New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-15
NEW ORLEANS AS A NAVAL STATION.

made q county of Washington Territory
and the decline of corn in Dakota il
pretty good proof that the United States
will expand no further in the northwestern
direction. The future national progress
in commerce; if not in the addition o.
States to the Union, must be in the dlrec
ton Of the tropics. There alone is to bf
found production and profit adequate te
maintain an American family on the scale
of comfort and social ease that our instl
tutions encourage and demand.
The national ship heads in that dlrec
ton, and very soon the whole interests OF
the Union will demand this development
If Manchester and Leeds require OF the
British government that it should pave a
way with bayonets by which they can fol-
low with their wares through India and
China, why should not Chicago and st.
Louis ask the exercise OF more powerful!
agencies by the United States for SINH
lar purpose. If our cities can order gov.
eminent aid to line Of postal steamers
to China and Australia. what forbids
their directing similar service from New
Orleans to Aspinwall or Rio!
4 proof that the nation is beginning TO
losk upon expansion in the direction in
dicated may be found in the visit Of Mr..
J. o. Easily. naval constructor. United
States Navy. to inspect the naval stations
| at Pensacola. Key West and New Orleans.
with instructions to report any recon-.
mendations deemed useful in regard 70
| them.
When we look to the expanse Of waters
to be patroled and protected by the fed.
eral navy on and beyond the tropical seas.
and on both sides OF this continent, it is
plain that no position is SO proper for the
organization of the future great navy
yard" of the Union as New Orleans:
l. It is base Of supply tor men.
metals, food, fuel, and all other materials
which could be required for the navy Of
the South seas.
2. The cities of the valleys above us are
competent to build any class Of naval
vessels; to cast any class Of guns. and to
manufacture any amount of fixed ammu-
milton. The rail and river connections of
New Orleans could concentrate within
seventy-two hours any military force
which might be needed to line the shores
of the Mississippi from Forts St Philip
and jackson TO this city. There could be
brought by the same means any material
referred to under the second heading.
3. New Orleans is the most proper
station for the construction and repair Of
naval vessels. Not only is it convenient
TO the coal and iron mines of Illinois.
Pennsylvania and Alabama, with the live
oak that surround its own bayous. but it
is the only place in the Gulf or Valley
States at which a ship disabled in the
South seas can be repaired. This is be-
cause it would never do 70 tow ship Of
the line or an ironclad against the current
TO st. Louis. Cincinnati or Pittsburg. In
case. therefore, that war vessel requires
repairing in war or peace. or needs such
supplies as we have indicated, New Or
leans is the nearest station at hand at
which this may be effected. In view Of the
fact that the naval wars of the world will
be fought with steam. and the probability
that the United States. in contending for
the commercial control Of the continent.
may be required to exhibit a commanding
force in these seas that almost surround
it, the importance Of this station is inesti-
mable.
5. But there is al additional and con-
elusive argument in its favor. We as
sumo the national policy to be as stated.
The survey Of locations made by the gov
eminent engineers. have placed beyond
question the practicability Of the Fort St.
Philip canal. During the session Of the
Senate Committee OH Transportation.
that distin guished civil and military engi-
neer. General Beauregard, repeated before
them the argument he had made to the
board of federal engineers a few weeks
before. 1t was succinctly thus: That
ship canal made under protection Of the
federal forts would enable any vessel en-
dangered by hostile forces to run into the
Mississippi river. and SO assure harbor
of refuge with base of supply and a line
of defenses entirely without equal in the
world. This argument. coming from q
gentleman who had planned some of the
strongest and best tested Notifications in
the Union, struck us so forcibly as to sat.
isfy our mind that it alone would justify
the construction Of the cana! as a work Of
national defense.
We regarded the suggestion as noble
and valuable contribution to the strength
and development of the Union. 1t will
be seen that neither jetties nor dredging
the long and tortuous outlets afford this
advantage. We commend the argument
to the shipowners and insurers Of the East
and hope our representatives will present
it. Put, then. all these arguments to-
gether and it will be found that they com.
prehend an irrefutable argument why the
city of New Orleans should be at once con-
stitUted a naval station of the United
States and dedicated to the protection of
all the naval and commercial marines of
the Union afloat on the tyopica! waters Of
this hemisphere.
FORT ST. PHILIP CANAL,
The pertenacity with which Mr.. Eads