Trade between the KFS and Texas

[Matt W]

I'm thinking that Vicksburg would be the nexus for trade between Texas and the KFS. Goods from the KFS go down the river to Vicksburg. Goods from Texas (cattle?) go along Interstate 20 to Vicksburg

Question is.. what would the KFS trade? Would it just be gold? Or would there be some special "Texas Grade" exports? If so, what would they be?

[nuke11]

I would say Oil and Cattle from Texas and coal? timber? and industrial based goods from the KFS like processed cotton, steel, portland cement that sort of thing?.

Information and knowledge could also be of value to Texas.
Food would also go both ways.

Not sure if Gold really would be of use, maybe as a trade item to Mexico?

[robj3]

Matt W wrote:

Question is.. what would the KFS trade?

Tobacco, hemp/cannabis, bourbon.
Other pharmaceuticals (from coal tar or oil feedstocks).
Limited amounts of machinery and other advanced items, in keeping with the 'Trade Rifle' concept.
Horses, or horse semen for breeding purposes.
Education (cultural outreach for KFS + intelligence purposes)

In terms of bilateral trade, there are some problems.

Texas is a major coal producer (5th largest in 2000, Kentucky 3d), so no coal to Texas.

Kentucky/Tennessee are major cattle producers today, so cattle may not be all that tradeable.

Texas and Tennessee are major cotton producers today, so cotton is in a similar boat.

Texas -> KFS:
citrus, melons (luxury trade?)
peanuts and pecans
vegetables?
oil
wool (Texas major sheep state today)
Pre-TEOTWAWKI items (machinery, electronics, plans for same)

[robj3]

After doing a bit of a rummage around at the U.S. Geological Survey, I've found that there are no salt deposits in the Kentucky-Tennessee region (bounded by the Ohio river to the north and west, the Tennessee river to the south and west and the Appalachians to the east as per Bullets and Bluegrass).

Salt and seafood from Texas to the KFS looks like a good idea.

There are zinc, cadmium and phosphate deposits in the KFS which Texas lacks.
Given the potential strategic importance of phosphate it may not be available for export, though.

Another agricultural option in either direction might be tea - ISTR tea plantations in the Carolinas, so climate should be OK. Coffee from Mexico and the Caribbean. Sugar from Cuba and Mexico.

Out of left field - pearls are cultured along the Mississippi and in Texas. Maybe the pearl trade is running after a fashion.

[Matt W]

hmm... instead of a "Silk Road", maybe it's a "Coffee Road"?

Long distance trade between Texas and KFS is likely to be based on luxury items. Texas could sell imported coffee (from the Caribbean) and perhaps other vices like cocaine. It would receive Kentucky bourbon in return. There may also be a market for various exotic furs

Other luxuries? Well, at the risk of descending to stereotype, let's not forget entertainment. Country & Western music artists and NASCAR drivers could be making trips to perform for fans in both states. And - if not appearing in person - their recordings could be physically transported.

[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?)