New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-21
The Planters Back It..

The Fort ST. Philip canal has received
substantial aid from the patrons of Illus
bandry" in this memorial to Congress in its
favor which eve publish below. We
commend this il dorseu ent to our re-
representatives.:
TO the Forty third Cong ess Of the United States
OF America
The undersigned memorialsts have been
charged by the State Grange Of Louisiana,
at its first and recent session, with the duty
of presenting to your consideration the
paramount Importance to the commerce OF
vast, and the most fertile portion of our
common country, of constructing at the
earliest practical moment, the ST. Philip
canal, as a means of cheaper transportation
of its surplus productions to the markets of
the world. We need not remind the wisdom
of our nation that free and unObstructed
commerce is the highest symbol of ciyilza-
ton and means of national wealth The
aocumulating interest Of twenty millions of
your constituents, who populate the agri-
cultural empire, not only Of our own cOun.
try. but that OF the world, join us in memo
rializing your attention to this enterprise,
as second to none in Importance that can
enter into the problem Of our national
greatness.
Your memorialists would ask tina. this in
terest shall be treated-if treated at all
with the view, not only to meet the emer.
gencies OF the present, but all possible
emergencies OF our future commerce, etc.
Believing that the continued efforts of the
government to keep open the channel at
the bar, or bars, at the mouth of the Missis-
suppl is absolutely essential until the COM
petiOn OF the Fort st. Philip canal, we ask
that an appropriation be made for the con-
struction of two powerful owboats, to cost
each about $75,000 and a further appro-
YrI M 1au To
manning, victualling, fuel, repairs and Incl
dental expenses; that these boats be sent to
the mouth of the Mississippi river under the
direction and control of the Secretary of
War, and required to tow all inward and
outward bound vessels across the bar, at
such hours during each day az shall not
interfere with the workings of the dredge- !
boats, further, to render assistance to any |
and all vessels which may, by reason Of fDS. |
or other causes beyond human control. 90 |
ashore at or near the mouth. 1t is believed 1
that the reduction Of thu cost of trapsuorta- |
ton would be the means of restoration of
the agricultural and commercial prosperity |
81 tie Mississippi valley States,
Vessels, once in.slue the bar, could be
loWed from the bar to port and back at
:ost not exceeding eighty cents per ton.
though now decreasingI about 500, 900 tons
each year. for the past three years, saving
Of $4,000. Besides, under the present
monopoly Of tOwboats it is believed that
there is paid by vessels freighting to and
from New Orleans an annual tax Of 100000
or more from grounding having tc employ
the boats Of this monopoly to pull at them,
in lighterage of cargots, etc; also, cost of
delay of vessels waiting ingress aud esress
while the channel is blocked by grount ed
vessels of as much more making totalo'f
more than 81, 000,0 0O-a tax upon product.
The expenses Of these boats to accom-
plish the end asked, need not be yearly
tax of over $5i,750. a saving OF S945 $50 or
more annually, until completion of the Fort
st. Philip canal, an indirect saving to the
agricultural interests of many millions.
There being, at this time, only one tele-
graph line between the port of New Orleans
and the mouth of the Mississippi river that |
owned and controlled in the sole interest of
a towboat monopoly, the interest of the
public requires the building, by the people
through you, of line between New Orleans
and the mouth of the Mississippi, distance
of lis miles, or hereabouts, costing about
$4,000. 1t should be under the control of | .
the Secretary of War. In time of peace,
essential; in even. of war. absolutely indis-
pensible. n. ID. WErMORE.
w. Ii. PIPES
Il II y0RnAN