The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-29
Distractions at the Mouth OF the Mississippi.


The bar al the mouth OF the Mississippi, which form.
ery had seventeen feet water H. from some cause has
hed up, that there is but about fourteen feet 10 be
found The people Interested ia ibe trade oil ihe States
bordering the Mississippl and Ohio rivers and Their
tributaries ask OF Congress the necessary appropriations
10 restore II 10 lis former condition. and, II possible 10
improve SO as 10 meet the wants OF the larger class Of
vessels that being built
The exports of the valley OF the West already amount
10 ninety millions OF dollars, onehalt OF the entire
exports of the United States The foreign imports amount
10 thirteen Millions besides large amount received
coastwse, which is imported in the northern cities The
coastwse trade in domestic articles may fairly be stated
equal 10 the amount OF foreign EXPORTS which gives
total value OF two hundred millions OF property
crossing the bar at the mouth OF the Mississippi river.
II is weknown fact that the increase in the size OF
vessels that have been built 10 the last few Yeas has
caused great reduction IN the price OF freight and at
the time left the shpowner much profit as form
ey This improvement in ship building, BY reducing
freghts, has enabled the farmer OF the West in many
TO avail himself OF the advantage OF foreign mar
kes for his breadstus and provisions, which he was
formerly compelled TO forege because the high rate OF
freight left him less than rsmunerang price for his
produce. and he compelled either TO abandon pro-
duc,on or submit to the prices he could obtain at
home The great staples of cotton and tobacco also reap
great benefits BY this reduction OF freghts.
the bar is allowed TO remain IN lis present condition,
the smaller class OF vessels will be the only ones that
be used in the transportation Of produces and may
fairly be stated that they cannot afford to carry cotton for
less than veeghths OF penny sterling per pound, or
equal to So SO per bale With channel OF sufficient
depth TO allow vessels OF large class 10 cross the bar,
the carrying trade would be equally profitable a, three.
eighhs OF penny per pound, or about 80 so per bale
making difference in freight, OF cotton alone, OF ~ per
bale 400 900 bales he crop OF last year received at
New Ofeans) or W $780, 600 The other produce OF The
valley abou, equal in fregh bulk" the cotton crop,
and corresponding saving would be made III its trans
portaonnaking total difference OF five and half mil
lions OF dollars 10 the producers OF the western valley
without any injury 10 the carrying trade, and still furnish
the consumer at the price
The damage and injury that have arisen to vessels du
ring the present by detention the bar amounts
I'm, n J4ta n
$3.50 000 besides loss OF interest and injury TO cargoes
The detention OF the California mail-seamers, and
causing great loss OF moneyin one instance at least,
causing failure OF that very impo ant mail and has at
times subjected them to great sacrifices and their
passengers delays and annoyances, which, it long con-
iinued, would greatly reduce their receipts from that
source and perhaps justify their owners in abandoning
tina portion of the contract Surely the magnitude OF the
interests, the injury 10 commerce. and the very great ma
,ional character oil the work. demand that no obstacle
should be nterposed and no parsimonious spirit eXer-
cised 10 prevent such important work beng accom-
pshed All interests in the United States are involved.
The ship-owner OF the East the farmer OF The West,
the cotton grower of the South, demandhe pass
age for his ships, the others passage for their produce
It's importance in naval point OF view Is also very
great The nexhausiibe coal fields OF Pennsy vania,
Virginia. Kentucky Illinois, and Indiana, can supply our
navy with the best quality OF buminOus coal at from
81 so TO S. per board which is cheaper by 50 SO
per than the expense of coaling the Cunard steam
in New York with coal not as good Tor steam pnr-
poses and is within fraction OF the price that aWrdcte
is supplied the Atlantic seaboard both to naval and
merchant steamers. The immense product oil provisions
in the West, from which the world is fed, at least
furnish supply prices much less than other places
the difference in freight, which bulky articles, like
flour and pork, amounts to 10 or Is cent The steamers
of the Mississippi river with Their twenty thousand "hre.
and deck hands,, together with the coastwse and
foreign of New Orleans can certainly at any
time furnish supplies OF men, both sailors and remen
The foundrcs Of Pttsburg. Cincinnati, Louisville. St
Louis, and New Orleans always be relied on Tor any
quantity OF work that may be required above what might
be done by government works, which are bound 10 be
established at New Orleans in the event OF war, and
ought be prepared in time of peace And last but not
least, the deepening OF the bar is important that
squadron in the Gulf all times il for har-
Dor, and in the event OF have place from which
supplies Of any kind and any magnitude be convey
ed to II by inland Conveyance with all the rapidly OF our
internal means Of communication.
The pracucability OF the deepening OF the bar is be-
yond dispute the only question is the amount of costs
How far the appropriation of any Of money,
one million OF dollars, ought TO weigh in view of this
great national work, to be judged by the national egs
laure but thing is TO be considered in what is
times called economical measuresa small sum is thrown
away, while large one may be useful; and when great
works 10 be commenced and prosecuted with energy
especially when early results OF great value, i, is
very importan, that there should be lack of means
COMMERCE.