New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-12

ports upon the same subject have recently
been made by Major Howell, skillful
officer connected with the United States
Engineering Department, that have at
tracted the favorable attention of General
Humphreys, Chief of Engineers. He will
submit the subject to board of engineers
for their opinion, and will make final
report to the next Congress.
In the meantime it is important that
our people unite in asking the aid of the
national government in the premises.
New Orleans has deeper interest in the
matter than any other city. 1t would
therefore, be wise for her people to aban-
bon politics and assist in urging upon
Congress the great necessity for securing
the full benefits of the free navigation
Of the Mississippi. not only as means
Of facilitating trade and intercourse be-
tween the people of the States of the
American union embraced in the Missis-
sippi valley. but also the commerce be-
tween the old and new worlds. Let our
people do this; let them be Unanimous in
pressing upon Congress the importance
of thoroughly opening this national
highway to foreign and domestic
trade and all will be right. This will
encourage our representatives to move in
the matter, and their action will stimulate
the representatives Of the other States
Of the Mississippi valley and Of the
great West to give helping hand to the
project. And when the subject is thor
oughly understood, who can doubt but
that Congress, viewing it as national
necessity, will rise superior to any Sec
tional or local interest and vote for the
measure. The commercial centres Of the
old world would hail such an enterprise
on the part of the government as emil
nently wise. and when it was known to be
completed New Orleans might soon calcu-
late on sharing equally with New York the
great bulk Of foreign and domestic trade
that is now principally enjoyed by the lat.
ter city.
The completion Of the New Orleans and
Texas railroad to Houston will also aid
materially in adding a new impetus to the
business Of this city. It will secure to it
not only ''the lions share" Of the trade of
that rapidly growing State. but will add
to our trade relations with Mexico. as the
day is not far distant when Texas will have
railroad communication with that repub-
lie. For these reasons it behooves the
people Of this city to aid and encourage
by every means in their power the COM
pletion Of the road to Houston. This is
no time to question what has been done
in the way Of permitting the railroad to
be run along the levee or of donating
whole squares of ground for railroad
depots. 1t is quite certain that without
these advantages railroad from Mo-
bile to this city would not have
been built. and the railroad to
Houston commenced. If we had
home capitalists to undertake this work
it is highly probable they would have ex-
acted all and perhaps more than has been
granted in aid of the enterprise under
taken by the capitalists of other States.
In the present condition Of affairs. when
third of the houses in the city are for
rent and property is said to be almost
valueless because there is no business, it
is certainly heaping folly upon folly to be
fighting men who have undertaken to aid
US in obtaining the means to revive bust
ness and give value to property. Our
people should remember the road to Texas
will help do this.