The "Fame" from Pittsburg, arrived in Cincinnati, in 1827 with a cargo, part of which consisted of 102 pieces of cannon, and and about 80 tons of grape shot, for the United States Navy. Her deck was entirely filled with empty hogsheads and casks, belonging to a house in Pittsburg, sent to New Orleans to be filled with a return cargo of Molasses, as it was found to be much cheaper to have the casks made at Pittsburg and pay their freight to New Orleans, than to purchase them at the latter place.[471] In 1828, 5504 bales of Kentucky cotton bagging, 15,526 coils of bale rope, and 4,918,494 lbs. of lard, were received in New Orleans, as against 2,308 bales, 1 0,459 coils, and 2,426,299 lbs. of the preceding year.[472] New Orleans had drawn away considerable of the trade of the western country with Philadelphia and Baltimore. Basil Hall says, "There are projects afloat, however, for restoring this lost balance to Philadelphia and Baltimore, and of regaining some portion of the profits derived from supplying the western country with goods, and of drawing off its produce.... If the mouth of the Mississippi could be damned up, or the harbor of New York demolished, there might be some chance for the resuscitation of the intermediate seaports."[473] Grain, salted meats, spirits, tobacco, hemp, skins, and the fruits of the regions bordering on the Missouri, Ohio, and Mississippi were sent to New Orleans;[474] return cargoes of manufactured goods from foreign countries, together with fish, salt, sugar, steel, iron, and other articles were sent back by steamboat.[475] Slaves were sent from Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky to the southern states bordering on the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Basil Hall says, "During certain seasons of the year, I am informed, all the roads, steamboats, and packets are crowded with negroes on their way to the great slave markets of the South."[476] During the year 1828, 4100 hogsheads of sugar, and 3500 barrels or bags of coffee were received at Louisville, worth together about $600,000. In 1825-1826, 2050 hogsheads of tobacco were deposited at Louisville; 4354 in 1826-1827; and 4075 in 1827-1828. Freight was so reduced by competition, that sugar, coffee, tea, and groceries in general, had only a small advance over their prices in New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Good sugar of the new crop sold in Louisville at 7¼ to 7½ cents per pound, by the single barrel.[477]