The weekly Louisianian., 1874-07-18
OUR GULF OETLETo

:OOfl uULF OGILE'
THEREON
uxa .1ou1s11x1AN, representing es-
LEGALLY the colored masses, and
therefore, alive to the industrial
moyements.that affect and concern
the laborers Of the State, has fire.
quently discussed and sought to
advance the movements, not only.
pending on the, questions of rail
ways and ~levees, but more particu-
larly the various projects looking to
the securement Of adequate outlets
from the Mississippi to the Gulf.
Two plans have been suggested, to
wit: an artificial w~ater.line, secured
byi the construction of the Fort st.
Philip Canal and q deeper river
channel, secured by the construc-
ton, at one Of the river mouths, Of
permanent and sufficient jetties--
and each has found earnest adyo-
Gates in our State. We, however,
with the light before u.s., giving
preference to the adoption OF the
Canal scheme, but seeking mainly
tho furthernnoein some practicable
form of the great enterprise, of an
ample outlet for our products, pro-
pose to give our readers some: idea
(of; the present status OF the
" outlet" question, and its pros.
pect of success in some one
Of the suggested forms herein
referred to; restricting ourselves
more especially to tho action had
on the Canal project. Under
House Resolutions March. 14th,
1871; Capt. Howell made q prelim.
mary survey of the proposed Canal
from the Mississippi river, at OF
near Fort st. Philip to Isle au Bro
ton Sound, and submitted estimates
thereupon of the work. Suisse
quently, under the direction Of The
Chief Of Engineers, Gen. Hum
phreys, a Board Of Engineers, com.
posed: of Gems. Barnard, Newton:
Gilmore, Warren, Weitzeland Col
Craighill and Major Howell, revised
the report Of Major Howell; and
submitted a report thereon with
additional estimates In trans
hitting this latter report. to the
Secretary Of War, Gen. Humphreys
while concedingg the p~racticability
of the construction of the Canal.
adds: r. 1@ -. .
ITO determine, however, tho best line
for. the location of the canal across tho
LpeninsuIa, and the best point for its en-
tcring the river, and also the position and
manner of its entering Isle M Breton
Pass, requires further surveys, boringgs and
examinations and measurements, and the
preparation of plans. based upon thei,
results.
'The board, excepting Colonel Bar.
nard submits an estimate of the cost OF
constructing n canal of tho dimensions
stated, within tic limits designated, which
it believes to be ample"
The Board of Engineers in their
report in sections l, 2, T.. and s
favorins this Canal, reach substan'
TALLY the same conclusions sug'
gested by Gen. Humphreys, ane
with him favor, as preliminary to &C
tual locations and work on the canal
further surveys, borlngs and othe1
examinations and measurements
&C." ...
Gen. Barnard, the President o
the Board Of Engineers, submitted
a dissenting report, affirming tina
the feasibility Of the Canal was yc
undetermined and also that the open
ing Of one Of the passes or mouth
Of the river by jettees was NOR
practicable and desirable. It ma,
be remarked in this connection, tina
Gen. Humphreys, Chief OF Engi
neers, in his celebrated work on th
Physics and Hydraulics of til
Mississippi River, pages 449-45s
and also before the Senate Trans
portation Committee, admits tn
feasibility Of the jettee system
though he now contends, that th
tidal current is not sufficient to OF
viate the expense Of ton annu'