
cities In Illinois, Iowa and Missouri,
which started out so finely many years
ago. before the days of the railroads, but
have been on the decline ever since the
railroads came. Wonderful transforma-
tions of other kinds will also doubtless
come in the wake Of a movement from
New Orleans and Galveston much as was
described in a recent article in this col
umn The cities of the gulf seem to be
in earnest, and If they are, in a few years
there will be business for number of
new lines of ocean steamers in addition
to those which are to begin operations
this year.
movement to utilize the Mississippi
river in a large way as an outlet from
the heart of the continent to the gulf
for grain, -four, machinery and other
goods designed for the export trade, will
appeal very strongly to every manufactur
Ing city in the great valley, and to every
farmer. st. Louis, Chicago and the twin
cities will especially be interested.
few years ago, when agents from Calves
TON and New Orleans first visited the
north. talking up the gulf as the logical
ocean outlet for the Mississippi valley,
they were received with a mixture of in
credulity and good will, northern people
thinking the scheme as outlined possible
If realization, but hardly probable. They
we're friendly to it, however, and said
that they would gladly do anything they
could to help it along. And there the
public agitation ended for the time being
About the time of the Galveston food
matters were reaching a point where de-
velopments were expected but the flood
delayed them. During the last two years,
however, there has been a steadily grow
Ing line Of export business in New Or