New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-05
THE SHIP ISLAND CANAL COMPAN1
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS.

provements made through the public waters Fol-
nearly forty efforts have been made to lessen
the bars and increase the depth of the CT annel at
the mouth of the river. and after expanding mil
lions of money, we find the channel with less water
than at the date of commencement of this endeavor'
say about the year 1882
During this period of about forty years, there has
been loss to commerce, by the detention of vessels
and cargoes at the mouth of the river, according
an estimate made by the Chamber of Commerce of
one thousand dollars day, which amounts to the
enormous sum of fifteen million dollars. This Is not
an exaggeration The Governor, in 1867, in his
sage to the Legislature. states that twenty-one
sells were then detained at the bar with sixty
thousand bales Of cotton. The New Orleans Times
estimated the loss by these detentons alone at four
hundred and fifty thousand dollars The Chamber
OF Commerce has reported that last year the deen
ton and loss were much greater during single
month. General Humphreys, Chief of Topographic
cal Engineers, United States Army in his Official re-.
port states that the annual deposit of earth car
ried to the sea by the Mississippi River is
cubic feet or mass equal to superficial extent of
one mile square. twenty-seven Feet thick :"
which statement gives idea of the
magnitude of the work to be performed
| annually to keep open channel through
fthe passes. We find also other difficulties, which
| the deepening of the passes will not obviate and
which must be overcome to enable New Orleans to
| coupete Win otner large seaport towns. The city
now must be approached by the Mississippi River
| one hundred and twenty miles from its mouth This
long distance for towing against strong current in
| tortuous channel makes this port one of the m ost
| expensive in the world In the January number OF
| De BOWS Review for 1869, we find this subject
| the following calculations tomittng the items OF
| charges. IS they are the same in each case) I'VE
will take for the FAKE of the three ports.
Boston, New York and New Orleans, estimating the
Lob l. e
| teen feet of water.
At New York the charges are. . S775 M
At Boston the charges are. $50 so
At New Orleans the charges are.......... 22s5 60
Thus it is eeen that the charges in New Orleans are
| three times greater than in New York. aud four
| times greater than in Boston, which, upon the
| ocean tonnage CT New Orleans would amount
| to several millions annually Ia the April mum.
Der Of the Review find a communication
from committee of the Chamber of Commerce,
suggesting subjects for legislation which states,
under the head of towage: This obstacle is repre-.
sented by charge upon sail vessels equal to one
and three fourths dollars per ton aggregate of
about SlsOO sail vessel of 1000 tons entering
and departing from the mouth Of the Mississippi
river"
The facts above stated led US to consider if an
other route to the might not be opened to
commerce, which would obviate the many obst acles
oAu tAe onoAuoUs UuIUeuS WHICH nave QampereQ
the commerce of this city, till it has become an OBJ
ject to ship large portion of products by rail to
New York from Vicksburg. Memphis and other
points, formerly tributary to New Orleans. 1t now
costs to ship bale of cotton from New York to Liv
erpool 81 &C. in gold; to ship hogshead of tobacco
81 20 to 81 So From New Orleans to the same port
cost SIS bae, god for cotton and 50 60 per nogs
head for tobacco, This is immense disadvantage
to our pert, In competing for any branch of the
Woa{orp fraIo md
draw away cotton.
TIE harbor of Ship Island is distant from this
city about enty miles. from which an arm OF the
sea extends to and along the border of corpo |
rate limits that on side of the city we have
river front and on the other lake front. The |
channel from the mouth OF the Bayou St. John 10 |
Ship Island. for three fourths of the distance, |
averages eigh to twenty feet in depth and for
the other fourth it varies from to twelve feet
wit h mud and blue clay bottom. The channe, on |
this route is the direct line of the tdsl currents
(See United States coast survey maps)
The entire practicabiity of deepening the channel
through the middle ground east and west of the |
Rgolets is set forth in communication to the
Governor by Messrs. Bailey, Beauregard, Bragg and
eight other civil engineers. and also in another
communication to the Governor referred to IN his
veto message of March 2. The deepening of
this channel for commerce recommended by the
justly celebrated Civil Engineers, Messrs. McCul.
lob, Sulakowski, Bell General JEFF Thorn pson and
twelve others of like ability, embracing nearly all
the engineering talent of the State
Governor Humphreys, after examining the sub
1ect stated that there existed difficulty IS an en-
glneerng question, to making and keeping open a
channel for large ships from this city to Ship Island
he declared that what was considered dicul to be
accomplished twenty years ago. is made easy and
certain now. by the of improved machinery
a in EoG TIo;v |
ing submarine canal. e1cavated in the middle of
the lake. and as having been in use lat the time of
THIS statement two years ago. for upward of twelve
years without further dredging. We claim that the
route TO Snip Island possesses the following advan
cages over the river route: First-It will reduce the
distance to the Gulf over the river route one half
Second-lt will increase the wharfage of the city to
any extent desired, and be more convenient than
river wharfage and much less EXPENSIVE
Ihird-t will reduce the charge Of tow.
age to and from the Gulf ot least one
dollar per ton amounting to more than a million a
year Fourth-It will enhance the value of real
estate IN the swamp district many millions of dol. !
lars tSee State Documents 1867, Engiue er reportD
Inc route OF this canal, according to the amended
act OF March l6. 1870, starts from the Parapet |
thence running between the Metairie Ridge and
the river to Bayou st John, thence to Lake Point.
chartrain. through the lake and Rigolets to Ship
10 hrst to be deposited with the State Treasurer as
last as collected to insure which collection bond
approved by the Governor, executed by the |
company, as required by law, in the sum of |
'eventy-hve thousand dollars The funds so
deposited are only to be drawn out upon the |
warrant OF the State Auditor when vouchers |
ire produced that the amount has been |
expended as required by the act, which |
PROVIDES first: That the company shall construct |
protection levee. enclosing the cities of Carroll
on, Jefferson and New Orle ans; said leyee to be
'"o feet above high water mark and to be con-
ructed on a line recommended by
peclal BOARD OF engineers, appointed oy the CITY
New Orleans, December 3, 1868: ITO mature an
ecommend some general and harmonious plan for
ne present and future drainage of the CITY of New
Jrleans.' the company would necessarily have 10 I
ilg canal along this levee. They are required u
xcavate other drainage canals; to const mower
ui drainage machines. and to operate the same etc
The aid granted the company to deepen the middle
ROUNDS In the lake and sound is confined to State
anus ana Is distinct from the drainage assessment
WHICH, under the law, is to be applied exclusively to
ne protection and drainage of this district created
y the law OF 1870 and which includes the three '
ormer districts y
we claim that the plan prescribed by the law of
o'U' placing the drainage of the swamp lands under !.
LIZ control OF the company, in connection with :;
ne state Auditor and state Treasurer, much !.
nore Judclous and safe than the system created by
ne law OF 1858, where. instead of one, there were
nree districts, with five commissioners for each.
Zach district had to have officers clerks. engineers,
OectOrs, etc. and worse than ALL no RESPONSIBILITIES .