Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1868-05-07
Opening Of the Bayou Manchac.

mercjal citizens of Mobile and Saint
Louis have taken up the subject Of
opening the Bayou Manchac. Sc
great desideratam should long age
have been accomplished and would
have been, but for the stupid or sci
fish opposition of certain non-progres
sivists and that partial legislative
policy on the part Of Congress which
favors only sectional and antiSouth
erly interests.
The reopening Of the channel Of
Bayou Manchac, by the removal OF
its Instructions, 80 as to afford safe
and uninterrupted navigation between
the Mississippi River and Mobile,
would open up new highway Of
commerce, the beneficial efforts oil
which, upon Mobile and every other
locality thus brought in direct com.
munication with her, cannot be over
estimated.
The movement, for the accomplish
ment Of this important enterprise,
commenced as it has been by the St.
Louis Chamber Of Commerce and
warmly seconded by the leading mer-
camille men of Mobile, is one of deep
significance. Starting upon an or
ganized and influential basis and with
seeming determination to effect heir
object, the movers have good reasons
for hoping and to inspire hope in
others that their efforts will eventually
meet with deserved success.
The fact that Government en-
gineering party was sert along the
line Of the Bayou Manchac last sum
mer for the purpose Of surveying that
stream and obtaining all the data
possible bearing upon its suscepti.
blity for navigation and for restoring
it to its ancient purpose as an outlet
Of the Mississippi, would 60 to show
some national design in connection
with the plan now under joint con-
sideration by the citizens Of St. Louis
and Mobile relative to the opening of
the Manchac. We have heard moth
ing as to the result of the observations
made by the engineering party alluded
to, but it may be that these observa-
tons proving favorable, have come to
the notice of the St. Louis Chamber
of Commerce and induced its members
to inaugurate a movement which we
hope to see eliminate in the proudest
success.
We find in the Mobile Register
of the I'd, Ia journal, by the way,
which is manifesting a laudable in
terest in the Bayou Manchac pro-
ject), a call for a meeting of the
citizens of Mobile, (Monday last be-
ing the day designated for the meet
ing), for the purpose OF thoroughly
organizing upon this subject. The
Register, in furtherance of its views
demonstrating the necessity for such
meeting says:
We publish call upon all citi.
zens interested in the movement for
opening Bayou Manchac, to meet at
the Merchants Exchange on Mon
day next, at noon.
This movement is one of great
importance to Mobile-perhaps of
the very greatest importance. It is
important that the merchants of Mo-
bile should take leading and active
part in it. The people Of the West
are in the habit of acting promptly,
in matters Of this kind. They do
not understand nor appreciate our
slow and easy way Of spending so
much time in thinking. about mat
ter that the time for action is lost.
It is absolutely requisite that
some organization be effected, and
committee Of correspondence, OF some
other authorized agency be ap-
pointed, to cooperate with the move
ment initiated in St, Louis.
~ That gallant soldier and &C.
complished gentleman and writer,