New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-26
Mr.. Braughn: L am not prepared for SC

move, IN line thIrty-eIght, alter the WOfu
State" to insert the proviso, "that all fees
for atfixing the seal of the State shall be
paid by the company
Mr.. Bacon: Mr. President, the subject
of dredging and opening the passes OF the
Mississippi river has been one in which
this community has been engaged in
specializing and investigating for great
number OF years, and many plans have
been proposed for that purpose. During
a residence here of qnite number OIL
years. have become quite familiar, among
others, with the scheme mentioned in this
bill. This is one among many plans
for effecting this purpose | might as
well describe it. It is very we'll
known that the bar at the mou
of the Mississippi consists Of a series OF
mud Jumps Of a peculiar character which
rise in the course OF twenty-fOur hours in
the midst of the channels, appearing here
and there. and in other places. They rise
up something in the shape of cone, and
are hard On top. but hollow underneath,
and some persons, reasoning from this,
hold that they are produced by some vol
canlc action. and from the fact that they
contain inside species of gas Of pecu-
liar character, while the tip Of the cone is
hard, aud they ere difficult to move,
almost like o stone. Now, a great many
plans have been proposed, aud among
others, this which consists simply in di-
recting stream of water, very like the
stream from a fire engine, against these
mud Jumps in order to wash them out
Now, SIT, l venture to say that it will
prove utterly Intellectual in removing these
mud Jumps. The current at the mouth of
the river is so sluggish the tide will drive
them back, and there is no current to car
ry off this mud, even if they effect any
Thing by their stream, the mud will re-
main close by obstructing the channel,
and the only thing that will disappear
will be the money from the treasury OF the
State.
| This section proposes that the State
shall pay 100000 in bonds before the
company strikes a blow. and they have
merely given notice that they have $50 900
| in their treasury. They are not even
required to prove that they have this
| money. but the president Of the company
merely says to the Governor: THE COM
| pany has S50000,' and then the Governor
gives them $500 900.
Now, sir, | am convinced that it is
wrong for US to give to this company,
were they ever so responsible, the funds
of the State upon mere experimental
system, which is a failure in itself, and
which, from the nature of the bar and the
distractions of the bar, can not succeed.
Mr.. Braughn: According to your opinion.
Mr.. Bacon: Yes, sir, and according to
the opinion of the United States engineers,
who are pursuing different course, and
IN hp do ha
ject by the chief officer of engineers of the
United States, who reported on this sub
ject.
Mr.. Todd: Has this engineer reported on
this bills the Senator speaking to the
section?
Mr.. Bacon: am speaking precisely to
the point, whether it is wise for the State
to put forth its bonds to the amount of a
million and a halt of dollars-one half a
million TO be given before the company
begins to work, when there is no author
ity, or no competent authority. that will
sly there is any likelihood OF success in
the enterprise, and when the State will be
deprived OF at least l,500, COO And if
these parties were ever so responsible,
Just and correct in their dealings, these
means would be wasted in the honest en-
deavor TO do that which is utterly imprac-
ticable. Now, suppose it were wise to try
the scheme; suppose it was thought to be
a good one, it would then be our duty to
require adequate security that the money
should be returned to the State in case of
failure.
There is another thing to be considered,
the keeping open this channel is one of the
duties OF the federal government, and not
of any private parties; the federal COVER
ment is not unwilling to perform this
duty-they are performing it now, and the
State Is not left in the lurch The
steamer Essayons is now working at Pass
lOutre. They are completing 1t, and we
are dong ourselves a grevious Injustice to
put this in he hands OF these individuals to
try their experiment at our expense. when
the UDited States government will do this
work without charging Us cent.
Mr.. Futch: Mr. President, [ believe
there is no provision requiring the COM
pany to give bonds.
Mr.. Braughn: Yes, in section nine.
Mr.. Futch: That is 10 the amount of
$4,000 annually.
Mr. Braughn: There is another section
requiring 100000 bonds to be given i'm
mediately.
Mr.. Wittgenstiens amendment was
adopted and the section adopted as
amended, by vote of 20 yeas to 10 nays.
The balance of the sections were then
adopted with amendments without elicit
ing debate. (See journal.)
The bill was adopted as whole on the
second reading.
Mr.. Wittgenstein: Mr.. President, | ask
suspension Of the rules to take up House
bill No 252, "To aid the Louisiana Pc
troleum and Sulphur Mining Company"
The rules were suspended by a vote of
% yeas to nays.
Mr.. Day: Mr.. President, l move that
we adjourn.
The Senate refused to adjourn by vote
of yeas to II nays.
Mr.. Lynch: Mr.. President. l would ask
whether this bill has been printed. If it
has, would like to see copy of it.
Mr.. Ogden: No, it has not been printed.
Mr. President, | have no desire to make
speech, but desire to say that | believe
this bill is really for the interests of the
State. This company was originally or
gained by gentlemen living in New Or
leans, for the purpose Of getting petroleum
oil. It was thought at that time that
there was great deal of oil there. Pro-
lessor ---. perhaps one of the best
geologists in the country, has made a re-
port to the Academy Of Sciences, and in
that report says that in the parish of Cal
casieu he discovered a most remarkable
piece ofsulphur, pure crystal or virgin sui
phur, which needs no refinement, but
comes out in pure state. Now, these
gentlemen have expended 100000, and
they have not the means to go on, and