New Orleans Republican., 1873-04-11
MISCEIEVOUS,

Some one signing himself ''common
sense" disproves his right to use that sig
nature by an article prominently pub
lished in the Picdy1ose. He reads a lee.
ture to the Chamber Of Commerce for ap-
proving "empirical and untried schemes
and attributes to them Ignorance Of facts
and grave inexperience" IN regard to the
distractions or the bar at the passes of
the Mississippi. He then pronounces the
scheme of canal from the Mississippi!
to the Gulf utterly impracticable. asserts
that it will cost ten millions Of dollars.
through land utterly unfit for canaling.
which. even if completed. would be sub
ject to the same, and even more serious
difficulties than those encountered at the
mouti! OF the Mississippi, which would ne
cessitate the same burden for towing, and
would expose shipping to pegils and taxes
not incurred il the navigation oc the river
As these assertions have been despised
by persons not %traid to sign their names
to what they write. We do not reproduce
the evidence. II is only proper to remind
the public that there can be no more a
'.iob or speculation in asking the govern
,nent Of the United States to construct this
canal than to repair the levees. nor can
free ship canal expose ships 'to taxes not
incurred in the navigation of the river
But our experience as journalists enables
us to detect the smallest possible mouse in
the largest amount Of philanthropic meal.
What does Common Sense mean bv
these passages!
And why incur this enormous expense in
so wild a scheme to secure an exit for our
commerce. when by an expenditure Of
seventy-tiye or hundred thousand dollars
year, the obstructi0ns which it is pTo-
posed thereby TO flank may be overcome
and removed. And how is this to be done.
Simply by the process successfully tried
many years ago. and which is always sue.
cessful when pursued efficiently and ildi.
cially, to wit: by beginning with the rise of
the river to dTedge the bars, and keep
dredging them until "A safe passage for ships |
is established and kept up until the river
declines.
Very good. Then. let the government
reform the agencies employed. But, nc.
Common sense thinks they are incapa- |
BILE Of reformation.
The United States having attempted that
work failed to execute it. and it is now pro |
posed to give to the same delinquent agency
the sole and exclusive control and power
over the bar Of the Mississippi.
So the United States is "a delinduent
ogency," AMI should be discharged. Who
md what agency should be substituted?
Common Sense says:
The removal Of the har is altogether
on 2 pian, which might safely be
'ontided to responsible parties who are idc3l-
ifcd with our city. Let that plan be pre-
erred to any governmental! or specula i've
yb.
SO there IS :, ''plau." and there are
responsible parties who would under
AXE it. and these maledictions on others.
or want Of sense and integrity, close
With proposal to ontrUst this great work
o certain irresponsible parties the
ow-ring perhaps. oy others. who Lave
AIKEN charge of the wrecking statious:.. :
he passes. Unfortunately. this work has
een before entrusted to responsible
arties, private contractors, and the re-
uitS were not such as TO encourage the
overnment to continue the contract We
ass from this expression Of concealed
elhslness to show our motive for taiiny
le trouble to do SO. Our article i;
eaded ''AIisclieyous." It is because in
!" great need Of an adequate outlet, New
rleans is desiroUs to secure any plan
lat may prove successful. 1t is the be-
ef Of engineers. and men as far practical 4
; any whatever, that free canal of seven Il
lies will relieve the passes. The expert b
ent, if undertaken by the federal gov
nment, will surely a2t iniure us. The :.