New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-05-06
Navigation at the Mouth of the Mississippi

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warmth, in the advocacy of projected inter.
nal improvements, such as railroads. We are
not certain but that, in their railroad enthu-
siasm, they forget interests more immediate and
practical. We are quite certain that matters
Of the utmost Importance to New Orleans, as a
commercial point, are silently passed over
We have, for some time, had under considera-
ton subject. which has been singularly neg
ected by the citizens of New Orleans, our repre-
sentatives in Congress, and the Congressional
members from Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio,
Kentucky, Indiana, Western Penn ylvania, Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee. We refer to the i'm
provement of the mouth of our sreat national
river, the outlet of the immense, world reaching
trade of the valley of the Mississippi This is a
matter which Immediately concerrs us as a COM
nercal point, and seriously aft cts the entire
commerce of the Mississippi Valley.
That commerce is so vast that it is unneces-
sary for us to enter into partic liars to prove
rs Importance. 1t embraces tn trade of an
immense surface of territory, su plying many
sections and many of the most Important COM
tnercial interests of the globe. Its cotton is
consumed by the mills of France. England, Ger
many and America Its bread luifs feed the
citizens of Spain, Ireland, Eng nd, etc. 1t is
IL trade Of many millions--a vast addition to
The worlds commerce. 1t is mere national in
Its wants, its interests, its rights md its impor-
lance than any one of the thoutnd expensive
national OUTLAWS upon the Allan &c ocean.
Let us look at some facts in til connection
The other day we had this t legraphic des-
patch in our columns:
SOUTHWEST Pass, April . O'Clock p NJ
To the Towboat Association There at present six
ships the bar bound out ship brig the
bur bound ill., besides several ships ns the bar bound
out waiting water, and the tide very l@ to-day.
Thirteen ships bound out, al, unable, from
the condition of the bar, owing low WATER to
get out What their freight s in value
how much they lost in unnecess expenses, it
would be impossible to say. A noderate esti-
mate, made by practical, intel ent and we'll
advised gentleman, places the To- Of ship thus
detained, some time since, at 81 000--it lost a
years business by six weeks of etention, and
he estimate may be reasonably t down as far
under the real amount of proba loss What
encouragement is this for the oN rs or master
to return to our trader Yester we had the
item in the city journa3s:
by telegraphic dispatch received Jerday by ]. r.
jennings Esq, learn that the steal lip Georgia still
romained outside the bar at O'Clock owing to the
low stage of water.
The Georgia is a steamship in line which is
Of vast importance to New Orleans Her deten-
ION ut the bar must have cost he several hun
dred dollars. Rather poor enc fragment for
the trade in which she is an agent Such
things are severe taxation-not 10 say an alb
solute prohibition. upon trade wit this point.
Let us connect with these ST. tements some
osher facts The towboats from the mouth con-
a'st of the following:
r In the &c Good Intent Lines" Mary Kings
lind, ]. P. Whitney, Conqueror, Phoenix, Per-
SIAN, Porpoise, DeSoto, Mississippi
In the Star Lines" Anglo-Saxon, Anglo
American, Anglo Norman, Defiance
In the &c Ocean Line: Ocean, Hercules,
star, Panther
In " Murphy's Line:" Yankee, Louisville.
The above lines are associated together, for
the convenience of the shipping The most pow
erful boats are kept at the bar drag the ships
OF deepest draught in and out. The average
depth of water on the bar during the last three
months has not been over 49, to 10 feet. For
the past and present years the shipping has
bcen of larger size, say from 16l to 20 feet
draught. 1t is now quite common for ships to
lie on the bar from four to six weeks, and it is a
daily occurrence for the Association to hitch on