New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-12-02
THE LYCRESCENT.
FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER ., 1858
IMPROVING THE MOUTH OF THE
NTeSTeSTPpf


An appropriation by Congress Of seventy -nve
thousand dollars, for the improvement oil the
mouth of the Mississippi has been expended for
that object, and the result is that the Southwest
Pas, has been made three hundred feet wide
and eighteen feet deep. With this depth
vessels drawing twenty feet water can, with
the aid Of steam tugs, enter the mouth o
the river without difficulty. Vessels of deeper
draught and Of greater tonnage cannot enter
and the consequence is that our port is deprived
of the advantage of receiving vessels of great
capacity. Competent engineers are of opinion
after careful surveys, that with small adai-
tional appropriation, the channel may oe maue
thirty feet deep, SO ms to admit vessels OF the
largest class. An after expense OF few thous-
and dollars will be necessary to remove the
ooustant alluvial deposits that accumulate in
the bei Of the river, and, that done, New Or
leans will have port inferior to none in the
world
In .1he present state of the mouths of the
Mississippi, the low draught of water and the
great expense of tonnage, our shipping labors
under disadvantages that are an immense draw
back to the commercial prosperity of this port
Ships Of large tonnage do not pay fees to the
Tow boat Companies lin increased proportion
with their increased capacity for carrying
freight, and the advantages to the shipper on
that score alone, if larger vessels should visit
our port, would be of the first Importance
Double the amout of freight could be towed into
port ct no additional expense
Another heavy tax, in the item of pilot
age, is paid by the shipping interest, and might
be avoided by rendering the mouths of the river
wider and deeper and their navigation free from
danger. These mud distractions at the Balize,
cost the city of New Orleans annually immense
sums. They create the necessity of an Associa-
ton of Pilots, numbering some sixty members,
who with their families are supported in afiu-
ence, at an annual cost, the half of which if
judiciously expended in dredging out the depos-
lite in the rivers bed, would altogether do away
with the necessity of their services. Against
the Association we have nothing to urge, as, so
far as we are informed, they are worthy body
of men, doing their duties faithfully and in the
face of the greatest danger; but against OBJ
structions which may easily be removed, and
which create the necessity of an oppressive mo-
nopoly, the commercial community certainly
has just cause of complaint. New Orleans pays
annually greater indirect tax in consequence
Of the distractions to the entrance of its port
than it would require to remove them and such
being the case it becomes matter of public in
terest to provide such remedy as the exigencies
Of the case require.
The General Government, in distributing the
appropriations for internal improvements in diff
ferent portions of the country, has not been suf-
fciently mindful of the claims of New Orleans
to q share of such favors. In withholding APP
preparations adequate to the removal of the OBJ
structions at the mouth of the Mississippi it has
neglected a very great means of developing the
rich resources of the State. This neglect we at
tribute more to the inertness of our representa-
tives in Congress than to any motive of inditfer-
ence in the General Government to the inter
ests of this particular port. At present, how
ever, with more competent representation,
headed by our worthy fellow citizen and Senator,
Up. Benjamin, we can hope for better things
With Mr.. Benjsmin's fine talents and intimate
acquaintance with the necessities of our State,
he will be enabled omake such representations
to the National Legislature that that body will
no longer shut its eyes to our reasonable de-
mands.