The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-09-02
NEW ORLEANSANDs THE NATIONAL
ADMINISTRATIVE

congressman EStOpllidls LII "a
and the other members Of the LOU
isiana delegation at Washington
backed up by the vigorous protests
of the commercial organizations OF
the southern metropolis, there seems
small hope at this time for arrest
ing the policy of the navy depart
ment to dismantle and abolish the
New Orleans navy yard. On the heels
of this misfortune comes an order
from the postoffice departent TO
curtail the city's mail facilities.
Verify, it looks as if there were
a well-settled conspiracy to prevent
if possible the Development Of a
commercial metropolis on the Gulf
of Mexico.
# is well-knoWn that the city of
New York has ever looked with
Jealous eye on the growth Of ports
to the south Of her. The flnancl-
rs ef Now York, controlling the
trunk line railroads, ever desire more
freight for their lines, though at
times these lines are unable to handle
the business they have. Thelr poilcy
is to get the freight, make the peo-
pie pay for it, and deliver it when
they please.
The fight for New Orleans is an
uphill and hard one, and he Woulc
be a fool who failed to recognize the
fact. That the whole territory from
the Alleghanies to the Rockies and
from Canada to the Gulf is inter
ested and involved, ought to be too
plain to need statement. The re
establishment of the Mississippi river
as a commerce carrier is now but a
question Of a short time. New Or
leans is the port which will furnish
the competition to keep down and
make stable at a reasonable rate the
freights in and out from all this ter
ritory.
The port must have all the modern
facilities for building up and hano
ling it's business-the business OF ali
the millions who live in the great
valley Of the Mississippi. 1t must
have its mail facilities increased
not cut down. 1t must have over
sea mail routes established and
maintained, and much OF the maj
now going through New York ought
to go through New Orleans. There
is no real business reason for the
discrimination, The facilities FOL
handling passengers and baggage
ought to be improved
The railroad companies are tc
blame for not providing proper fac7i
tiles for handling baggage in bond
OF through checks. AS these com
panies are all managed from New
York, this too naay.lbe q part ct IDS
general conspiracy against building
up business for other ports.
Some Of the difficulties, as tbs
abolition of the mint, the attempted
destruction OF the navy yard, the cur
tailment Of mail facilities, seem t.
bring the matter into the realm O
national politics. The fight ough
not to ''e political. Every man from
Virginia to Utah and from Mime
sofa IT, Texas is personally interested
because the PRICE of everything b
buys or sells is affected by the re
suit The people of this territor.
| ought with one accord and withou
regard to political affiliation to max
up their minds and let it be wei
understood that NO man OF any part
Or political creed can get their al
for either nomination Or election t.
any federal office who will nc
lpledse himself beforehand to give t
New 0Fiaans, as the entrepot an
outlet of the Mississippi valley, an
pie facilities in time Vt 4eaee an
impregnable defense in time Of wa
not as local matter, but as on
4 inextfieab!y tied up with the we
| fare and prosperity Of all the mhaS
lt2ntS of at least twenty sta tGS.