Primary tabs

411

ART. II. — Commerce and Resources of Louisiana.

THIS state, the southernmost of the southern United States, was explored in 1632, by La Salle, and named Louisiana, in honor of Louis XIV. It is bounded north by Arkansas and Mississippi; east by Mississippi, from which it is separated by Mississippi river, to the 31st degree of north latitude; thence east in that parallel, to Pearl river, and down that river to its entrance in the Gulf of Mexico; southeast and south by the Gulf of Mexico, and west by Texas, from which it is separated by Sabine river, to the 32d degree of north latitude; and thence due north to 33 degrees north latitude, where it meets the south boundary of Arkansas. It is between 29 and 33 deg. north latitude, and between 88 deg. 40 min¨ and 94 deg. 25 min¨ west longitude, and is 250 miles long, from north to south. On the Gulf of Mexico, it is about 300 miles broad, and continues this width for 120 or 130 miles inland, when it suddenly contracts to the width of about 100 miles; and on the north boundary, it is 180 miles wide.

The state is divided into thirty-eight parishes, answering to counties in the other states; which, according to the official census of 1840, were as follows: —

eastern district.   western district.  
Parishes. Pop. Parishes. Pop.
Ascension 6,951 Avoyelles 6,616
Assumption 7,141 Caddo 5,282
Baton Rouge, E. 8,138 Calcassieu 2,057
Baton Rouge, W. 4,638 Caldwell 2,017
Carroll 4,237 Catahaula 4,955
Concordia 9,414 Claiborne 6,185
Feliciana, East 11,893 Lafayette 7,841
Feliciana, West 10,910 Natchitoches 14,350
Iberville 8,495 Rapidcs 14,132
Jefferson 10,470 St. Laudry 15,233
Lafourche Interior 7,303 St. Martin's 8,674
Livingston 2,315 St. Mary's 8,950
Madison 5,142 Union 1,838
Orleans 102,193 Washita 4,640
Plaquemines 5,060    
Point Coupee 7,898    
St. Bernard 3,237    
St. Charles 4,700    
St. Helena 3,525    
St. James 8,548    
St. John Baptist 5,776    
St. Tammany 4.598    
Terre Bonne 4,410    
Washington 2,649 Total 102,770
Total 249,641 Total of state 352,411

412

The population in 1810, was 76,556; in 1820, 153,407; in 1830, 215,575; and in 1840 it had increased, as will be seen by the preceding table, to 352,411; of whom 162,452 were slaves. Of the free popula. tion, in 1840, 89,744 were white males, and 68,710 white females; 11,526 colored males, 13,976 colored females.

The employments of the population, in 1840, are thus classified by the census, viz: — In agriculture, 79,289; in commerce, 8,549; in manufactures and trades, 7,565; in navigating the ocean, 1,322; in navigating canals, lakes, and rivers, 662; and in the learned professions, 1,018.

In 1699, a French settlement was begun at Ibberville, by M. Ibberville; who, in the attempt to plant the country, lost his life. His efforts were followed up by M. Crozat, a man of wealth, who held the exclusive trade of the country for a number of years. About the year 1717, he transferred his interest to a chartered company, at the head of which was the celebrated John Law, whose national bank, and Mississippi speculation, involved the ruin of half the French nobility. In 1731, the company resigned the concern to the crown; who, in 1782, ceded the whole of Louisiana to Spain. In 1800, Spain re-conveyed the province to the French, of whom it was purchased by the United States, in 1803, for about $15,000,000. This purchase included all the present territory of the United States, west of the Mississippi. Soon after the purchase, the present state of Louisiana was separated from the rest of the territory, under the namo of the territory of Orleans. In 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the Union as a state, and the part of West Florida west of Pearl river was annexed to it. In December, 1814, and for several days afterwards, the British made an attack upon New Orleans; but were repulsed, January 8th, 1815, by the Americans, under General Jackson, with the loss of about 3,000 men killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. The American loss is stated to have been only seven men killed, and six wounded. General Packenham, the British commander, was killed.

In 1764, British vessels began to visit the Mississippi. They would sail past the city, make fast to a tree opposite the present city of Lafayette, and trade with the citizens. The exports during the last year of its subjection to France, were $250,000; and the population of the city was 8,190. The commerce suffered by the restrictions of the Spanish. In 1785, the population of the city, exclusive of the settlements in the vicinity, was 4,980. A more liberal course of the Spanish government revived the trade of New Orleans; and French, British, and American vessels, began to visit New Orleans. In 1788, a fire consumed 900 houses. In 1791, the first company of French comedians arrived from Cape Francois, having fled from the massacre at St. Domingo. Other emigrants opened academies, the education of youth having been previously in the hands of priests and nuns. In 1792, Baron Carondelet arrived. He divided the city into four wards, and recommended lighting it, and employing watchmen. The revenue of the city did not amount to $7,000, and the lighting it required a tax of $1 12 1-2 cents on every chimney. He erected new fortifications, and had the militia trained. In 1794, the first newspaper was published in Louisiana. In 1795, permission was granted by the king to the citizens of the United States to deposit their merchandise at New Orleans, during a period often years. In 1796, the canal Carondelet was completed. On March 21st, 1801, Louisiana was ceded by Spain to the French republic; and on April 30th, 1803, Bonaparte,

413

as first consul, sold it to the United States for about $15,000,000, and it was taken possession of on the 30th of November. The population of (he city did not then exceed 8,056, and of the province hut 49,473; 42,000 of whom were within the present bounds of Louisiana. The duties of the custom-house, the year preceding the cession, amounted to §117,515; which would have been greater, but for the corruption of the officers. The Roman Catholic religion was the only one publicly allowed. The revenues of the city, in 1802, were $19,278. There entered the Mississippi, this year, 256 vessels; of which 18 were public armed vessels; of American, 48 ships, 63 brigs, 50 schooners, and 9 sloops; of Spanish, 14 ships, 17 brigs, 4 polacres, 64 schooners, and 1 sloop; of French, 1 brig. In 1804, New Orleans was made a port of entry and delivery, and the bayou St. John a port of delivery. A city charter was granted New Orleans in 1805. January 10th, 1812, the first steamboat arrived at the city, from Pittsburgh; having descended in 259 hours.

The whole southern border of the state, from Pearl river to the Sabine, consists either of sea-marsh or vast prairies, which occupy about one-fifth of the surface of the state; and on the borders of the streams are timbered lands. The tract about the mouths of the Mississippi, for 30 miles, is one continued swamp, destitute of trees, and covered with a species of coarse reed, lour or five feet high. The prospect of the country, from the mast of a ship, is an extended and dreary waste. Along the whole border of the Gulf of Mexico, a sea-marsh extends inland, for 20 or 30 miles. Back of this, the land gradually rises a little, and constitutes the prairies. A large extent of country is annually overflowed by the Mississippi, and its outlets. From lat. 32 deg. to 31 deg., the average width of overflowed land is 20 miles; from lat. 31 deg. to the efflux of La Fourche, the width is about 40 miles. All the country below the La Fourche, with little exception, is overflowed. By a survey made by order of the government of the United States, in 1828, it was found that the river overflowed an extent of 5,000,000 of acres, a great proportion of which is at present unfit for cultivation. A part of this is covered by a heavy growth of timber, and an almost impenetrable growth of cane, and other shrubbery. This becomes dry on the retiring of the river to its natural channels, and has a soil of great fertility, and which might, by labor, be rendered fit for cultivation. There are, in some parts, basins or depressions, in which the water remains until it is evaporated, or absorbed by the earth. These, by draining, might constitute rice-fields. The sea-marsh is partially overflowed by the tides, and especially when driven in by the equinoxial gales. In the alluvial territory, are small bodies of prairie lands, slightly elevated, without timber, and of great fertility. More extended prairies constitute a large portion of the state. The pine woods, which are extensive, have generally a rolling surface, and a poor soil. The greater part of the prairies has a second rate soil; but some parts of those of Opelousas, and particularly of Attakapas, have great fertility, and feed extensive herds of cattle. More earth is deposited by the Mississippi in its overflow on its immedate margin, than further back; and therefore the land is higher adjoining the river, than in the rear of its banks. This alluvial margin, of a breadth from 400 yards to one and a half miles, is a rich soil; and, to prevent the river from inundating the valuable tract in the rear, and which could not be drained, an artificial embankment is raised on the margin of the river, called the Levee. On the east side of

414

the river, this embankment commences 60 miles above Now Orleans, and extends down the river more than 120 miles. On the west shore, it commences at Point Coupee, 172 miles above New Orleans. Along this portion of the river, its sides present many beautiful and finely cultivated plantations, and a continued succession of pleasant residences. The country between the Mississippi, Ibberville, and Pearl rivers, in its southern parts, is generally level, and highly productive in cotton, sugar, rice Indian corn, and indigo. The northern part has an undulating surface, and has a heavy natural growth of white, rod, and yellow oak, hickory black walnut, sassafras, magnolia, and poplar. In the northwest part, Red river, after entering the state by a single channel, and flowing about 30 miles, spreads out into a great number of channels, forming many lakes, islands, and swamps, over a space of 50 miles long, and 6 broad. Here the fallen timber, floated down by the stream, has collected, and formed the celebrated raft, which formerly extended 160 miles, obstructing the navigation of the river. Most of it has been removed by order of the general government, and the remainder will, ere long, be cleared away, opening this fine river to an extensive steamboat navigation. The bottoms on this river are from one to ten miles wide, and are of great fertility, with a natural growth of willow, cotton-wood, honey-locust, papaw, and buckeye. On the rich uplands grow elm, ash, hickory, mulberry, black walnut, with a profusion of grape-vines. On the less fertile and sandy uplands of the state, are white pitch and yellow pines, and various kinds of oak. The lower courses of lied river have been denominated the paradise of cotton-planters.

The staple productions of this state are cotton, sugar, and rice. Sugar, cane grows chiefly on the shores of the gulf, and the bayous Teche, La Fourche, and Plaquemine, and in some parts of Attakapas, south of 31 degrees north latitude. No cultivation yields a richer harvest, though the labor of the hands is severe. There is a vast amount of sugar lands not brought into cultivation. The quantity of land adapted to sugar has been computed at 250,000 acres; of rice, at 250,000 acres; and,of cotton, at 2,400,000. Rice is principally confined to the banks of the Mississippi, where irrigation is easy.

There were in this state, in 1840, 98,888 horses and mules, 381,248 neat cattle, 98,072 sheep, 323,220 swine; poultry was raised to the value of $283,559. There were produced 60 bushels of wheat, 1,812 of rye, 5,952,912 of Indian corn, 107,353 of oats, 834,341 of potatoes, 119,824 pounds of tobacco, 3,604,534 of rice, 152,555,368 of cotton, 119,947,720 of sugar, 24,651 tons of hay, 49,283 pounds of wool, 1,012 of wax. The products of the dairy were valued at $153,069; of the orchard, at $11,769; of lumber, at $66,106. There were made 2,884 gallons of wine, and 2,233 barrels of tar, pitch, or turpentine.

The climate is mild, though the winters are more severe than in the same latitude on the Atlantic coast. The summers in the wet and marshy parts are unhealthy, and New Orleans has been frequently visited by the yellow fever. But a considerable portion of the state is healthy.

The Mississippi river divides the state from Mississippi for a course of 450 miles, and enters the state wholly, 350 miles from its mouth, by the course of the channel of the river, and divides into several branches or outlets; which, diverging from the main river, wind their way slowly to the Gulf of Mexico, carrying off its surplus waters in times of flood, and dividing the southern part of the state into a number of large islands.

415

The Atchafalaya, called here the Chaffalio, leaves the Mississippi on the westside, a little below the mouth of Red river, and is supposed to carry off as much water as Red river brings in; and, inclining to the E. of S., it enters Atchafalaya bay, in the Gulf of Mexico. The outlet Plaquemine leaves the Mississippi 128 miles below the outlet of Atchafalaya, with which the main stream at length unites. Thirty-one miles below the Plaquemine, and 81 above New Orleans, is the outlet of La Fourche, which communicates with the Gulf of Mexico. Below the La Fourche, numerous other smaller streams leave the Mississippi, at various points. On the east side of the Mississippi, the principal outlet from that river is the Ibberville, which passes to the Gulf of Mexico through lakes Maurepas, Pontchartrain, and Borgne. This outlet on the east, and Atchafalaya on the west, bound what is denominated the Delta of the Mississippi. The Mississippi is navigable for vessels of any size, though the bar at its mouth has on it but 16 or 17 feet of water. Red river crosses the state in a southeasterly direction, and enters the Mississippi 240 miles above New Orleans. Washita river runs in a southerly direction, and enters Red river a little above its entrance into the Mississippi. The other rivers are Black, Tensaw, Sabine, Calcasieu, Mermentau, Vermillion, Teche, Pearl, Amite, and Ibberville. The largest lakes are Pontchartrain, Maurepas, Borgne, Chetimaches, Mermentau, Calcasieu, and Sabine.

The vast trade of the valley of the Mississippi centres at New Orleans — a valley which, for its extent and fertility, has not its like in the world. The exports of this state amounted, in 1840, to $34,236,936; but these exports extensively belong to the groat and fertile states of the great valley. Its imports were $10,873,190.

The following table, exhibiting the value of the exports and imports of Louisiana, we have compiled with care, from the reports of the secretary of the treasury, on commerce and navigation. It shows the progress of the commerce of Louisiana, from October 1st, 1820, to the present time.

Years, Imports. Exports. Years. Imports. Exports.
1821, $3,379,717 $7,272,172 1833, $9,590.505 $18,941,373
1822, 3,817,233 7,978,645 1834, 13,781,809 26,557,524
1893, 1,25, 770 7,779,072 1835, 17,519,841 36,270,823
1824, 4,539,769 7,928.820 1836, 15,117,649 37,179,828
1825, 4,290,034 12,582,924 1837, 14,020,012 35,338,697
1826, 4,167,521 10,234.380 1838, 9,496,808 31,502,248
1827, 4,531,645 11,728,997 1839, 12,044,943 33,181,167
1828, 6,217,881 11,947,400 1840, 10,673,190 34,236,936
1829, 6,857,209 12,386,060 1841, 10.256,350 34.387,483
1830, 7,599 083 15,488,692 1842, 8,033,590 28,404,149
1831, 9,766,693 16,761,989 1843, 8,170,015 26,653,924
1832, 8,871,653 16,530,930      

In 1840, there were 24 commercial, and 381 commission houses in Louisiana, engaged in foreign trade, with a capital of $16,770,000; 2,465 Retail stores, with a capital of $14,301,024; 597 persons in the lumber trade, with a capital of 260,045; 3 persons employed in internal transportation, with 291 butchers, packers, &c., employing a capital of $144,523.

416

The exports of New Orleans consist chiefly of cotton, tobacco, sugar molasses, flour, pork, bacon, lard, beef, lead, whiskey, corn, &c. The following table shows the quantity of cotton exported from New Orleans to the different ports in the United States and Europe; for the last five years, commencing on the 1st of September, 1839, and ending on the 31st of August in each year: —

 
COTTON — BALES.
Whither exported. 1843-44. 1842-43. 1841-42. 1840-41. 1839-40.
Liverpool 488,817 624,681 393,990 396,010 459,943
London 518 61 38 304 113
Glasgow and Grsenock, 21,265 35,831 15,574 20,415 26,603
Cowes, Falmouth, &c. 14,893 15.939 10,740 9,188 13,560
Cork, Belfast, &c. 2,182 2,936 1,108 4,393 4,549
Havre 107,973 159,658 161,103 157,277 206,311
Bordeaux 1,418 2,881 2,247 2,807 6,581
Marseilles 7,462 9,982 16,992 21,933 21,989
Nantz, Cette, & Rouen, 3,127 8,374 2,930 1,914 5,609
Amsterdam 1,360 2,593 584   3,688
Rotterdam and Ghent 512 2,173 2,907   709
Bremen 2,770 13,303 6,369 1,706 1,084
Antwerp, &c. 8,499 17,693 5,209 2,264 7,377
Hamburg 3,156 13,604 5,678 2,983 6,846
Gottenburg 402 114 286 2,793 2,994
Spain and Gibraltar, —   401 78 561 1,508
West Indies 33,151 21,177 12,818 19,002 30,594
Genoa, Trieste, &c. 19,704 17,662 10,610 16,801 25,652
China   4,303      
Other foreign ports 1,208 1,342 174 90 1,044
New York 82,814 48,036 31,215 55,930 46,354
Boston 72,400 73,891 54,062 81,025 54,042
Providence, R. I. 211 674 1,910 3,132 1,811
Philadelphia 6,919 3,253 2,84S 5,721 6,195
Baltimore 4,698 3,278 1,703 4,832 3,045
Portsmouth 4,136   2,658 9,025 5,099
Other coastwise ports 3,230 3,000 3,716 581 6,020
Western States 2,500 2,000 1,722    
Total 895,375 1,088,870 749,267 821,288 949,320

The quantity of cotton exported as above, during the five years, (from 1839 to 1844,) was distributed as follows: —

 
COTTON — BALES.
Whither exported. 1843-44. 1842-43. 1841-42. 1840-41. 1839-40.
Great Britain 597,675 679,438 421,450 430,310 504,768
France 119.980 189,875 132,272 183,931 240,490
North of Europe 17,907 50,832 21,207 9,836 23,742
S. of Europe, and China, 52,855 43,543 23,506 36,364 57,754
Coastwise 176,958 134,133 99,832 160,847 122,596 —
Total 895,375 1,038,870 749,267 821,288 949,320

The exports of tobacco, during the same years, (1839 to 1844,) were as follows: — (See next page.)

417

 
TOBACCO — HHDS.
Whither exported. 1843-44 1842-43. 1841-42. 1840-41. 1839-40.
Liverpool 8,808 6,788 6,930 5,252 3,827
London 8,291 9,851 7,212 8,732 4,320
Glasgow and Greenock,          
Cowes, Falmouth, &c. 5,424 10,798 6,827. 6,681 992
Cork, Belfast, &c.          
Havre 4,846 4.648 4,037 4,224 3,655
Bordeaux 1,156 2,332 1,004 814 1,107
Marseille's 5,102 4,665 1,933 1,774 1,844
Nantz, Celte, & Rouen,          
Amsterdam 3,775 2,700 1,133   ......
Rotterdam and Ghent 917 2,933 1,882    
Bremen 9602 7,888 8,997 4,012 2,464
Antwerp, &c. 2,178 5,657 3,690 1,219 l,090
Hamburg 2,303 1,477 3,401 1,064 1,465
Gottenburg 734 963 946 1,559 745
Spain and Gibraltar 10,681 4,496 7,204 4,142 3,843
West Indies 1,601 1,063 981 1,020 1,013
Genoa, Trieste, &c. 1,556 1,760 550 2 44
China         ......
Other foreign ports 1,177 217 516 687 343
New York 6,960 10,533 7,090 7,466 8,132
Boston 2,585 3,650 2,351 3,109 2,888
Providence, R. I.,          
Philadelphia 1,286 2,845 936 2,126 1,963
Baltimore 1,167 2,433 208 517 219
Portsmouth          
Other coastwise ports 1,100 2,194 225 287 482
Western States          
Total 81,249 89,891 68,058 54,667 40,436

The exports of tobacco, as above, were distributed as follows: —

 
TOBACCO — HHDS.
Whither exported. 1843-44. 1842-43. 1841-43. 1840-41. 1839-40.
Great Britain 22,523 27,437 20,969 20,SG5 9,139
France 11,104 11,645 6,974 6,812 6,606
North of Europe 20,175 21,618 20,252 8,040 6,005
S. of Europe, and China, 14,349 7,536 9,053 5,645 5,002
Coastwise 13,098 21,655 10,810 13,505 13,684
Total 81,249 89,891 68,058 54,667 40,436

The following table shows the comparative arrivals, exports, and stocks of cotton and tobacco, at New Orleans, for ten years, from 1st of September to 31st of August, in each year: —

 
COTTON — BALES.
TOBACCO — HHDS.
Years. Arrivals. Exports. Stocks. Arrivals. Exports. stocks.
1813-44 910,854 895,375 12,934 82,435 81,249 4,859
1642-43 1,089,642 1,088,870 4,700 92,509 89,890 4,873
1841-42 740,155 749,267 4,428 67,555 68,058 2,255
1840-41 822,870 821,228 14,490 53,170 54,667 2,758
1839-40 954,445 949,320 17,867 43,827 40,436 4,409
1838-39 578,514 579,179 10,308 28,153 30,780 1,294
1837-38 742,720 738,313 9,570 37,588 35,555 3,834
1836-37 605,813 588,969 20,678 28,501 35,821 3,857
1835-36 495,442 490,495 4,586 50,555 43,028 10,456
1834-35 530,172 536,991 3,649 35,059 33,801 1,821

The exports of sugar, in each of the five years, (from 1839 to 1844,) were —

 
1843-44.
1842-43.
1841-42
Whither exported. Hhds. Bbls. Hhds. Bbls. Hhds. Bbls.
New York 11,422 217 31,549   13,620 405
Philadelphia 8,478 697 14,474 708 4,170 438
Charleston, S. C. 1,502   1,090 100 614 2
Savannah 483   240   313  
Providence and Bristol, R. I.            
Boston 217   2,814   212 58
Baltimore 5,492 42 8,660 663 6,504 288
Norfolk 562   610 28 364  
Richmond and Petersburg, Va. 1,590 1 2,337   1,419 56
Alexandria, D. C. 280   592   539  
Mobile 3,257 17 3,011 375 759 102
Apalachicola and Pensacola 1,070 548 565 306 517 548
Other ports   22 102 100 303 335
Total 34,395 1,544 66,044 2,380 29,334 2,232

418

Exports of Sugar — Continued.
 
1840-41.
1839-40.
Whither exported. Hhds. Bbls. Hhds. Bbls.
New York 18,759 822 18,556 598
Philadelphia 6,726 431 8,622 134
Charleston, S. C. 1,716 1 1,513 88
Savannah 357 39 722  
Providence and Bristol, R. I.   3 20 12
Boston 422 114 951 327
Baltimore 7,588 48 8,403 942
Norfolk 664 48 819 553
Richmond and Petersburgh, Va. 1,520 64 1,923 179
Alexandria, D. C. 374 2 372  
Mobile 1,530 445 2,214 315
Apalachicola and Pensacola 566 782 947 1,567
Other ports 304 1,293 234 1,880
Total 40,526 4,092 45,296 6,595

The exports of molasses, in each of the five years, (from 1839 to 1844,) were —

 
1843-44.
1842-43.
1841-42.
Whither exported. Hhds. Bbls. Hhds. Bbls. Hhds. Bbls.
New York 1,882 15,744 7,285 28,030 6,377 23,525
Philadelphia 354 4,214 1,288 9,091 882 2,169
Charleston, S. C.   5,467 63 3,986 270 3,311
Savannah   1,254   1,640   886
Providence and Bristol, R.. I. 475 55 576 103 345 347
Boston   1,001 976 4,809 411 3,208
Baltimore 586 5,231 1,162 8,450 826 11,842
Norfolk   2,039   947   1,242
Richmond and Petersburg, Va.   1,581 216 2,316 11 2,843
Alexandria, D. C.   350   575 182 934
Mobile   2,836   313   4,190
Apalachicola and Pensacola   2,440   2,260   1,290
Other ports 112 750 800 1,369   1,378
Total 3,409 42,962 12,366 66,901 9,314 57,165

EXPORTS OF MOLASSES — Continued.
 
1840-41.
1839-40.
Whither exported. Hhds. Bbls. Hhds. Bbls.
New York 5,496 17,081 3,511 15,105
Philadelphia 1,002 4,694 962 3,078
Charleston, S. C. 550 5,216   2,309

419

EXPORTS OF MOLASSES — Continued.
 
1840-41.
1839-40.
Whither exported. Hhds. Bbls. Hhds. Bbls.
Savannah   1,008 117 1,309
Providence and Bristol, R.. I. 208 103 99 251
Boston 496 2,756 811 4,451
Baltimore 1,582 7,275 1,267 5,850
Norfolk 350 539 50 971
Richmond and Petersburg, Va. 91 716 89 1,694
Alexandria, D. C. 85 153   98
Mobile   4,778 38 3,867
Apalachicola and Pensacola   1,124 51 1,710
Other ports 1,424 2,661 1,942 1,704
Total 11,284 48,104 8,937 42,397

We give, below, the exports of flour, pork, bacon, lard, beef, lead, and corn, for the two last years. This table includes the exports to Mobile, via the Pontchartrain railroad; but the vessels reported in the clearances as having provisions and merchandise, are not included.

exports of flour, fork, bacon, lard, beef, lead, whiskey, and corn, fok two years, from 1st september to 31st august.
 
1843-44.
Destination. Flour. Pork. Bacon. Lard. Beef. Lead. Whiskey Corn.
  Ebls. Bbls. Hhds. Kegs. Bbls. Pigs. Bbls. Sacks.
New York 48,323 219,756 5,104 324,776 9,112 264,834 2,216 44,367
Boston 63,653 109,410 1,742 216,773 5,871 111,614 138 27,536
Philadelphia   13,702 1,718 30,493 1,042 53,901 730  
Baltimore   11,939 1,217 25,831 383 12,561 631  
Charleston 1,305 2,255 3,986 8,924 637   4,332 2,775
Other coastwise p'ts, 48,718 9,229 10,424 13,327 2,640 2,455 33,536 60,278
Cuba 29,314 397 504 100,764 509     15,809
Other foreign ports, 108,679 26,491 157 151,382 15,192 154,955   53,516
Total 300,082 393,179 24,852 872,270 35,386 600,320 42,127 204,281

 
1842-43.
Destination. Flour. Pork. Bacon. Lard. Beef. Lead. Whiskey Corn.
  Bbls. Bbls. Hhds. Kegs. Bbls. Pigs. Bbls, Sacks.
New York 101,336 69.275 6,669 203,057 1,140 225,077 5,402 160,707
Boston 81,955 60,278 1,359 115,475 561 112,670 216 166,599
Philadelphia 3,540 4,794 1,363 8,953   55,954 534 2,873
Baltimore 67 6,881 1,343 12,630   12,765 2,573  
Charleston 1,494 137 2,906 3,441 30   2,613 20,507
Other coastwise p'ts, 40,717 6,974 6,678 6,705 638   20,663 128,266
Cuba 26,747 550 255 88,607 150 510   50
Other foreign ports, 82,916 10,885 2,810 298,861 1,905 135,556 135 193,314
Total 338,772 159,774 23,383 737,729 4,424 542,172 32,136 672,316

The arrival of ships, barks, brigs, schooners, and steamboats, at New Orleans, for five years, from September 1st, to 31st of October, has been as follows: —

Years. Ships. Barks. Brigs. Schrs. Total. Steam b'ts.
1839-40, 560 177 435 682 1,846 1,937
1840-41, 595 191 335 532 1,643 2,181
1841-42, 599 198 279 327 1,403 2,133
1842 43, 579 283 532 524 2,018 2,324
1843-44, 665 256 376 389 1,686 2,570

The following table shows the receipts of the principal articles of produce

420

from the interior, into New Orleans, during the year ending 3lst August, 1844, with their estimated average, and total value: —

Articles. Amount. Average. Value
Apples, bbls. 43,969 $2. 00 $87,938
Bacon, assorted, hhds. and casks 19,563 25 00 479,075
Bacon, assorted, boxes 556 14 00 7,784
Bacon hams, hhds¨ and tcs. 19,070 30 00 572,100
Bacon, in bulk, Ibs. 1,203,821 3 36,114
Bagging, pieces 100,216 10 1,002,160
Bale rope, coils 83,684 6 00 502,104
Beans, bbls. 7,619 3 50 26,666
Butter, kegs and firkins 18,831 4 00 75,324
Butter, bbls. 500 12 00 6,000
Beeswax, bbls. 1,909 40 00 76,360
Beeswax, Ibs. 510 27 135
Beef, bbls. 49,363 4 50 222,133
Beef, hhds. 480 33 00 15,840
Beef, dried, Ibs. 55,610 6 3,336
Buffalo robes, packs 4,901 40 00 217,800
Cotton, bales 910,854 32 00 29,147,328
Corn meal, bbls. 3,769 3 00 11,307
Corn, in ear, 165,354 50 82,677
Corn, shelled, sacks 360,052 90 324,468
Cheese, casks 12,583 12 00 150,996
Candles, boxes 3,913 3 00 10,239
Cider, bbls. 1,419 3 50 4,961
Coal, western, 227,788 45 102,492
Dried apples and peaches, 2,001 2 50 5,002
Feathers, bags 4,568 15 00 67,860
Flaxseed, tcs. 4,273 7 50 32,047
Flour, bbls. 502,507 4 00 2,018,028
Furs, hhds., bundles, and boxes     800,000
Hemp, bundles 33,062 11 00 418,682
Hides, 76,490 1 25 95,512
Hay, 35,132 2 00 70,264
Iron, pig, tons 100 25 00 2,500
Lard, hhds. 212 45 00 9,540
Lard, bbls. 119,717 11 00 1,316,887
Lard, kegs 373,341 2 25 840,017
Leather, bundles 1,785 18 00 32,130
Lime, western, bbls. 3,767 1 00 3,767
Lead, pigs 639,269 2 15 1,374,428
Lend, bnr, kegs and boxes 851 12 00 10,212
Molasses, (estimated crop, gallons 5,000,000 20 00 1,000,000
Oats, bbls. 130,432 75 97,824
Onions, 6,443 2 00 12,886
Oil, liiifced, 2,260 30 00 67,800
Oil, castor, 2,757 32 00 88,224
Oil, lard, 2,647 20 00 52,940
Peach brandy, 49 13 00 637
Potatoes, 56,587 2 00 113,174
Pork, 412,928 6 50 2,684,032
Pork, hhds. 8,800 20 00 176,005
Pork, in bulk, Ibs. 7,792,000 3 1/8 243,720
Porter and sle, bbls. 604 5 00 3,020
Packing yarn, reels 1,164 4 00 4,656
Skins, deer, packs 1,939 25 00 48,475
Skins, bear, 69 15 00 1,035
Shor, kegs 4,714 13 00 61,262

421

Articles. Amount. Average. Value.
Soap, boxes 7,399 $3 00 $22,197
Staves, No. 1,362,000 25 00 3,405,000
Sugar, (estimated crop,) rmds. 140,316 60 00 8,418,960
Spanish mops, bales 2,347 6 00 14,622
Tallow, bbls. 7,323 13 50 98,310
Tobacco, leaf, hhds. 70,435 40 00 2,817,400
Tobacco, strips, 12,000 100 00 1,200,000
Tobacco, chewing, kegs and boxes 7,695 12 00 92,540
Tobacco, bales 4,771 2 50 11,927
Twine, bundles and boxes 2,099 5 00 10,495
Vinegar, bbls. 318 2 50 795
Whiskey, 86,947 7 50 652,102
Window glass, boxes 2,066 4 00 8,264
Wheat, bbls. and sacks 86,014 2 25 193,531
Other various articles, estimated at     4,000,000
Total value,     $65,863,866
Total in 1842 43,     53,728,054
Total in 1841 42,     45,716,045

The manufactures of Louisiana are less considerable. Home-made, or family manufactures, amounted to $65,190; two cotton factories, with 706 spindles, employed 23 persons, producing articles to the amount of $18,900, with a capital of $22,000; six furnaces produced 1,400 tons of cast iron, and two forges produced 1,366 tons of bar iron, employing 145 persons, and a capital of $357,000; 25 tanneries employed 88 persons, and a capital of $132,025; seven other manufactories of leather, as saddleries, &c., produced articles to the amount of $108,500, with a capital of $89,550; one pottery employed 18 persons, producing articles to the amount of Si,000, with a capital of $3,000; five sugar refineries produced to the amount of $770,000; 101 persons produced confectionary to the amount of $20,000; machinery was produced to the amount of $5,000, and hardware and cutlery to the amount of $30,000; 51 persons produced carriages and wagons to the amount of $23,350, employing a capital of $15,780; mills of various kinds produced articles to the amount of $706,785, employing 972 persons, and a capital of $1,870,795; vessels were built to the amount of $80,500; 129 persons manufactured furniture to the amount of $2,300, with a capital of $576,050; five distilleries produced 285,520 gallons, and one brewery 2,400 gallons, employing 27 persons, and a capital of $110,000; 75 persons manufactured 2,202,200 pounds of soap, 3,500,030 pounds of tallow candles, and 4,000 pounds of wax or spermaceti candles, with a capital of $115,500; 248 brick or stone houses, and 619 wooden houses, were built by 1,484 persons, and cost $2,736,944; 35 printing-offices, five binderies, 11 daily, 21 weekly, and two semi-weekly newspapers, and three periodicals, employed 392 persons, and a capital of $193,700. The total amount of capital employed in manufactures, was $6,430,699.

At the commencement of 1840, the state had 16 banks, with 31 branches, with an aggregate capital of $41,736,768, and a circulation of $4,345,533. In 1842, the state debt amounted to $20,820,889. The public debt consists almost entirely of state bonds, issued to the different banks, which bonds have been sold in Europe; and the proceeds constitute the capitals of the banks, which are loaned to the stockholders on mortgages of their landed property. These mortgages are estimated to be worth $25,400,000.

Several works of internal improvement have been undertaken.

422

Pontchartrain railroad extends from New Orleans four and a half miles, to Lake Pontchartrain, and cost originally $200,000; and, with its improvements, $500,000. West Feliciana railroad extends from St. Francisville, on Mississippi river, twenty miles, to Woodville, Miss. Orleans-street railroad, through Orleans-street, is one and a half miles long, and connects New Orleans with the bayou St. Johns, and cost $12,000. New Orleans and Carrolton railroad extends from New Orleans six and a half miles, to Carrolton, passing through Lafayette. It has city branches, making its whole length eleven and a half miles. Various other railroads and canals have been projected, and some work has been done upon them, but they are at present suspended.

New Orleans, the commercial capital of the state, is situated on the left bank of the Mississippi; which, by a singular bend, causes the city to be on its N. W. side, facing the S. E. The city is built on an inclined plane, descending gently from the river towards the swamp in the rear; so that, when the Mississippi is full, the streets are three or four feet below the surface of the river. To prevent inundation, an artificial embankment, called the Levee, has been raised at a great expense, extending from Fort Plaquemine, 43 miles below the city, to 120 miles above it, which is 15 feet wide, and 4 feet high. Directly in front of the city, it affords a very pleasant walk. The position of New Orleans, as a vast commercial emporium, is unrivalled; for the Mississippi, with its numerous tributaries, brings to it for a market the products of 20,000 miles of navigation, and the immense resources of the great valley are yet but partially developed. The city proper is in the form of a parallelogram, running along the river 1,320 yards, and extending back 700 yards. This portion of the city is traversed by 22 streets, forming 84 principal, and 14 minor squares. The whole extent of the city, including its incorporated fauxbourgs, is not less than five miles parallel with the river, and it extends perpendicularly to it, from a quarter to three-quarters of a mile; and to the bayou St. John, two miles. The houses are principally of brick, except some of the ancient and dilapidated dwellings in the heart of the city, and some new ones in the outskirts. The modern buildings, particularly in the upper parts of the city, or Second Municipality, are generally three and four stories high, with elegant and substantial granite fronts. Many of the houses in the outer parts are surrounded with gardens, and ornamented with orange-trees. The view of the city from the river, in ascending or descending, is beautiful; and on entering it, the stranger finds it difficult to believe that he has arrived at an American city. This remark applies especially to the central and lower parts, where the older buildings are ancient, and of foreign construction; where the manners, customs, and language, are so various; the population being very nearly equally made up of Americans, French, Creoles, and Spaniards, with a mixture of almost every nation on the globe. During the business season, extending from the first of November until July, the Levee, in its whole extent, is crowded with vessels of all sizes, from all quarters of the world; with hundreds of large and splendid steamboats, and numerous barges and flat-boats, &c. Nothing can present a more busy, bustling scene, than the levee at this time; the loading and unloading of vessels and steamboats, with 1,500 drays transporting tobacco, cotton, sugar, and the various and immense produce of the far west. In 1836, the legislature passed an act

423

dividing the city into three municipalities, ranking them, according to their population. The first includes the city proper, extending, with that width, from the river back to Lake Pontchartrain, and occupying the centre; the second adjoining it above, and the third below, both extending from the river to the lake. Each municipality has a distinct council for the management of its internal affairs, which do not encroach on the general government.

New Orleans is often familiarly called the Crescent city, from its form; for, though the streets are straight, those which follow the river have two turns at large angles, giving it something of this form. The river, opposite to the city, is half a mile wide, and from 100 to 160 feet deep, and it preserves the same width to near its entrance into the Gulf of Mexico. On the bar at its mouth it has a depth of from 13 1-2 to 16 feet of water, with a soft muddy bottom. Large and powerful steam tow-boats, some of which will tow six large vessels, are constantly employed, to facilitate the passage of vessels to and from the gulf. A canal, four and a half miles long, leads from a basin within the city to Lake Pontchartrain, through the bayou St. John. Through this canal, the trade of the country bordering on Lake Pontchartrain and Borgne, and all the coast of the north part of the Gulf of Mexico, as far as Florida, comes to the city, and a considerable fleet of sloops is often seen in the basin. A railroad, also, four and a half miles long, connects the city with Lake Pontchartrain, which will probably supersede the use of the canal. A harbor is formed in the lake, at the termination of the railroad, and a considerable village is there springing up. The facilities for trade are great, and well improved. The exports, including the foreign and coasting trade, are not less than $40,000,000, which are greater than those of any other city in the United States; but its imports are vastly less. Much of the western country, which exports its produce by the way of New Orleans, imports its goods from New York. In 1842, 740,267 bales of cotton were exported to foreign ports, and coastwise. New Orleans is growing rapidly, but will never probably equal New York; though it is very likely to become the second city in the Union. The licensed and enrolled tonnage, in 1840, was 126,613. Its unhealthiness is against it, though this has often been exaggerated; and the same is true of its morals. It is said to be an orderly and peaceable city, and its inhabitants are distinguished for their politeness, hospitality, and kindness to the distressed.

According to the census of 1840, there were 8 commercial, and 375 commission houses in foreign trade, with a capital of $16,490,000; 1,881 retail stores, with a capital of $11,018,225; 32 lumber-yards, with a capital of $67,800; 6 furnaces, with a capital of $355,000; hardware was manufactured to the amount of $30,000; one cotton factory, with 700 spindles, employed a capital of $20,000; tobacco manufactures employed a capital of $60,000; 1 tannery had a capital of $50,000; 2 distilleries employed a capital of $56,000; 3 sugar refineries produced to the amount of $700,000; 3 steam saw-mills had a capital of $175,000; 18 printing. offices, 5 binderies, 9 daily, 6 weekly, and 2 semi-weekly newspapers, employed a capital of $162,200; 201 brick or stone houses, and 210 wooden houses, were built, at a cost of $2,234,300. The total capital employed in manufactures was $1,774,200. There were 2 colleges, with 105 students; 10 academies, with 440 students; 25 schools, with 975 scholars.

nts

Notes.

1. For nine months, ending 30th of June, 1843.

2. The New Orleans Commercial Intelligencer, and Merchants' Transcript, issued their customary annual statement of the commerce of New Orleans on the 1st of September, 1844. From that statement, which is prepared with great care, and general accuracy, we derive most of the tabular statements in this article.

3. In the Merchants Magazine, Vol. V., 1841, page 475 to 478, we gave a similar table for each of the ten years, from 1832 to 1841; and in Vol. VII., page 391, a similar statement for 1842. In Vol. IX., page 569, also a similar statement for 1842-43.

4. Harper's edition of M'Culloch.

Share