New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-27
A NEW SUBMARINE PL0w.

A NEW SUBMARINE PL0W.
Mr.. Amos Morrison, citizen OF New
Orleans, has invented and patented sub
marine pillow, which he believes will be
able to keep the channel open at the
mouth of the Mississippi. We have ex-
amined drawing showing perspective
view of the machine, and find in it sutii-
Gent merit, apparently, to commend 1t to
the careful consideration of practical men,
The whole thing comprises steamer with
paddle wheels, with the pillow attached
under the bow, and projecting several
feet forward of the keel. The nose OF the
pillow is shaped like spade, and divided
in the middle by an elevated ridge or cut
ter, which separates the earth as it is
forced up. Two iron cylinders, which are
to be about five feet in diameter, run
from the deck of the steamer down to the
pillow, ending in a funnel shaped
mouth. The earth is forced into
these cylinders, and carried up
to the waters edge, or as high as neces-
sary by screws of proper dimensions IN
closed in the cylinders. These screws
are made to revolve by the application Of
beveled cogs, propelled by the engine.
When the steamer is in motion and all
working successfully and satisfactorily,
column of mud and sand from the bottom
will rise up to the deck of the skip on
each side, from whence it will be pushed
over the sides'and received by lighters or
hatboats along side. 1t is intended to
have four of these tenders and small
steam tug to tow them around. As soon
as two are loaded, they will be cast loose
from the pillow ship, and the empty ones
put in their place. The loaded tenders
will then be taken by the tug to some dis
lance, and the load deposited away from
the channel.
That vast amount OF mud and sand
may be removed by this process, is I'M
doubted. The inventions that have here
tofore been applied to the work of irritat-
ing the bottom of the bar, stirred up the
earth literally, but as it was mostly
raised in large Jumps it fell back again,
and was left in nearly the same place the
screw found it. A small portion was
mixed with the water and some of it car
ried out with the tide, but it bore no COM
parison to the immense volume lifted.
If Mr.. Morrison can make his machine
work, he will be able to remove nearly all
the dirt plowed up; thus there will be less
loss of power, and, if necessary, more
than one machine may be put to work at
the same time. We hope he will succeed,
as his, or some other feasible plan, is
needed for clearing the mouth of the
river. Congress has recently appro-
prtated 100000 for the purpose, and as
John Slidell is not here to spend the
money in buying up Democratic votes,
there will be a fair prospect for some
good to grow out of the expenditure. We
hope those who are charged with the bust
ness will make such contract
as will secure the work rather than
the outlay of the money. If Mr.. Morrison
believes in his invention, let him incur a
little more expense. Let him have
steamer at work, invite people to go down
and see it work, and then make an offer.
We hope no more government money will
be paid out to men who are just about to
do something. Let us wait till they have
done it, or shown what they can do, and
then contract to pay them by the job, for
just what they accomplish, and no more.
The money voted by Congress is suffi-
Gent to attract the attention of skillful
men of means, but it will also bring out
those who have neither, but who expect to
persuade those having the work to give
out that they, and they alone, can do it.
We have had enough of that kind of pub
lie improvement in the South. It is
time now that something were actually