The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-29
LETTER FROM "B0HENiIAN."
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch


only when in sight of the broad expanse o
wafer stretching ont into Lake PontcharVAii
that the clouds drltted away ana s.l''m ~ ~
sunshine came pouring through them IN,
sun set spcndidly clear beneath a bank OF darh
cnmulus clouds, which, for haif-honr heiort
II dipped beneath the horizon, appeared hk'
hans Of FURNISHED silver frinCed with moui-
ten gold. This we took rs n good omen for tn
morrow hut unfortunately IL did not, Ill THIS
instance prove true. New Orleans, rs every
one knows, is situated upon an upward bend
Of the Mississippi river, where Ii bends npon
itself rs 1t were, running i'll close 10 Lake Point
chartran, the first of \ chain that stretches
across the seacoast towards Mobile. There l.
a railroad running from the city 10 the lake,
exactly five miles in length, terminating on
wharf TO which the Mobile and coastwisc
steamers are moored. The road passes near thu
historic field of the Chalmette, through
broad tamarach swamp, and exactly over the
point of meeting between the thirueih parai
lei of latitude and thirteen degrees OF lohgi-
tude This is 4 point of some sclentihc inter
est, and il was proposed 4 few years ago 70
erect an observatory here, but the GROUND was
found TO b. so soft and yielding IL was llnpos-
sible TO establish transit and other instruments
securely. The lines established by the coast
survey, the meridian line, and so fortn, run
through the centre OF the city, ana are marked
by three Druidical stones that have attracted
attention.
The steamer Louise" lay ut the wharf rs
we ran down, steam up, ana all ready lot q
start. On the other side was the " Magholll,
a
II is only of4ate that there has been any oppo
,ition on the lakes but now we nave TWO OF
three lines running. The " Louise was row
measure: the Magnolia" igh-pressare
The former charged ten dollars for the trip
the latter only five. Porters were running
about shouting the claims OF The rival boalS,
making n babel of ungainly noises peculiar TO
the Southern~negro boatmen. The " Magno-
liza" got. a majority of our passengers, owing
10 the low fare; but the better class TOOK the
" LouiSa the low-pressnre boats belhe con
sidrren much safer and offering better accom-
modations. In this instance the 10" pressure
was vastly superior, and had the advantage OF
being commanded by the best captain on .he
Gulf coast, mAp universally popular III MS
profession. Captpin Hopkins has been Knock
ing about the Southern coast from his boyhood,
and for thirty odd years has run some kind OF
n craft somewhere between the Delta ana the
Florida capcs We out from the wharf
inst us the sun dipped below the horizon, anu
when dark came, were rapidly pushing on
towards Lake Borgne The third of these
inland bodies of water is Lake providence,
into which We ran during the night.
There is little on the trip between New orleans,
and Mobile to attract the attention OF the 'ri-
weller and the greater part of the run being
made at night, little 10 be seen. Tn the
Louise" we had 4 very pleasant party, anu
the hours went by cheerily. When morning
came we were anchored at the entrance 10
Grants pass, and in the midst OF Il heavy
fog. This is one of the greatest drawbacks to
navigation, and often steamers have TO laS-'o
very well acquainted with the landmarks Oh
the bottom, and can run by observing the
depth of the water, ii is Impossible 10 90 on.
In our case we were fortunate IN having Il
good pilot in Captain Hopkins, who got up
steam rs soon rs daylight came, and felt his
way slowly along, using pole TO feel the
channel.
Grants pass deserves few words. II i. but
q few wears this channel has been opened and
the distance shortened several hours. For
merly, vessels bad 10 run ont TO sea ut the
Kigolets and make 4 long de1our into Mobile
bay. 1t Is well known that the numerous
inlets, channels and lagoons on the southern
coast are continually changing. Sandy bars
and bluffs now occupy the sites where formerly
vessels could pass, and new ch;thhels are CUT
through what was once sohd ground. IL WAS
observed that one point showed indications OF
once having been IN old channel, ana II was
nence seen that if ii could be again opened
inland navigation would be complete between
the two great cities. The land was owned by
Captain Grant, who, feeling sangulne OF the
success of such a scheme, laid his plan before
the Government An appropriation was
made, some work doue, but Afterwards Inc
project WAS abandoned. Years Went by, ana
the channel cut gradually filled agaih-'ap-
tain Grant all the time urging.the 1easlbiilty
Of the work upon the Government. twenty
seven years ago party OF engineers was sent
out to make q survey and report upon IT. inns
report was adverse 10 the hopes OF captain
Grant and he saw that he had nothing more
TO expect from the United States. Beng man
Of wealth and great determination, he decided
10 push the work himself, and Immediately
put 4 number of laborers At work. lie sue
Cceded. IN two years he had II channel
through, and navigation was opened. linen
the men who had sneered down the prolrct,
and who had dubbed 1T " Grants Io1ly,
opened their eyes with wonder; but never Tor
gave hun for his success. 1t made hlm lar
more enemies than frlends-the lile OF lh'hS
men who, like Prometheus, devote their
Eibors 10 the benefit OF their fello"-meh'
n iars lrY.y all "a III
they had said so; and still others remarked
that Captain Grant had done nothing wonder
ful-he had merely opened IN Ola chahneI,
which any one could have done.
Grants pass proved an entlTe success, ana
the Government gave him an exclusive char
ter for five and twenty years. during that
time, which terminated IN 1850, IL required
constant care 10 keep the channel open. Inc
sea comes in strongly, and ut periods Of long
storms from the Gulf the banks frequently
wash in and cause q temporary obstruction.
Captain Grant had good and suhcleht ma
chinery for keeping the pass open, and, 10 pay
expensesr chArged toll upon vessels using il.
Strange to sag, this claim is resisted by snip
captains and owners. They decline 10 pay,
and suit has be brought to recover me dues,
tolls that Captain Grant has different charges:
That is, fifteen cents per ton where sHlt ms 10
be brought, and one-half that sum when
the tolls are allowed without WORDS. me
courts ALWAYS give Judgment Ill his favor; but
since the war, captains are again resist ting the
claim for dues. The charter expired last year,
but notice by the late congressional reports
that it has been extended five years more.
We ran through i'll fine style, and In the
midst OF the dense toy made out In into Mobile
bay. Now we were all right until the obstruc-
tions We're reached. If we could hit the stakes
We could pass on if not there was nothing
left but 10 remain in the fog until 1t cleared
away. The Louise ran straight for the
entrance, lodging about here and there to
avoid some FISHERMAN who blew his f"g-horn
Justify al our approach, and as we got up TO
the Instructions saw the stakes just under the
bows. We were all right Halt an hour later
we were through safely, despite stakes, stones,
submerged wrecks, and torpedoes. and, still
enyeloped in thick fog, ran straight up 10 the
city. As we neared the land the fog lifted, and
the Louise came up 10 her wharf Ill the midst
of a bright sunlight The Magnolia was
twenty-four hours behind us.
OF Mobile have little 10 say. II is dull
terribly dull. The war has left precious few
traces of its former beauty, and the great
explosion that took place soon after the occupa-
ton, left ii in dilapidated condition. The
town was shaken TO its very foundation.
nave the irehest recollections OF the Battle
House, ana they are so impressed upon my
memory 1shall never forget them. One can
epeAa more money there and get less for it than