Year: 1872

Scarcity of Ocean Tonnage at New Ora


Geanso


From the St. Louis Democrat


1t is an undeniable fact that ocean ton
mage is now and for some time past has
been quite scarce at New Orleans, and un-
less some effective means for increasing it
be comparatively devised by our merchants
and the merchants of New Orleans, the
vast quantities of corn and spring wheat
now held by the farmers of the Mississippi
valley, and about the only products they
will have for sale this year, must largely
remain unmarketed, after the tenth of No
yenber, until the first of next May.


If some means can be adopted by which
the ocean tonnage of New Orleans can be
increased, so as to carry out of that port to
Liverpool, Havre, Barcelona. Glasgow,
Cork. New York Boston, etc, all the
grain the upper river cities can send down,
a very large grain trade will be done dur
ing the coming winter. 1t is stated that the
money market initiates against q large
grain business. 1t is true money is close,
but we have faith to believe that ample
means can be obtained for the transaction
of whatever trade IN grain may arise, be its
volume what it may.


The most important work to be done is
20 secure ample ocean tonnage from New
Orleans, as soon as possible, and there is
but one way to do this, namely, to drum
for it. Whatever is demanded in this world
must be asked for, and though it is morally
sure that in the course Of events New Or
leans might experience day, and may be
a whole season, when ocean bulk grain
tonnage will be greatly in excess of the de-
mand. yet such contingency is remote,
and 81 all events does not concern us now.


Now is the tide in the affairs of the great
through water route which leads on to for
tune if taken at the flood, and it is the busi-
ness of ST. Louis and New Orleans to re-
COgnize this fact, and not let the Opportu-
nifty p868 by unimprOved. The only way in
which tuis can be done effectively, it ap-
pears 20 US. Is by sending the proper kind
of q rys4utative from here to Liverpool,
We have heretofore named several gentle
men who would most thoroughly do the
work, and, without doubt, produce all the
needed tonnage. But they must be enabled
TO guarantee to Che English vessel master,
first. a cargo; next sufficient water on the
bar at the Balize.


The first guarantee will be made possible
by the vast quantities OF corn we can keep
constantly on hand in New Orleans, and
the second by the fact that Uncle Sam now
keeps two dredge boats at work on the bar
instead of one, and the channel is main
tanned az eighteen feet constantly. AS We
have several New Orleans merchants in the
city. some in business here and some on a
visiting tour. it may be well enough to sub
stantiato what we affirm respecting ocean
tonnage at New Orleans, by quotations
from New Orleans papers.


The Dsn,ocrat quotes from She REPUB4r-
cas- and Pcayune and adds:


Again we urge upon our merchants to
hold "a meeting, and see what can be done.
Do not let the grand opportunity slip now
presented Of permanently establishing the
success Of the great through grain move
ment. Corn is now on hand at fair prices,
and if there be movement at all in
the market it must be upward Nothing
can be lost. A wide margin now exists for
profit, with no symptoms of growing mar
rover. The Exchange here is ripe for the
movement, only requiring some representa-
tive man to call meeting There would
be hearty response to such a call, be as
sured, and though we do not look for one to
be made until after the election has passed,
we shall not desist from urging immediate
aCfInn.