Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-04-29
A NEW PASSAGE TO THE GULF.

dable zeal in the furtierance of any and all
plans 70 advance the commercial interests Of
our great Southern Emporium aud have done
SO, seemingly. without any regard to local or
other description of interests and partialities
and without reference, either, to that all pow
erfni influence and jealousy, in every meritori-
Gus undertaking, which politics has so long and
arbitrarily swayed throughout the length and
breadMl of the land.
Where such p-omptings, such worthy and
noble aims, are predominant with the united
Press of a great and populous city, they are al
so predominant with the masses Of the people
all who have the advantage of enlightened
and progressive thought, feeling and action,
which a liberal and unbiased education gives
And we may then very justly conclude, that
when this is the case in reference to any public
enterprise, such enterprise cannot fail to merit
the attention and encouragement of Govern
ment, particularly when such public work or
enterprise embrace within itself as much or
more of national than sectional interests.
But rs much as we have had cause-as much
as the people of the State have had cause-to
extend the just need of praise to the New Or
leans Press, for its able and energetic support
of measures tending to State as we'll as city
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, there is yet one other enter
prIse-all-important, it seems TO US, and inse-
perable from the commercial prosperity of our
metropolis, whose honor and advancement lie
near the heart of every true Louisianian-
which our respected contemporaries have en-
tirely overlooked, but which we should like to
see them take hold of. This enterprise we now
propose to unfold, briefly and plainly.
In looking over our Northern mail a few
days since, and clipping out the most interest,"
ing paragraphs with which to regale the minds
Of our readers, our attention was attracted to
an article, showing the unusual circumstance of
a people in one section of the country asking
Congress 10 improve the navigation at the
mouth of a river many thousand miles from
them-show at one glance and at a thought, the
Importance and tie national character of the
work it was a petition, in fact to Congress, of |
a large number of the citizens of Pennsylpa-
ria, praying that the bar at the mouth of the
Mississippi be sufficiently deepencd, and kept
thus, to admit the largest vessels.
In connection with the great importance Of a
deep channel at the mouth of the Mississippi,
this petition awakened in our mind, was
The extraordinary and never ceasing expense
must ensure to the Government by &C.
reding to it, knowing the annual outlay which
The cleaning Of the channel at the mouth has
cost the nation. II. occurred to us, then
he question-Would it not be a wise act on
he part Of Goyernment-if an ingress to New
orleans from sea for the largest class vessels is
such importance, and the expense of keep.
the channel open at the mouth is so enor-
it not be wise, We repeat, con.
idering the nature of the soil, and other facil-
lies connected with the work, for the Govern
nent to think of cutting a new passage to the i,
ca and turning the Mississippi into it? In
idea, however, we were assisted by recol-
the recomme ndation of Mr.. Elicit to
he Government, who, in his report upon the
Mississippi, its overflows, &c, suggested a
oint a short distance below New Orleans, f,
il there were a cut.off made to the sea, ,
would afford a far better, shorter and more 8
xpeditious route to and from the Gulf than ,
ny now existing, for vessels Of all sizes. This T,
off would likewise be of great advantage .
the State, from the fact that it would pass l.
# such a vast quantity of the flood of water 6
'hich annually threaten to inundate US. The +
utlet proposed being at a point at least eighty i
lilies from the Passes, would therefore cause 6
,e river to be much lower at the city during .
ign water than it has ever before been, and !,
'e coast for a long distance up would be sim p
affected. A work so important in a com. :,
ercial sense, recommended by an eminent
engineer, and also, as stated by
m, affecting so benefcial!y the lower portion p
the State during the annual loods-allow. II
g the water to escape faster and thereby rem. II
ring it lower--should have received immedi- n
e attention. Why it did not, is more than in
e can say, and is a culpa aility which should ii,
ntinue no longer. ~
Wishing to become thoroughly acquainted isl
tn the locality where Mr.. ELLETT recommen- co
d this new outlet to the sea to be made, We tn
Mr.. BAYLEY's excellent Map of Lou SO
if the reader will now accompany m,
in the examination Of this map, we will con. bi;
him to q point, on the same bank of the NJ
e- as the city, where is seen the number "lo,' N,
that it is ten miles from there to the
This is the point where Mr.. Elicit sug- /
It's that the new passage should,b be cut, and ina
wonder is, from the ease in which the work .
ID be done, that it has not long since been cen
pnplished. ~
On this point in the river to Lake Borcne 4