Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-25
Tlle Couwressmen ~

great scarcity OF export tonnage az NeW
Orleans.
The CoDgFessmen tIA ~
Of many States fthe West were called on
and each give his opinion on the scheme in
q short speech. More than twenty Con-
gressmen of the West and South, men of
influence and stamina, took the floor, and
all entertained { q same opinion as to the
necessity of this canal. They condemned
the legislation of the Government for so
long neglecting the Mississippi river, and
said that as Congress had just appropriated
four million dollars 10 y KEE
a Pavang ahe streets - -
of Washington with asphaltum and wood
that Ii should at least pay six million dol
lars to the completion of scheme wh ch Is
of paramount importance to the whole
Western AMI Southern country. They
said that Eastern railroad monop0lists had
crushed down the products of the West too
long and that the thing Of not finding q
chance for exporting their products was
getting to be -
AQuesfion Of Starvation
with the immense population OF these
States; that quantity Of grain has been
burnt during the past year because it would
not pay the cost of transportation; that this
was the route that the god of nature marked
out as an outlet to the great granaries OF
the West, and down this route it was bound
to come. They limited that if the power of
the East could find no better way of spend
ing their money than decorating the capi-
tai and big seaboard towns, they would
Combine with the South
and move the Government Capital and all
to St. Louis, where it would be better
cared for. They said that New Orleans was
destined to become the great city of the
continent, and that no city Of the world pos
sesses so many natural advantages. They
intended for man to bring this matter
of Giving the Mississippi adeep outlet b. fore
Congress at its next session and force action
upon it. They had ali decided to give it
thsir firm support, and some said if
Fifty Millions
were necessary to it they would demand
it from the national government as right
of the West. The Kanawha, like the Sa-
vannah canal routes, were then discussed,
but those of the Mississippi they considered
of paramount importance to all others.
They said that Mexico and the Antilles
were tempting objects, that were inviting
us to step in and take them and relieve
them from their miserable government, and
that with the accession of these, New Or
leans would be their great port Of exchange.
Maj. Howell, -1..r .s=ee--
United States Engineer,
was called upon to give his views and ex-
press his opinions as to the feasibility of the
pr ject, aud also to state the result of his
survey. This gentleman clearly illustrated
the feasibility of the scheme; told that the
proposed connection of the canal with the
Mississippi was six miles below Fort st.
Phillip, and it would have to be dug nearly
out to the Breton Island channel, where
there were thirty fest of water at low tide.
He a,so stated the manner in which the
banks were to be kept from being washed
in; stated that great objection had been
made to the project on the supposition that
the ground below was not firm enough to
bear the foundation of locks, but recent bor-
ing discovered s
A Splendid Base,
whereupon the sfoundation could be built
Before the Convention adjourned Mayor
tended 70 thsm by the Mayor of Vicksburg
to visit that city which was declined. Gen.
Hays then made an eloquent speech, after
which at A. NJ, the members being much
wearied, adjourned.
The steamer Belle Lee after having
been detained for some time by fog on
her way up from the Passes, arrived at the
head of Canal street this A. M,st O'Clock,
with the excursonists aboard and all well
and happy.