Trade between the KFS and Texas

[robj3]

Matt, you wrote:

Long distance trade between Texas and KFS is likely to be based on luxury items.

What assumptions are you making about the transport network?

Given where the salt and phosphate/phosphorus are, there may be a substantial bulk trade. Both sides need these for industry and agriculture and they each control or have best access to one or the other.

Other luxuries?

Horse and cattle for breeding purposes (agricultural warfare opportunities?)

Fruit and vegetables from Texas (refrigerated transport available? seeds or cuttings for planting?)

[Matt W]

Originally Posted by robj3

Matt, you wrote:


What assumptions are you making about the transport network?

Given where the salt and phosphate/phosphorus are, there may be a substantial bulk trade. Both sides need these for industry and agriculture and they each control or have best access to one or the other.

Well, if it was bulk trade then it would almost all be via coastal/river shipping. There might be various types of shipping - from homemade flatboats and scows to self-propelled barges

[robj3]

Matt, you wrote:

Well, if it was bulk trade then it would almost all be via coastal/river shipping.

Agreed. What about the state of overland traffic between Texas and Vicksburg?
It's about 200 miles from the eastern border of Texas; portage along the Red
River may be a better bet. The Red meets the Mississippi about 50 miles NW
of Baton Rouge LA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Redrivermap1.jpg

This would make places like Denison TX or Shreveport LA important (we could move the Texas border east a bit to include Shreveport).

Coastwise shipping would make heaps of sense given the geography of Texas (navigable rivers in most of the Republic?), though it implies that New Orleans and Baton Rouge are probably back up and running...

[Matt W]

Some trivia about the Mississippi River: the US Army Corps of Engineers keeps it flowing below Simmesport. If it wasn't for them, most of the water would heve been diverted to the Atchafalya River Basin - returning New Orleans to its condition of salt-water bayous (Actually, I suppose that's not very trivial if you happen to live in Louisiana)

Long article here http://www.newyorker.com/archive/198...?currentPage=1

So.. I'm tempted to say that, yes, the Red River is essentail for KFS/Texas trade - but so are overland routes (there are possibilities in Arkansas)

[mikeo80]

IMHO, trade between these entities would be limited to a few items.

1) Raw materials needed for whatever industries exist in both areas.

2) Very high end consumer good heading to KFS.

Reasoning:

KFS and Texas both need raw materials as they continue to grow the military and the economy of both areas.

Texas, esp 1st Cav would not want to deal with the repressive KFS. But greed is still greed. Any high end consumer goods would be targeted toward the Rich Five and the higher ranking administrators.

Once KFS launches the conquest of surrounding areas, I think that Texas would cut all trade.

Depending on time line, IF Texas problem with Mexico is at low simmer, I could see 1st Cav deploy toward KFS. Not to attack, but to defend Texas. IF 1st Cav is rebuilding after latest attack from Mexico, KFS could take huge chunks of Texas. In this type of scenario, Texas is in DEEP do-do.

My two cents worth!

Mike

[robj3]

Matt, thanks for the article.

This isn't trivial information at all.
After 150 years without US ACE intervention, the flow down through the Mississippi might be negligible.

So.. I'm tempted to say that, yes, the Red River is essentail for KFS/Texas trade - but so are overland routes (there are possibilities in Arkansas)

Texarkana - Little Rock - Memphis?
Texarkana - Greenville?

Mikeo80,

2) Very high end consumer good heading to KFS.

Texan industrial base doesn't seem to be up to this, unless you're thinking about jewelry or similar (non-electronic or mechanical) luxury items.

From the 'Operation Lonestar' module, average standard of living is late 19th century, with some capacity associated with Texas A&M to maintain the Fort Hood relic weaponry and some radios.

IF 1st Cav is rebuilding after latest attack from Mexico, KFS could take huge chunks of Texas. In this type of scenario, Texas is in DEEP do-do.

Agreed; the KFS have more armor and artillery. Their (in)ability to maintain logistic support is going to limit a prolonged campaign in Texas (shades of Napoleon in Russia?)