New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-05-11
~ For Shsriff's, Constable's, and Public Auc-
tioneers Sales, see Third Page.
The Wants Of Neworleans.

The Wants of Neworleans.
The public mind is now directed in such chan
!. nels as to invite few remarks upon subjects Of
great Importance to our city. We should de-
sienate them as the wants of New Orleans
things necessary and useful in the future pro.
gross Of our city.
The meeting, held at the American Theatre
on last Saturday night, took action in reference
to the deepening Of the Mouth of the Mississippi
and the location Of Navy Yard and Naval Depot
at this point Several gentlemen, Messrs. Camp
bell, Hunton and Benjamin, were lucid and CON
vincing in urging the Importance and just claims
5 Of these subjects. Mr.. Benjamin was remarkably
clear, forcible and happy in his remarks. We
were glad to see him urge SO strongly as q reas-
enable preliminary to all other projects, the
deepening and improving of the Mouth of the
Mississippi. We have so urged this project. 1t
is Immediately practicable, which, in COMPARE
son, others are not. 1t will be immensely pro-
ftable, and at once, to our city. Our commerce
will promptly realize its beneficial influence, be
lghtened Of large portion Of its imposts and
drawbacks, and be able to offer larger facilities
and additional inducements to trade When
we see it formally advertised that freight can
and will be taken from Louisville and Cincinnati
70 New York at rates vastly against us; when
we know, too, that thereis certainty of prompt
and regular expectation by that route, which,
owing to the bar OF the mouth of our river,
there is not with us, it is full time that we were
up and doing If we permit the water on the
bar to continue at its present insufficient depth,
il we remain under the costly necessity Of en-
ploying five or six towboats to drag vessels over
that bar, how can we expect even to maintain
our commerce in its present condition? The
deepening Of the bar, by regular and practical
means, is the first great want Of NewOrleans as
commercial point.
1t is, LAS Mr.. Benjamin remarkably of but
little use to invite commerce to this point, or to
complain Of its decline, unless we make reason
able and manly efforts, just and earnest claims,
to secure safe, certain and economical egress
to the ocean. Vessels cannot afford to Lie upon
the bar for six weeks, and even three months,
with valuable, seasonable, or perishable articles
on board. It is a ruinous thing for CONNER
cial house to receive its goods or shipments only
when they are unseasonable-and how many of
orr merchants can speak feelingly on this point
& A Navy Yard, and Naval Depot connected
Herewith, are justly due to our city, and will
be Invaluable for the protection of the Gull
trade. What that trade is, has been abundant
~ set forth in the New Orleans press, and was
excellently summed up by Mr. Benjamin 1t is.
an immense trade of millions-and all this floats
in the Gulf Of Mexico, upon its way to Europe
In case Of war, what is to protect it' Not the
Navy Yard at Pensacola it is small, has no
back country, and must obtain all its supplies,
iron, provisions, etc, from distant northern
points upon the Atlantic. or more naturally
from this city. 1t is a seaboard, or rather Gulf
point, and therefore, peculiarly liable to attack
and to the destruction of its works. A NAVY
Yard and Depot in the immediate vicinity Of
this city would be near the sea, and yet not
easy Of approach to any enemy In the direct
line Of the great trade Of the Mississippi Valley
convenient to the vast granaries and exhaust
less mines Of the West, it would have innumera
BILE facilities to make it efficient. Ships and
boats are locked and made here every day, at
all seasons, and mere theories cannot affect the
fact of practicability. On the future of the
Cult trade we have gathered a mass of facts,
which show deductions, which we will shortly
make public in our columns. In the meantime,
we think Naval Yard and Depot another OF
the wants Of New Orleans.
We think it always better for good cause to
state facts and avoid exaggeration, even at the
risk Of misapprehension. Therefore, we will
say that, after the deepening of the Mouth and !
the keeping of it regularly at sufficient depth |
Of water, we look upon railroads and Free |
Banking as the next greatest wants of NewOr- |
leans. 4
Every day some portion of a commerce, here |
Eofore regularly, unfailingly and apparently |
necessarily tributary to NewOrleans, is flowing
away into channels which lead to Atlantic
ports-railroads and canals leading to Phila-
telphia, Boston, NewYork, Charleston, etc.
u we do not construct similar works, if VIZ
stand all the day idle,' if our facilities con-
inue as rude, limited and primitive in their ma
ure, our impoyerishment will be accelerated, ii
he decree Of our final decline be not decisivcly
made. Ice, low water, snags, bars, fogs, etc.,
n the Mississippi and its tributaries, offer i'm
'ediments in the way of rapid communication
nth NewOrleans, which would be more than
emoved by railroads. Here is another and
most important want of NewOrleans one of the
easons why marketing costs SO much as tel
make its expense equal to comfortable salaries
nd earnings further north. This necessarily
nigh rate with no extra fare) of living has its
INJURIOUS influence, by augmenting the rate OF
ther things /
We need Free Banking We need it, because 7
'ur circulating medium is manifestly INSULT
'ient' or there is nothing like logic in CONNER
nal transactions. The best of paper is now
1pon our streets at to l ! per cent per month";
only good paper ranging shade or two higher; !,
Ind now, we read in the NewYork papers, and =
earn from the best informed sources, TINT. 80 i,
'asy is money there, merchants are trying to n
'uy in their paper in advance of its maturity ft
This must look queerly to Orleanians; for. W
When was such ever the case with us Which !,
4 our wealthiest firms could OF would buy in h
heir paper tomorrow Why this different tt
tate Of things Does not stand to reason, it ex
SITS, because, in proportion to the trade done
SewYork has superiority of circulation ms Il,
lgainst credits and debts, and we superauitv IL
# credits and debts as against circulation N
This looks the more queerly when we remembe,