Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-26
sheIby END by lhe elty q MemplI..

fep3ft tfUn JO0l AONdOI
MEMPHIS, November 2, IS72.
NAPoIEoN HILL, President Chamber Of Com
Your committee 10 whom was refer
red the following resolution: that the
secretary be requested to address
a letter to each Chamber OF Western
cities requesting them to eo-operate
with this body in pe~titioning Congress
to make needful appropriations for
the construction of a ship canal
from lake Michigan to the Illinois river,
and for the purpose OF constructing a
ship canal from New Orleans to Bari
TARA hay, navigable by the largest sea-
going vessels-beg leave to state
that, after due d~eliberation on
such information as was possible
for W TO command in so short a
time, the subject embraced in the
above resolution is one that should
commend itself to the most earnest at
~tentiOn Of every citizen and business
man of the whole country, and they
should without delay aid in every posi-
BILE manner in bringing the subject not
only as embraced in the resolution,
but the entire agricultural, me-
ehanical and commercial interests Of the
Mississippi Valley, Herewith connected
before Congress.
We deem the Mississippi river and
It's main tributaries as so many national
highways, and as such demand the
most prompt and efficient national aid
that the already vast and rapidly grow
ing commerce of the country demands
at the hands of the national govern
ment the early appropriation Of large
sums of money, in bonds or otherwise,
to be used in the enlarging or con-
structing Of canals, the locking, dam
ming and diversion of rivers, by which
means the valley may not only be
protected from overflow, but the
commerce of the Northwest may find a
direct, cheap and unfettered gateway to
and from the markets Of the world.
AS first among the long neglected but
none the less much needed improve
ments which we would most earnestly
urge ca Congress, is the enlargement OF
the present Michigan and Chicago
canal to a ship canal, at the same time
with equal earnestness we would urge
the construction of a ship canal at New
Orleans from the Mississippi to the deep
waters of the Gulf, thereby opening a
deep, cheap and only gateway to and
from the markets Of the world; that
III VIEW Vi IAiE AdDAu EGAlAALEAlldA uEhEl-
opments of the Mississippi Valley, this
| canal should be so located as to be not
/ only reliable and permanent, but above
any changes that may and doubtless viii
be made by turning the Mississippi river
into Lake Borgne, as the only reliable
means of securing the lower coast be-
low as well as above the city
| of New Orleans from overflow, but
laying the foundation of the outlet and
general cutoff system, by which means
the lower valley can be protected from
O~verfiOW-for as TO levees, they have
only increased the evils they were in
tended to remedy.
Therefore, although there are other
routes by which a canal could be made
at much less expense, in the actual cost
of construction, We recommend the
route from Barataria bay to the Missis-
sippi, near or opposite New Orleans.
The canal will be, in all, about forty
miles long, is already half made by ma
lures lakes and continuous bayOus,
through which small steamboats, have,
and schooners do, continually pass.
The work Of digging the canal ear be
done with powerful steam-dredges on
boats, at a comparatively small expense,
and the mouth or gulf end kept open by
lighters similar to those constructed al
the mouth of the Suez canal. The tow
age, if any at all, will be less distance by
this than any other route, and can be
done by powerful locomotives at a tri-
fling expense. With this canal New Or
leans will be the cheapest, instead of the
most expensive, port in America. Then
big ships will be built with a view to the
trade of the Mississippi Valley. Thus,
with big ships to meet our big steam
boats and great barge lines, with eleva-
tors, grain will be transported from Lake
Michigan or Western ports to New
York, or Liverpool, or continental Europe
for rates not exceeding ten cents
a bushel, and all other freights lessened
in proportion. The saving to the grain
crop and other commercial interests Of
the Northwest will, in one year, pay for
the building of the canal.
The building of this canal will give to
the Mississippi Valley the new markets
of Central and South America, the
West Indies, and direct trade with
Europe. Then every railroad on the
east, as well as ON the west side of the
Mississippi river, will become so
many feeders to this great nation
al roadstead of commerce. Build
the canal, and no power on earth can
divert from this, its proper channel, the
commerce of the Northwest. This is
the key to the growing power, influence,
greatness and commercial grandeur
of this wonderful valley, which will, at
40 distant day, contain a population of
three hundred millions of people, withall
the vast resources, arts, science, that
viii naturally belong to such a people.
Thar. Ghfaaan Ef T,psz DsN4-l.--
Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, New
Orleans and all other cites and towns,
both great and small. on the Mississippi
river and its main tributaries, will build
and own their ships, and carry their
own productions direct to and from the
open markets of the old world as well
as the new world.
The valley of the Ohio and its beauti-
full river must share in this grand and
general plan of improvement by the ma
tiOnal government. That river must be
locked and damned. The coal and iron
fields of Virginia and Pennsylvania
alone demand this of the government,
to say nothing Of the other agricultural,
mechanical and commercial interests Of
the great States bounding its waters.
The grain fields of the West demandit:
the cotton and cane fields of the South,
and the shops and factories of New York
and New England will each and ali be
benefited; and that which benefits a
part enriches the whole.
Therefore, We earnestly recommend
that not only the Chambers of
Commerce and Boards of Trade
of Southern and Western cities, but all
men, no matter whether engrOssed pro-
f~essiOnally, or in agricultural commerce,
arts, science or otherwise-they are all
alike interested = should contribute
to the early accomplishment of meas
ures so useful, beneficial and highly i'm
portant.
Therefore we hope, at an early day,
to hear a favorable report from our
cities, hoping that some of
them may suggest the time and place
for a general convention, for the pur-
pose of discussing and agreeing on some
general plan of action.
Signed JOHN COWDEN,
Oh the Committee of the Memphis Chamber of
1t was received and ordered to be
transmitted to or representatives in
Congress-.
THE COTTON DEPARTMENT.
Colonel Pinson offered the following
resolution:
ResolUed, That the President of the
of Commerce is hereby au-
thorized and requested to appoint q
committee, TO be composed Of five men,
bers, whose duty it shall be immedi-
ately to canvass the cotton factors and
of the city, with the view Of pro
subscribers to the proposed Cot
ton Department of the Chamber Of
Commerce, and that each subscriber to
the Cotton Department shall first be-
a member of the Chamber of
I'm rnnrco en1hinrt To all Tho rrlns I'LL