Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-05-25
The Congressional Excursion Par
ty Unanimously in Favor of
the st. Phillips
Canal.
The South Must Have Her Share
of Public Improvements,
and Will Get them.
No More Appropriations Until the
Mississippi is Opened from
the West to the
Gulf.


congressional delegation made their eX
cursion to the passes and the Fort ST
Phillip canal at eight o'clock this morn
ing, the time appointed fordeparture, ol
the Belle Lee. On her trip to the passe
with the congressional delegation an,
their friends, the passengers by twos an,
threes walked up the stairs of this boat
and gathered in large numbers on tn
forward deck TO await the coming o
others who were to make up the ful
complement of the excursion party b,
nine o'clock this morning. When al
the congressman, with their wicker-bas
kets, the numbers labelled on them, an,
all the ice and fixings were safely aboard
the mate shouted out in hoarse tones,
"CAsT LOOSE YOUR HEADLINES"
and with two or three snOrts from he
pipe the floating palace backed out from
the wharf, her cannon pealed forth {
! farewell salute, the band burst fortl
with a triumphant air, thousands on th,
wharf waved and cheered, and the boa
turning her head up stream, after pass
ing the long lines of shipping which
| line our wharves up to Jackson street
curved round into the stlOng current o
the middle, and sought the mouth o.
! the great river which bears the wealth
and bounty of earth from mountains tC
the sea. A peal of artillery saluted the
excursionists as they went by the Uni.
! ted States barracks, and was still being
fired when the swift steamer reached
the earthworks of the old battle-ground
and the monument Of the gallant Pack
enham, all of which were kindly
pointed out and eagerly sought by the
strangers. The great cane fields, the
banana and orange groves, all had their
charms for the visitors, for sights of the
growth of a semi-tropic cline were very
Interesting to men who had come from
the
GREAT STATES OF THE WEST,
where, although a generous soil brings
the harvest, the days of veTdure are
more limited in number. They seemed
specially interested in what was former
ly the residence of Judah p. Benjamin,
on the Belle Chase plantation, now
owned by Mr.. StOckhOuse, and they
spoke of the glory the expatriated states
man is gaining by his talent in another
land. The place is one of the finest in
the State, and the beautiful dwellings
and grounds are calculated to excite
the admiration of all who behold them.
Jesuits' bend, one of the great rice pro-
ducing districts of Louisiana, next oc-
cupied their attention, and Occasioned
much comment from our visitors, who
looked at the green fields and made
comparisons between the enOrm Gus
financial returns of this product and the
wheat of the northwest. Passing these,
the boat soon reached Myrtle Grove,
which the band saluted with the old,
sweet air of
"HOME, SWEET HOME"
as a tribute to those living there. The
magnificent estates of Mr.. Bradish John
son attracted great deal of attention,
and the neat, trim fields of these plant
ers showed many on what a grand scale
sugar was formerly cultivated in the
State, for in old times all the places were
like these. The far-famed plantation of
MIR. Lawrence, at Magnolia, had been
anxiously inquired after by the congress
men who had heard in other States of
this place and were very desirOus of see
ing it. They were not disappointed, fOT
soon its immense green fields burst on
the view, and many were the eXclama-
tions of delight with which its first ap-
pearance was greeted. In the big fields
were four locomotive engines dragging
PONDERoUS STEAM PLOwS
through the soil, besides many other
great objects, such as the sugarhouse and
the orange grove, which the Sicilian
fruit-sellers say is the largest in the
world. The men from the great western
farming counties were speedily inter-
ested in the steam plows, and their
meaning exclamations when they saw
them were: "That means business At
Magnolia the boat rounded to and took
on board Hon. Effingham Lawrence,
who was most enthusiastically received
and warmly greeted by all on board.
The boat passed the rice fields and rice
mills of P0int-a-la-Hache, and proceeded
on her way until
FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILLIP
were in sight. The frowning guns in
these grim Notifications recalled the
smoke and flame they hurled forth in
our civil war; but old rebels and north
ern congressman laughed and told stO-
ries of the war, which indicated that
those on board at least were reunited.
The great object of interest on the trip
was the site of the Fort st. Phillip canal,
which has already been surveyed. As
the small building that marks the pro-
posed beginning of the work hove in
sight, the deck was thronged by those
who were anxious to see even the mark
ings Of this great scheme. The western
congressman looked at the narrow strip
Of low alluvial which bars the great
river from the deep waters of the gulf,
and seemed to see at once the great ip-
| poTtance of the project. They spoke OF
the feasibility and cheapness Cf cult 'ng
through this narrow neck, and foretold
the great results accruing from it to the
whole valley. They were infused with
ardor at the prospect of having
AN UNRESTRICTED OUTLET
for the pent-up granaries Of the west.
/ They seemed to enter into the project
with heart and head and soul, and one,
| especially, was so much carried away as
to say, We will make New Orleans
and st. Louis yet the great rivals of New
1 York, and ten years would see the full
] filment of his prophesy.n After arriving
at the proposed route Of this canal, and
stopping there for some time for all par
ties 10 make their observations, the boat
started again on the trip to Pass a-rOu-
tire. Before reaching their destination
/ the gong sounded for dinner, the viands
and wines of which were in keeping
with the other hospitalities extended on
the occasion of this distinguished visit
| The excursionists discussed the topics o.
! the day with the merits of POmpanC
roast beef and turkey, while their appe'
tites were superinduced by the fresh
BALMY GULF BREEzEs,
which had been blowing all day. Sub
stantial solids and liquids of life occupied
them for some time, and the feast wa'
| truly one of reason, while, after the
! feast, they had an abundant flow Of sou
and kindly sentiment. Tee champagne
sparkled in many gOblets, and The
snarkle Of wit and Tepdrfee fol
for a long time kept the company full
of life, humOr and happiness, and ever
a poor time was at one time respected
and even Telished, because all parties
had an excessively kindly feeling
toward each other. But
THE BOuNpEoUs FEAST
was at last brought to O close, while
those who were able to overcome the