New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-23

tive availability OF these or other methods,
and OF the ship canal scientific examina-
ton must determine. Either, it lie magnani-
mousiy conceded, would be better than the
| present obstruction.
This is an adroit argument to bring the
jetty system in competition with the canal.
| When We claim that the question has been
decided and that New Orleans. which
has not said word about the up river
Improvements, has planted herself upon
the Canal, We see in this insidious revival
OF question that is no longer question,
| handle given to our enemies, a division
among our friends We connect, as we
have right to dc with this covert rec
ommendation, published plan to organ
ize an excavation company one of whose
enterprises will be to do this very ;etty
work and make no charge for it
until completed and success. We think
the memoriaiists will have filed in their
appendix document which violates their
professions OF neutrality in their text.
They had better overhaul this document
and see lest it virtually gives the authority
OF st. Louis to method which has re-
ceived the unqualified condemnation of
New Orleans. We claim, as at first. that
while the upper cities have the right to
recommend special modes for improving
the obstacles in their vicinity. that the
Judgment and wishes of New Orleans
should be entitled to the same respect.
We will now Pay our respects to tie
professional! engineer. This profession is
Of great use. It is one Of the exac: oc-
equations. and its experts are very useful
in carrying into effect the plans Of states.
men and legislators. The engineer may
very well calculate the cubic contents OF
an excavation. or the tension OR traction
OF materials. On all physical question,
that may be formulated the engineer is
Indispensable. Usually. however. he is |
neither a mar % learning. literature. nor |
has he studied the nature Of government: |
or the motives of men. !
Now, the difficulty in this outlet ques.
ton is precisely one that professional |
engineer would not comprehend. It is |,
the competition which the Mississippi |
must encounter in taking the cereal crops
which are sought by other outlets. Take
the popular power of the United States.
It is already concentrated against the His
sissippi. Add toe vote of Milwaukee and
her railroads to Chicago and her railroads.
weigh the influence OF the whole canal
and railroad systems of New York, ?hila.
delphia, Boston. Baltimore. etc. Then
compare this aggregate vote with any that
the Mississippi can command. 1t will be
seen that our numerical weakness and %.
itical unpopuiarity renders any claim
based on the commercial merits o: |
work doubtful of success. To take the
tendencies of immigration and Of combi.
nation, it will be plain that the relative
vote Of the Mississippi outlet. as against
other outlets from Montreal to Brunswick:
in Georgia. does not promise to increase.
The objection to the endeavoy to i'm.
prove the Quite: passes. either by dredge
OF .ietty, is this, tina. in TIE first case an.
nual appropriations by Congress become
necessary. Ii the other. even if it were
possible of success. periodically there
must be new money awarded by Congress
Or the work would be rendered useless
by the extension Of the delta. The canal.
having been cut. woult. require no annua.
appropriation; would never be taken away.
and if once successful. would be ou:s
forever.
While this IS all argument we would
not expect a professional engineer to ap.
preciate. we address it to every shipper
and merchant. to every member Of Con.
yress as conclusive in favos Of the Fort
st. Philip canal as permanent work.
which. if successful. can neve: be sus.
pended nor destroyed.