New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-06

|
Mi. Ogden: You are laborlDg under q
great mistake Mr.. Bacon-a geographical
mlstaKe. The canal goes directly from the
river 10 the Rigolets in an air line.
Mr: bacon: Well, it cuts the city in two,
anu u Is most expensive and almost i'm
possloie S pIolec!, and the only result will be
through which II PROPOSES TO 20 will be in
doubt whether the ground they nave got is
to be part OF the canal or ground to live
upon. They can't build houses upon ii:
they can't sell their property; they can't Go
anything. 1t never can be running water;
II must always be pond; g. disagree
new canal we have out here, or the
old canal; and l can't conceive any
advantage that the State will gain from ii.
II the drainage is done into that canal il
WIN pc as Injurious to health as drainage
into Canal Carondelet or the new canal
and to the people who own the land ad-
Joining it.
If there can be any good reason shown for
the bill should like to have it shown, But
| who have been thinking and writing uDon
the subject for the last twenty years can not
come to conclusion distinctly upon that
subject without further light.
Mr.. Ray: Mr.. President, whether this bill
Is acted on to-day or Monday, so far as am
| concerned, makes no difference. 1t is a
subject that, as chairman of the committee
to which it was referred, required me to
make az examination, and | arrived at the
conclusion from careful investigation of
the surveys that it " as a very great work for
the city of New 0rleans-the construction
| of a canal from the river to the Ripolets,
| There is fall of eight feet between the
river and the Rigolets which would always
keep sub current flowing and act as a per
feet drain to the land through which it
passes. am surprised, sir, to see the SEN
ator from Orleans opposing works of public
improvement with reference to this city. 1t
Is that stand-still policy which keeps New
| Orleans behind Chicago, st. Louis, and ali
the great cities of the West. Even when
| we wanted to charter Grain Elevator Com.
pany, for the purpose of bringing the grain
trade of the West to this city, there was an
opposition from certain members of the city
delegation. There is nothing asked by this
canal company from the city or the State
but canal, costing many millions, will be
| built without cost to the city, which will
drain it etfectually, and add to the value of
its property probably more than any enter
| prise that can be undertaken. Nothing is
asked at all but the right OF. way, which
| does not interfere with single tenement
from where it leaves the Mississippi to
where it empties into the Rgolets-through
a swamp all the way, that is now inhabited
by nothing but frogs and aligators l am
| proud to see men willing to invest their
money in great improvements of this sort.
1t makes no difference to me whether it is
passed to-day or another day, but it does
| seem strange that gentlemen should oppose
! such works of public Improvement.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, desire to say
| that when the elevator bill came up, | was
anxious to see whether there was not too
much privilege given to that company, with
reference to its connection with railroads.
| But as TOR taYorlng an Elevator Company,
| the gentleman was some months, or per
| haps years, behind me in the advocacy of
it; for | have been advocating such a pro-
iect for three or four years. And when |
had an opportunity to fully examine into
the bill respecting the Elevator Company,
it passed with as much help on my part as
could give it. So with reference to rail.
roads, l have given my support to them as
much as | could, and | believe the CITY
members all gave their aid in favor of these
railroads. | did oppose warmly and ear.
nestly, the giving of an additional charter
to the three or four now in existence, to a
company for the construction OF road to
connect with the Opelousas road and go to
Texas, because / thought the creation of
another company would have an injurious
effect and hinder rather than promote the
building of that road; and | am not yet
prepared to say | was mistaken.
| consider that road of more importance
to the city of New Orleans than anything
else, but | was doubtful about the efficiency
Of the means proposed-the chartering of a
new COMPANY.
Now, sir, with reference to this Canal
Company, the gentleman pronounces it a
great improvement. If he be engineer
enough to decide upon the matter, and pro-
nouuced it feasible, | would have no obiec.
ton to it. But as have no knowledge OF
the gentleman's capacity as an engineer,
and think the bill should undergo the in
spection and consideration of professional
engineers, and they pronounce it practical
bic aud desirable, am opposed to its pas.
sage. l desire to have it printed and pre-
sented to such men as General McAllistel
and General Beauregard, aud other men
who have capacity as engineers. am aux.
ious to do everything which shall promote
the commerce of New Orleans; but itseems
to me that while this company is waiting
for aid, which may be for years, the owners
of the property through which it may pass
: will be in doubt as to the exact location
J of it, and a great deal of trouble will
: result which might be avoided by submit
ting it to gentlemen who have the knowl
: edge to decide.
, Mr.. Braughn; Mr.. President, all these dis.
cussions are entirely out of order, motion
to lay on the table the motion to. postpone,
! being before0 the House, uponAWhich the
{ yeas and nays were called. But as several
Senators have expressed their opinion upon
the bill, take the liberty OF expressing
mine.
The Presidents The chair has no recollec.
tion of a motion to lay on the table.
Mr.. Braughn: Mr.. Lewis made motion to
postpone, and a motion was made by Mr..
Wittgenstein to lay it on the table.
The President: The chair did not hear
such motion or a second to it.
Mr.. Braughn: Mr.. President, on the part
of the city delegation, of which am one, !
can not permit the imputation which is cast
upon it by the Senator from 0uachita
to pass without denying it in toto
From the commencement of the session
we have opposed no measure for th,
When the measure to which the gentleman
has alluded-the Incorporation of Grair
and Elevator Company-was before tht
Senate, advocated it to the extent of my
humble ability; and believe, sir, on behal
of my colleagues, can promise that, wher
any measure comes before us, no matter from
what source, having for its object the com
mercial or social advantage of this city, its
representatives will not be backward il
supporting it. But think, sir, that upon
question of postponement such an imputa
ton as has been made comes with exceed
ingly bad taste from the gentleman from
0uachita. We simply ask postponement IN
order that the Senators in whose hands the
1 welfare Of the city is in measure entrusted,
may ascertain the advantages or disadyan-
tages of this measure. Why, sir, ven
ture the assertion that not half a
| dozen Senators in the house have read this
bill. know that l for one have had no
time to peruse it, and believe that none OF
my colleagues have. And now It's lmmedi-
ate passage isurged upon the simple read
ing by the Secretary, without giving US any
! chance to examine II n1inutely-a bill which
| ;a,-ol,-as n ooritaI nf aiy milliOua of dollars