Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-04
The Congressional Exelrs;snists At
New orleans.
Editorial Correspondence Of The Star.l
Nu,xr npr

NEW ORLEANS, May a, 1873.
New Orleans is seeking q panacea for her
business debilities as wen as her political ills
and with a view to getting the government
doctors to look into her case, sent delegation
to our Congressional excursionists urging very
strongly that q visit should be paid there. The
invitation was accepted, and our party, bidding
adieu with some regret to hospitable Galveston
took passage on one of the Morgan line Of
steamers to Brashear, from which point we
were conveyed, also, by Morgan's railroad to
New Orleans.
THE MORGAN LIME.
A good deal Of outcry is made in the south
about the onercus monopoly and exorbitant
rates of the "Morgan line" from New Orleans
to Texas. 1t b certainly pretty close monopoly
and probably the rates high as they are on all
southern lines, 50 far as my experience goes;
but it is certain that Charles Morgan has been,
on the whole, so great q benefactor to
this region that it is a pity they have
not here few more OF the same breed.
In the first place, the management is model,
both on the rail line and on the boats. In the
next, Morgan, by the energy, promptitude,
and colossal nature Of his operations, may
which otherwise than through his instrumental
ity might have never existed, or only been the
sh0w SIowth Of He in the
railroad Of eighty miles, running from New
OrleOus to Brashear, and converted it into one
OF the best railroads in the country. In the
same connection, he put in operation a fleet of
first-class steamers, and made line Of transit
between New Orleans and Texas ports that at
once served to develop an immense business be-
his operations until they have reached vast pro-
portions, especially as the work Of an individual,
and; and not OF . company; He has now twenty-five
averaging about I, 100 tons each, and also has
three immense steam ferry boats running be-
tween New Orleans and Algiers, on the oppO-
site side of the river, where his railroad com
mences and his great manufacturing shops are
situated. His road is stocked with some five
hundred cars and is fully equipped to carry on
the heavy freight operations it is required to
sustain. Twenty-four thousand barrels of
freight have been taken into New Orleans i'm a
single day by the Morgan line; The greatest
trade over it is i'm cattle, and ], 900 head a day
from Brashear to New Orleans is not excep-
tiOnal work.
BRAsHEAR TO NEW ORLEANS.
The run by rail from Brashear to New Or
leans is through what is called "the sugar
bOwl' OF Louisiana, or its rich cane land and
we passed through a continuous succession of
cane and rice plantations, though a large pro-
portion Of them were in state of dilapidation
and disuse that told uDpleasantly of the busi-
ness prOstraton and political disorder prevail
ing in the state. After passing q succession of
untdy looking sugar plantations, with mills and
tenements in decay or altogether in ruins, a
thrifty, well-tilled estate was pointed out near
New Orleans, as the property Of Cakes Ames
lie seems to have had a pretty keen eye to
POINTS all through the south where q little mo-
ney could be put ''tO do the most good" in the
way OF purchasing railroads, canals, and real
estate The country from Brashear to New
orleans Is nearly hat plain, much of il capa-
BILE Of overflow for the cultivation of rice. An
occasional alligator in the slOughs and bayous
served TO cause buzz of exclamation from the
of contrast to this hideous reptile, with acres
upon acres Of that most beautiful and fragrant
OF flowers, the white pond lilly.
NEW ORLEANS
is in bad way, and the air of gloom and de-
spondency that has settled upon the city is
painful to see to those who remember it in it,
days OF gsyety and prosperity. Coming from
active. cheerful Galveston, the difference i,
very marked. Since getting here we have met
the penalty usually inflicted upon those who
visit Earring family; we have had to listen to
the heated representations Of both the warning
political cliques, and if half they SAY of each
other Is true, it would seem that neither side is
fit for power; and that a return to straight-out
military rule offers about the only satisfactory
solution of the difficulties here. Kellogg be-
lieve to be a well-disp0sed man, and he certain
ly gained considerable respect from the people
of Louisiana by his course as Senator, but the
process Of counting him in' as elected Gov
ernor, was such burlesque upon election
forms that 1t is not strange that the people
here look upon his rule as an intolerabie
usurpation. i do not overlook the fact that
Side, and that the McEnery party is loaded
down with Odium for the murderous outraRes
upon the colsred people; but two wrongs do not
lican party, especially, to set an example Of in
tegrlty and fair dealing in election matters. 1t
is to be hoped that Congress will not again
directly with the Louisiana muddIe. The mem.
bers here now admit, SO far as have talked
with them, that great mistake was made in
slurring the question over at the last session.
THE WANTS OF NEW ORLEANS.
But New Orleans is laboring under a compli-
cation OF disorders, and her business prostration
Is due partly to other causes as well as her
political troubles. 1t is doubtful if the CITY will
ever again see the flush times Of the past when
the Mississippi did the great carrying trade of
the Mississippi valley through the gates Of New
Orleans, and when the 70: linda of that great
caravansea, the St Cha: ss Hotel, was the
social and business excb lnge of the world
Now the railroads interse ting the Mississippi
have diverted q vast port, Of the trade that
used to follow the river d. yn to New Orleans;
still the Crescent City has not abandoned the
hope OF restoration If ali its business
ton as rival to the rail. But first the nayi-
CATION of the Mississippi FAUST be improved at
It's mouth; for New Orleans knows that when
tuo CuuduCc W ucI uarDOE Is so SHALLOW and
ceItain that as at this time, q British ship has
been lying for two weeks at the bar, unable to
get in, and two outward bound grain-laden YES
sells have been detained about the same length
Of time, she cannot expect the trade of the
world to come to her VT rves. How to make
good serviceable and permanent channel in
place of the half dozen shallow and shifting
exits Of the river to the Gulf is the question
That the people here ha We no belief in the pos
sibility Of making cha mel Of any Of the ex-
listing ones 10 shown by the fact that
they &fo almost q unit in favoring
the St Philip canal project, which pro.
poses to intercept the river above the passes
about six miles below Fort st. Philip, and make
q passage ACROSS Q strip Of alluvium to the
deep waters Of the gulf. The Congress-
men who went down, Per steamer, to the
with this canal project, and have no doubt il
will get support at the next session for q
pretty large aPpropr alton, rs st. Louis and ali
the Mississippi valley Is Interested in the apen-
ing of the river. The objection has been made
to the canal project that the ground is not drm
enough to bear the foundations Of the locks.
but Major Howell, United States engineer.
who has given considerable attention to
the matter, says that recent boring has
discovered safisfactory base. Major d. OPP
poees the ffittering away Of any more money.
In building Jettiee, designed to conhne the vol
ume OF the river 70 single current, aud thereby
ScOur out channel OF sufficient depth. He