The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-11
The Manehac Project.

The committee sent by the people of Mobile to
the Western cities to agtate the question of open.
ing Bayou Manchac, have returned and made a
report, from which we make the following ex-
tracts:
The delegation appointed by the meeting of
merchants at Mobile, 10 proceed to St. Louis and
other Western cities, on the subject of the OPEN
ing of Pass Mancbac, respectfully report:
That they have visited the cities of st. Louis,
Cincinnati, Louisville and Nashville, and were
enabled in each Of those cities to address their re-
spectve boards of trade and merchants, and were
very much gratiied by the kind reception they
met with indeed, they must say that every ia.
cilitY possible was rendered to them in each of
those cities to present and advocate the object
proposed, that both individuals and collective
bodies manifested a warm interest in the subject
and the press became jealous and took great pains
to inform the public on this question, and kindly
published the information in their reach to dihuse
it.
Your committee feel confident in saving that
their mission was one of triumphant success, and
although at first there seemed to be but little in
formation on the subject on the part of the pub
lie, when the information was ditf1sed by the
press, very warm interest was manifested, and q
feeling was aroused which we think will be GER
tain in the end TO accomplish the purpose. Ii
seems now fully understood in the West that its
enormous products must go down the Mississippi,
and that the effort to carry that trade over the
tanned.
In the discussion Of this matter in the West, and
also in the support above mentioned, there have
heen differences expressed as TO the proper point
for the opening to be made in the Mississippi.
The report proposes other points as more favor.
able, say one above New Orleans at Bonnet Car
re, and another below New Orleans, from the
English Turn into Lake BOrgne. The reason given
is, that at those points the river does not rise so
high, and therefore, although the land is alluvial
II be done at less coat To thia of Mn
bile may well say that it is Indifferent TO as where
the communication 10 opened, a. so that it be
opened" and we may leave the question as TO
where to be settled between the people of the
West and Louisiana. We will only remark that,
as TO Bayou Manchsc, we have the right to de.
mand that il be opened as IL was natural chan
mel and closed arti6ciay for purposes of defense,
which creates the duty, in justice to Us, TO re-
store to Us the natural flow OF the water after the
necessity ceased.
Your delegation, in respect TO the means by
which this communication shall be restored, urged
the prspriety and duty of Congress to have the
pass opened, because it is our right, and because
the passage should be made free for all vessels
without charge. But under present circumstances,
if i: was found impossible TO obtain this action of
Congress speedily, then that application should
he made for charter from Congress, authorizing
the work to be done by private ent -rpriss at
once, and that when Congress was in condition TO
take it, and pay for it, that then it should be made
free 10 the public as of right il should be, and
the wants of the trade OF the great West require
It should be. Your delegation were assured that
the cost would not be an obstacle to this course.
We believe we can say that there is q settled
determination in the West that the opening must
be made at some point, and that this demand will
not be relinquished till il is accomplished; and,
indeed, many who oppose this movement seem
TO think that this idea must be yielded to, and
they now modify the opposition as to place only.
There is high probability, however, that even if
opened below il will not be long before it is
opened TO Msncbac also.
Since our return we have been advised that
deputatiOn has been sent from St. Louis TO visit
all the cities of the Upper Mississippi. where Col
Sbyroek expects TO address the people in adsO-
cacy Of the project, and we are assured that the
best feeling exists in the Northwest on the sub
ject. They have prepared memorial to Con
rress. a copy Of which is herewith filed, showing
that the desire Of those Western cities is 10 reach
the bay Of Mobile as place of shipment. The
intention is shown to be to lay before the next
National Board of Trade, 10 assemble az Cincn-
nati, the memorial, with 10000 signatures, to OBJ
tain their action in the matter pressing il before
Congress in December next. The zeal is, there.
fore, by no means tagging in the great city of
ST. Louis.
Your delegation, therefore, submit this report
with the most cheering hope of foil success 10 q
measure which must make this great city.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEORGE N. STEWART.
LEROY BREWER.
Ugne