New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-31
Two Days with the senate Committee.

| pointed for the members of the Committee
on Transportation of the Senate of the
United States, now in this city, composed
of Senator William Windon, of Minnesota,
chairman; John Sherman, Of Ohio; j. L.
West, Of Louisiana; II. G.. DAVIS, of West
Virginia, and S b. Conover, of Florida, ac
| compaed by Senator Hamlin, Of Maine,
and Representative d. w. Gooch, of Mas
sachusetts, to complete their lab0rs on the
question of the feasibility of the Fort St.
Philip canal by inspecting the proposed site.
The steamer Crescent City, which has
been newly repaired and fitted up for the
use of the United States corps of engineers,
| was lying at the head of Cont street, the
flag Of that department, the white castle
ON q blue ground, flying at the fore. The
revenue cutter laid several squares below.
| At about eleven o'clock the majority of the
distinguished guests had arrived, attended
by Governor Kellogg and many other prom
| inent gentlemen of Louisiana, somo of
whom participated in the excursion.
| On the part Of the Chamber of Commerce
were Messrs. John II. Kennard, A. X Mil
Ter, Charles Z. Slay back, while the Cotton
Exchange was represented by Harrison
Watts, Esq. Besides these gentlemen were
General w. II. Emory, Colonel w. w.
Sanders, Judge C. L. Chase, General NJ.
jeff. Thompson. State Engineer, Major
John r. French, sergeant-at-arms of the
Senate, and E. 2. Bradley, Esq, phonogra-
pher who accompanied the committee in
their official capacities. In the company were
Mrs. Hamlin, Mrs. Gooch. Hiss Alley and
Willie Gooch. and the latter certainly en-
joyed the trip as well as any Of his elder
companions.
| The stock Of refreshments literally sup
piled by the committees of arrangements of
the Cotton Exchange and Chamber of Com
| merce were stored ON board the Crescent
City, the John A. Dix being selected to
convey the excursionists on account of her
speed. The cutter was first directed up the
river as far as the elevator to give the
! guests an idea of the size and appearance
of New Orleans, and then Captain Free
man determined to see how quick he could
reach Magnolia plantation. The fastest
time ever made on the forty-eight miles be-
tween there and the city was BY the
| Heroine, of two hours and nineteen
\ minutes, and the next by the Rio Grande.
I two heurs and twenty-one minutes. Both
| of these vessels were blockade runners,
built expressly for speed. Menday the
John A. Dix made the same distance in
| two hours and fifty minutes, which is a re-
| markable performance.
~, 7,
been entirely rebuilt, has new boilers and
| is the fastest boat of her kind. Her officers,
| who contributed greatly to the comfort and
pleasures of the party, are Captain E. A.
Freeman, First Lieutenant T. Mason,
Second Lieutenan: s. E. Mcguire, Third
Lieutenant A. p 4. Hanks, Chief Engineer
j. N. Cease, First Assistant S. T. Taylor,
Second Assistant W. F. Blakemore.
On reaching the landing at Magnolia
plantation, the excursionists were met by
Hon. Efingham Lawrence and escorted to
the house. After short stay the sugar
house was inspected, and the process, new
to most of them, of reducing the cane
| through all the stages, from the first cut
ting to the final production of pure white
sugar, was thoroughly explained by Mr..
Lawrence and his brother and son. What
the latter young gentleman could not ex
plain abont sugar making did not seem to
be of much Importance to the committee
From the sugarhouse ride was taken TO
where the steam plow was at work. The
number of questions asked by the Senators
and the interest manifested were very
gratifying.
Hon. Bradish johnson drove up while the
plow was being examined, and returned to
the house. Some guests expressing desire
to pluck an orange, they were led to q tree
loaded with the beautiful fruit, and INDUCED
their fancy to their hearts content. Many
went through the orange orchard, the most
magnificent ON the continent, and cut SOU
venirs of their visit.
Two hours or more were pleasantly spent
in this way. and then came dinner. The
hospitality of Magnolia plantation is too
well known to need description, and besides
the committee was on its way to see about
a canal. There was not much said about it
until justice had been done with affairs
and Senator Hamlin monopolized the con-
versation on the subject of Cuba, with an
occasional word from Senstor Window, W ho
finally called on Senator West, as the com
mander-in chief of the expedition, to say
something of its object.
Our Senator's opinions having long been
well known to be heartily in favor of the
canal his address was Of course devoted to
showing what progress had been made to-
ward success.
He called on Senator Window, who said
that in considering the question, it was not
q matter of merely local Louisiana interest.
The West had to look upon the question as
affecting the whole country. He did not
state what the committee would do, but he
showed that, as q representative of Mime
sofa, he had desire for the prosperity of
Louisiana.
Colonel Lawrence spoke of the decline Of
property and increase of taxation, and Mr..
johnson also touched on the same theme. |
One cause was the condition of the mouth |
of the Mississippi. The people asked for
help. and he knew of no way to give it to |
them except through favorable report of |
this committee.
The earnestness Of his remarks and those |
of Colonel Lawrence seemed to make great |
impression on the committee, for Senators |
Sherman and Davis both spoke strongly on |
the burden OF taxation. |
No remarks were made officially On the |
subject, but confdentially, as Senator Sher- |
man said, the chances for the canal seemed |
to improve.
Colonel Lawrence said he should like to |