Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-25
.s,ss -. Delta IA D0INGs. i j. !.
The Congressional aEn,eeugFysiisoqn En,eeugFsionists.
A Pleasure Trip that May Prove
80 ~ Profitable. Ss&&A
Feasibility of the st. Philip Canal.
The Congressmen Enthusiastic for
the Enterprise.

I the Enterprise.
| NEW ORLEANS, May 24.-The Ereninq
Times has the following in relation to the
/ excursion to the Delta on the Belle Lee:
| By 9 A. NJ. all the CongFessmen, all
wicker baskets, with the numbers labeled
on them, and all the ice and their fxings,
were safely aboard. The mate shouted,
sscast loose your head lines" and with two
or three snorts the floating palace backed
out from the wharf. Her cannon pealed
forth . farewell salute. The band burst
| forth with triumphant air. Thousands
on the wharf waived and chee cred, and the
boat turned her head up stream. After
passing the loug line of shipping, which
/ lines our wharves up TO jackson street, she
| curved round into the strong current of the
middle and sought the mouth OF the great
river, which bears the wealth and bounty of
the earth from the mountains TO the sea.
A Peal of Artillery
! saluted the excursioDists as they went by
| the United States barracks and was still
being fired when the swift steamer reached
the esrthworks of the old battle ground anG
| the monument of the gallant Packenham,
all of which we're kindly pointed out and
eagerly sought by the strangers. The great
cane fields, the banana and orange groves,
| all had their charms for the visitors. 1or
sights of the growth of semi-tropic cline
were very interesting to men who had come
| from the great States of the West where,
although generous soil brings the harves :,
| the days Of verdure are most limited in
number. They seemed specially interested
| IN what was formerly the residence of
| Judah p. Benjamin,
| on the Belle Chase plantation, and they
spoke of the glory the expstriated states
mani s gaining by bis talent in another
land. This place kis one of the finesS in the
State, the beautiful dwellings and grounds
are calculated 10 excite the admiration of
all who behold them. Jesuits' Bend, one
of great rice producing districts of Louisi-
ana next occupied their attention, and oc-
casioned much comment from our visitors
| who looked at the green fields and make
| comparisons between the enormous finan-
cial returns of this product and the wheat
OF the Northwest. Passing these the boat
reach MYRTLE Grove, whc \ the band saluted
with the old sweet air of "home sweet
home," as tribute to those who are living
there. The
Magnificent Estates
| of Mr.. Bradish johnson attracted a great
deal of attention, and the neat, trim fields
of these plantations showed many Oh what
grand scale sugar was formerly cultivated
| in this State, for in the od times ali places
were like these. The far-famed plantation
OF Mr.. Lawrence at Magnolia, had been
anxiously inquired after by The Congress
men who had heard in their States Of this
place, and were very desirous of seeing it.
| They were not disappointed, for soon its
| immense green fields of cane burst on the
view, and many were the EXPLANATIONS of
| delight with which its first appearance was
greeted. In the big fields we're four loco
motive engines dragging
POnderous steam PIOws
| through the soil, besides many other
| great objects such as the sugarhouse, which
is massive building, aDd the orange grove
which the Sicilian fruit sellers say is the
| largest in the world. The men from the
| great western farm countries were speedily
| interested in the steam plows, aud their
meaning exclamation when they saw them,
| was, "rhat means business"
At Magnolia the boat rounded to and
took on board the Hon. Effigbam Law
renee, who was enthusiastically received
and warmly greeted by all on board. Pass
ing
| The Rice Fields
| and rice mills of Pointe La Hoche, the
boat proceeded on her way till folts jack
son and st. Philip We're in sight. The frown-
ing guns in these grim fortifcstions recalled
the smoke and flame they hurried forth in
1 our civil war, but the old Rebels and the
Northern CongressInen laughed and told sto
| ries of the war, which indicated that these
4 II loe
object of interest on the trip was the site of
| the
Fort st. Philip Canal,
which has already been surveyed. When
the small building that marks the proposed
beginning of the work hove in sight, the
deck was throDged by those who were
anxious to see even the markings of this
great scheme. The Congressman of the
West looked at the narrow strip of low allu-
vial which bars the great river from the deep
waters of the Gulf, and seemed to see at
once the great importance of the project.
They spoke of the feasibility and cheapness
of putting through this narrow neck and
foretold the great results 'cruing from it
to the whole valley. They were infused
with ardor at the prospect fol having an un-
obstructed outlet for the
Pent-up Grenaries
of the West. They seemed to enter
into the project with heart and head and
soul, and one especially was so much car.
ried away as to say that we will make New
Orleans and St. Louis yet the great rivals
of New York, and ten years would see the
fulfllment of his prcphesy.
After arriving at the proposed result of
this canal and stopping there some time
s. uf,a 70 Al,as, II
the boat started sg ain on the trip to Pass a
L. Outre. Before reaching their destina-
ton the gong sounded for
Dinner,
the viands and wine of which were In keep
ing with the other hospitalities extended on
the occasion of this distinguished visit. The
excursionists discussed the topics of the
day with the merits Of pampano, roast beef
and tu key, while their appetites were su-
perinduced by the fresh balmy gulf breezes
which had been blowing all day. The sub
stantial solids and liquids of life occupied
them for some time, and the feast was truly
one of reason, while after the feast they had
an abundant flow of soul and kindly senti-
ment. The champagne sparkling in many
goblets and the sparkle of wit and repartee
for long time kept the company full of
| LIS, HuuuOT duu udPplHooS' Ii 50 WuO
were able to overcome the somniferous
influence of good dinner left the Belle at
the Pass L'Outre station, where she had
stopped, and embarkiDg on the beautiful
Creole sought
The Open Gulf
beyond the bar. With an inspiring air the
band bade farewell for while to those who
chose to remain, and the more lively ex-
cnrsionists sought the deep waters. The
sound of the surf, and the life-giving sea
breeze seemed to impart new vigor to those
dwellers on the land, and while with a
foaming bow the swift steamer cleft the
index of good spirite, rose high. Every
body was interested in the dim lines of
smoke which were rising far at sea below
the horizon, and when now and then dark
steamer or tow passe1, the band gave a
lively greeting as they glided by. In her
course the Creole passed near
The DredgebOat
which was hard at work dredging the chan
mel. Those who had often heard of this
vessel and her operations for the benefit of
commerce were particularly interested in
watching her removing the mud. The
Creole after running short distance out to
sea, returned to the bar which the steamer
| Alabama a as crossing at the time Saund-