New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-03
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Chamber of Commerce was held last eve.
ming, President Oglesby in the chair.
The meeting was unusually large, as i'm.
portant matters were to be discussed.
The reading Of the minutes OF the pre-.
yious meeting were dispensed with.
Mr.. Highly, of the committee on obstruc.
tions, submitteefa report. in which he states
that since February ) twenty-eight vessels
have gone through Pass al Outre, one draw.
ing nineteen feet ten inches, and eighty-six
through Southw Pass. In Pascal 'Outre
is sixteen and half feet of water at
mean low tide. fifty miles wide. South
west Pass has crooked channel. with
q hard bottom OF fourteen and Il half
feet OF water sixty miles wide. Pass-a.
rOutre shortens the distance over South.
west Pass forty miles. and the Fort St.
Philip Canal will lessen it fifty more. The
canal is advocated because it is sure to be
permanent: tho jetty system opposed be-
cause if the annual appropriation ever fails
the commerce of the Mississippi river must
seek an outlet through railroads. In regard
to Eads' bridge at st. Louis, the report says
LuIlScu u uut IStoS podtSp dI any bJdSS
of water. and twenty at ordinary stages,
can not pass under it, and are refused car.
goes on that account. The report recon-.
mends the adoption OF the resolutions
offered by Judge Kennard.
At the conclusion of the reading Of the
report. President O glesby stated that as he
was the only member of the committee who
was to confer with the Legislature in order
to reduce the burdens of New Orleans, he
could say that every one OF the reforms ad
vocated had become laws. He mentioned
this to show how much body of men can
accomplish when they devote themselves to
measures for the public good.
President Oglesby also stated that he
had received dispatch that, although ad-
dressed to him personally, requested action
of the Chamber, and consequently no con-
tidence was violated in communicating its
contents.
He then read the following:
Sr. Louis, February 81, 1874.
To Joseph II. Oglesby. Bsq. New Orleans
Merchants Exchange here gave unani-
nous and unqualified recommendation to
Congress in favor OF my bill and against
canal.
Change sentiment of your merchants;
reverse action OF your Exchange and sup
port me. JAMES Is. EADS.
The President said the communication
was before the Chamber. and it could now
decide whether or not to vescind their &C.
ton and change their sentiments.
Judge Kennard then offered the follow.
ing series of resolutions:
WHEREAS, The Congress Of the United
States has now under consideration the
subject of removing the Instructions to
| navigation a: the mouth of the Mississippi
river; and
Whereas, Delay IN executing The most
| feasible plan is highly injurious to the com
| mercial interests of New Orleans and the
| whole Mississippi valley; aud
Whereas, After long, scientific and patient
| Investigation of the various methods pro-
| posed, this Chamber is of opinion that the
| report Of the majority of the United States
Engineering Board (six out of seven), in.
| dorsed by A. A. Humphreys, Brigadier
| General and Chiet Engineer, should be
promptly adopted by Congress.
| ReSolred, That the Chamber of Comm cree
| of New Orleans earnestly reiterate their
| frequent Endorsement of the Fort st. Philip
| canal project.
Second-That the confidence heretofore
| entertained by this Chamber as to the prac'
| ticability, economy. permanency. and COM
| mercial value of this canal is greatly
| increased by the majority report OF the
| above board.
| character of any improvements at the
mouth of tie Mississippi river make it of
| the first Importance that they should at all
| TIMES and under all circumstances be and
| remain under the immediate control and
supervision of the general government, and
| therefore protest against the letting out OF
| any such work to private Individuals or
corporations who shall be allowed to exer.
else their discretion in the premises.
Fourth-That we recognize the board OF
engineers as a board of equals; that the
voice of six out of seven, especially when
| indorsed bv the chief OF engineers, should
| be more potent with Congress than the dis.
senting opinion of one member, though in.
dorsed by one or more distinguished par
lies.
Frfth-That the estimate Of time. cost and
surveys of the canal made to date exceed
| in accuracy OF detail many surveys and es.
Inmates upon which Congress has IN the
! past made appropriatlons for public works;
that any errors or omissions OF detail can
be corrected without detriment to the work
as a whole.
Sixth-That what is known as the jetty
system Is neither new nor untred; that
past experiments offer no inducement to
hazard the canal by IAN undertaking OF
such great deicacy, the cost of which might
prove excessive that 1.-THE unstable and
! treacherOus nature of the banks imme.
| diately at the mouths of the Mississippi
! river is such as to make the experiments at
| the mouths of the Danube. relied upon by
! the advocates of jetties. unsafe precedeRts
| for this river, while the location OF the
! canal is admitted to be such as to present
| no extraordinary difficulties in its c0nstruc'
| ton and maintenance.
Seyenth-That the military defense OF
the mouths OF the river when jettied. II
| ever, presents far more serious difficulties
| than the protection Of the mouths OF the
| canal.
| Colonel Sandidgs said there was no need
! of any remarks on the subject. There was
no doubt that the sentiment of the Cham
| Der, and Of the citizens OF New Orleans,
was the same as before.
! He seconded the resolution. and the re-
J port Of the obstruction committee was
! adopted.
President Oglesby stated tina. Commo'
dore Rogers was in the city for the purpose
| of considering the practicability Of naval
| site at New Orleans. and it would be expe'
| dent that consultation should be had
| with him.
! On motion of Colonel Sandidge, the Chair
appointed Messrs. Sandidge. kennard.
Greenwood, Bailey and Seixas committee
to wait on Commodore Rogers and confer
! on the subject.
General Busy offered memorial 10 Con.
| oress on the suhiect of tha Texas Pacific