The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-13

thus they could get rid Of the lower river altoyeth
er. For the shipping of that day, Lake Pontch ar.
Train and Bayou ST. John were deep enough but
it would be difficult, if not impossible, for such
vessels to beat up against the current of the river
SO here the problem. a. It then present ID itself,
was solved. But the solution failed when the
problem was presented in q new form, embracing
new elements. The invention of steam made 1t
possible to use the river through its whole extent
and the wants of modern commerce brought into
existence a class of vessels which were com PEELED
to reach the city by way Of the river, because
they cond not navigate the shallow waters of
Lake POnicbartrsin. Finally, however. vessels
grew too large even for the Mississippi-or to
spesk more accurstely-for the bar at the mouth
OF the river. Year after year great steamers and
sail vessels have been stranded for days, and even
weeks at time, sunken on mud.reefs, and all
efforts to remove or even materially mti gate
the difficulty have sienally failed. Besides ts
directly injurious effect on commerce, this
vexatious obstacle brings with it a train of at
tendant evi!s by increasing the expense of pilot
age, and the rate OF insurance and we, with an
smost incomprehensible perversity. have added
the burdens Of monopoly, and of excessive
charges, to those which nature had already made
g. oneTous.
Now our true method Of obviating these diff
culties seems to be to take advantage of the Ie-
msrkable peculiarities of position possessed by
this city, by returning TO the obvious plan which
presented itself to the original founders. That is
to say. we must make New Orleans change front,
and establish her main harbor toward what is now
the rear Of the city. The consummation of the
project involved in the charter above referred to
will effect this object because it will bring New
Orleans within thirty miles of the deep waters of
the gulf. Let US see the advantages which this
would confer on the commerce of the port. And
first, we must premise that the proposed canal is
10 commence at point db0Ue the city. between
Jefferson City and Carrollton, thence il is to fol-
low line within the ridge, and running about
two streets in the rear of Broad street, until it
strikes the Rigolets near Lake Catharine. Thus
II will be seen that new harbor will be opened,
superior as to the protection which it will offer for
shipping and as to the facilities which it will afford
for warehouses, grain elevators and loading and
places, to that which is now furnished
by the river. Indeed practically this will be another
and shorter river outlet, free from the inconve-
niences which attend the actual route to the sea,
for direct connection will be made with the
river by means of lock. which will afford ingress
into the canal for sea going vessels and for river
craft OF all kinds. By opening this route through.
freight may be shipped from ST. Louis and all the
river ports to Havana, and other Gulf ports and
return freights may be secured. consisting of that
large fruit trade that now goes to New York,
SIMPLY because the commercial policy of New
Orleans has driven it from the Mississippi. About
100000 worth of fruits are imported annually
into the United States from the Mediterranean,
> mean distance OF five thousand miles, or twenty
lays steam time and yet, the West Iadies with |
greater supply of better fruits lie within thou
,and miles OF New orleans, or from three TO i've |
lays steam time. 1t is estimated that 900 900 |
ons of freight passed last year from the Atlantic
ports to the West; the greater part of which, If |
We had rapid and easy communication with the in |
erior and with the sea could be carried far more
,heaply by way of New Orleans. The cross lines |
IAN compete with the great North and South line |
If the Mississippi, only when the Mississippi is |
partially blocksded by monopolies and onerous
,hsrges. Let these be removed and combine the |
emoval with the judicious use OF artificial, but |
necessary methods, and the trade of the West will
low through New Orleans as naturally as water
nds its level. The direction of trade is governed
~ forces, which follow the line of least resistance
md resistance is final quantity compounded of |
lme and cost The line of least resistance is that on
hich the resultant, or product of these two fac
ors Is least, and when we have thoroughly compre-
ended this fact, we have mastered the explana-
ion of the phenomenon, which seems to perplex /
o many peOple-the relative decrease of the COM
nerce Of New Orleans, compared with the com.
nerce of other sea ports. 1t is difficult to arrive
{ an exact statement of the expenses in various |
'orts but we can reach an approximation which |
ill suit our purposes. We will take, for the sake
{ comparison, the three ports of New York, Bos-
on and New Orleans, estimating the charges on
hip of 1000 tons, drawing fifteen feet.