, 1873-11-03

In currency. Tho bhnkH 1t first auBpended Tor
but thirty days, which expired on the 25th inBt
Thoy have, however, extended tho time sndef,,
nltoly. They will kecp 1t up, probably, until
they hayo sent enough cotton North to 1eRve
balance In their favor there. Until then 1t would
not 10 safe for thon to reaume ut leaat, that Is
what thoy any. A great deal Of dissatisfaction is
felt but, as this Is d long-aufroring community,
tho classification oxhauHss itself In gro"ls.
TIE auaAR-pLANTrSa 1NTEREsT.
The sugar-intorest Of this State has boon, for
tho last fow years, waning ono. For some
reason tho Bugar-plantora do not seem to make
q auccesa Of the free-labor system. It Ia pzobac
bic that tho fault ia not 80 much In the system
III In tho connection with 1t Of the extravaganza
Of detail which accompanied tho old-timo way.
at all ovnnts, the fact is patcnt, that this most
profitable Of all agricultural interoats In auto
bellum times has Of late boon little botter than
mse1strom into which many an unfortunate
plantor'e fortune has boon ongulfod. The num-
bo1 Who aro really making money ut 1t ls fow,
while hundreds Of plantations arc lying quite
idlo, beiug eaton up with taxes, md thor broad
acres fast growing up to weeds, and retrograd-
| iuE to tho condition In which De Soto found
| them.
| THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.
There ia but little intorest manifested hero on
ton to tho interests involved. There Is no city
| in the country which has 30 much to be gained
| BY the agitation OF this question as New Or
leane At present, there Is nothing done hore re-
| which could possibly be dignttlod by the name Of
| gran-busiuoss. What little cora is received in
| bulk does not amount to vessel-load month,
| and that received in sacks is distributed around
| tho country for home consumption Aa to
wheat, there has not 3 yeBsel-load cleared THIS
| year. There doeB not appear to ba much doubt,
among those who ought to know the most about
it, tint grain can be brought to thia city from
tho West, down the river in barges, great
| tleal cheaper than it can he sent to Nav York.
The difference in favor OF New Orleans is con-
siderable. The obstaclo to her ever having OBJ
tanned any Of the grain trade ID generally be-
lieyed to 10 tho uncertainty Of vessels crossing
may to son,n extent be true i but, to my mind
there arc other and greater obstacles than low
water, to which shall subsequently refer.
THE MISSISSIPPI DAR.
It Is remarkable TACT about this bar that,
when tho water OF the river Ia at lta highest
SINCE there in q loss depth On the bar than when
it il at its lowest. Thus, laat spring; when tho
river waa within feot Of high,water mark, tie
mouth Of the nyor was blockaded with vessels
hard aground; and now, when the river IL 12
feet lower than at that time, the largest
alips hive no difficulty in going out md COM
Ing in. This ia easy explained. When tho
river is highest, 1t contains tho largest propor-
ton OF sediment. When 1t is lowest it Is almost
clear. c The bar IL formed by The sediment com
ing in contact with the salt and still waters OF
tho Gulf, aud aettliug at the bottom. of course,
when the water ls clear, there is no mud to set'
tie. and, consequently, tho channel ie always
pasBablo at all Tor lnrgo vessels, when tho river
ig high ia by the constant dredging Of tho two
powerful dredgo-boatR-the Essayons and the
McAlcator-w tho Government keeps at the
| Passes. These dredgo8 are sort OF double-euded
: propeller. Tho wheel at one end forces tha
boat forward, while the one at tho other throws
up tho mud from tho bottom, which tho current
carriea along aud deposits somewhere else. It ia
yious that ut best this is but poor method
for keopiug the mouth OF SO great 2 river opon.
Tue work must be done unremittngly, and ls
!. therefore, very expensive. Tic proposed reno:
dy for this IL tho
Fonr 81. PHILIP CANAL
to which frequent reference ia made In tht
Western papolB, but Of which very little seems
to be known. I have been informed that I'M
| til recently, even Senator West did mol, know
whore tlia canal was located, or Whist Y
| was for, aud that he communicated witt
d prominent member Of tho Chamber Of Com
merce here for information on the subject
He had the great outlet canal confounded in lltE
, mind with one Of the humbug draining caua
, schemes passed BY former State Legislature
| charge Of tho iutorests Of !" this people" il
Congress do not understand these things, com
mon people cannot be expected to. This canal
! scheme is b, n9 moans now cue. Tho rontt
olared practicable Nothing, howeyer, was dont
about it: and enough money has boen spen
! since then in dredging tue bar, ana lost 70 90
tention Of freight, to have built the canal dog
, On t1nee over It ia to be but seven miles long,
, It IL to start from point little below Fort St
/ Philip, about 80 milets south Of Now Orleans
which opens into tho Gulf It is to be 500 foe
wide and IS feet @ deep. It is estimated that i VII
cost from 90, 600 900 to 81 600, 900. This woult
51jng vessels to tic olty several hours aeone
tInae " y, tho icavcst draSt Il Is ouite remark
aba tlIiur now to lave . vessel cross tie ba
drawing 20 feot Of water, anil It ia olai1nod thai
vessels shoujd drsw Is in ordar 10 carry grai1
""sA@ fAo'''' ,AoK oF o4rrrAn.
II tho Fort st. Phj]ip canal wgre fixed fac