The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-28

New Outlets Tor tho Mississippi River.
The following sensible reflections from the
New Orleans correspondent Of the Concor-
dia {Lao Inisuigencer, upon the subject Of
producing new outlets for the escape Of tie
waters ofthe Mississppiriver, we trust, VII
not be lost upon the members Of the next
Congress, and we hope, they will, with one
accord, unite and vote the necessary meas
ures to accomplish the desired object. Ma
tional Legislation viii be necessary to save
the city Of New Orleans and the rich delta
Of Louisiana from the distinctions of period
ical foundations, made more imminent by the
extension Of the levee system:
The necessiiy.of opening an outlet for the surplus
waters OF me Mississippi, somewhere In the vicinity
Of New Orleans is now obvious. Without some
such relief We shall be exposed TO these casualties
every year. perhaps In more aggravated form, from
Inc rapid extension upward of The levee system, and
The annual obstruction of the natural outlets Of the
river Tim able engineers detailed, years ago, by
ne war Department, to make reconnois'anes Of
the Miasissippi, predicted this calamity for Lower
Louisana, and Its frequent recurrence, and they
urgently recommended series of operations at the
mouths Of the river, and on the Atchafaaya, La
fourche, and other bayous to enable them 10 dis
charge greater volume Of water The measures
proposed, would have added materially to the value
OF lands in those extensive districts, besides reclaim
ing vast tracts Of the public domain from periodical
inundation. But their report has never been acted
on. Its republication would now be- matter of
general interest You will find II In Senate Docu-
nents I'd Sess 10th Cong, Vol. Il, Doc. l02. There
Is no subject that so much demands the attention Of
the representation from Louisiana, especially Of the
member from this istrct, and he should press II on
the next Congress with ali the force Of talent learn
Ing eloquence, and zeal, 10 as to obtain immediate
forget for season the strife Of par,es and devote
their united enereies to the reclamation Of this rich
delta from periodical overflow. Besides the con.
atruction Of eyees running dlagonaly from the river
New Orleans, suggested by the city surveyors, sew
eral other local plans arc now mooted. BY referring
to map you will perceive that on the west side q
the river, from point few miles above Carrolton,
be dfcnl, to conduct the surplus waters Of the Mis-
aissippi 10 Barrataria Bay. This, believe il The
plan Of my friend, Charles Diamond Esq, Minor
kenner, Esq, a large planter OF Jefferson, ana. a
of an outlet by WY of Lake Foncharrain. He
would pursue the old bed of tho Metarie bayou,
which originally broke out from the isslssippi nj
the site Of the crevasso on Mr. Sauyes plant
alton, carrying its waters into the bayou ST. John,
and thence into the lake The traces of this old
outlet are still distinctly marked. 1t drains the
swamp TO considerable extent and from Its source
70 the rear Of the city, Is not more than six miles
The Ridge along this bayou is remarkable tract oil
land, from two to six hundred yards in width eleya-
ted above the highest water Of generous SOIL shaded
| by grand magnoas and lofty oaks. Ifthe city could
acquire tho right Of way for this outlet, with the
ownership of the Metarie Ridge the sale Of lots on
that tract would reimburse all the expenditure, and
! nett an enormous profit. Villas, cottages and
palaces would spring up as If by magic. II would
! make the most magnificent suburban promenade In
the world. What effect this projet would have upon
the lake, or how lis intersection with the new canal
would BIO managed, is for the engineers determine
| Again. suppose we made cut from some point beioit
the city taking southeasterly direction 10 Black
4 Bay projection Of the large sheet of water lying
between the Northeast Pass Of the Mississippi and
/ Lake Borgue. Look at map, and you will COM
| prehend me. This would open a moro direct COM
munication with the Gulf than we enjoy at present,
! and in deep water. II often happens that vessels
| bound In, in ugly weather. when they cannot make
the Balize into this bay, under the shelter OF the
Chandelier Islands, where after thirty years Of obvi-
Gus necessity Governmenthas just erected light
house. As far back as 1882, MIR, b. Busson, sci
cntifc gentleman Of this city, constructed chart OF
the coast oil Louisiana, and the Legislature Of this
I State, acting upon his demonstrations, applied to
/ Congress 10 open new outlet for the Mississippi
starting the left bank Of the river few miles be-
low Fort st. Philip, and entering the four miles
south of Breton Island, (which would afford easy
and safe 10 the river to vessels drawing twenty
| feet.n The Hon. III. A. Billiard was then the Rep
! rcsentalive from this State, but know not what
notion, beyond irs reference taken on this mo
mcrial. Thorcare numerous private canals, on both
banks of the river in the parish Of Plaquemne, now
used by fishermen, which might be conveniently
\ cnlnrned jA s,5{kH6