New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-14
be enhanced in the same ratio that popula-

It has been question of some dous.
whether wheat or corn can ne earned py
the way Of the river and Gulf IN warm
weather to foreign countries without dam
age. Without the presence Of dampness,
heat of atmosphere does not damage these
grains. If damp and confined injury VIII
result in any climate and at any season
The experience Of the farmer shows that
his corn keeps as well in summer as IN win.
ter with the same care. But the solution OF
this question is not left to argument. That
it can be carried with safety has been de-
monstrated by thorough and ccntiI ued ex-
perience. 1t is shown that corn shipped
from New Orleans to any foreign port
reaches the point Of destination in JUST as
good condition as from any port in the
United States. Grain is shipped from Eu-
rope to Brazil and other warm countries at
all seasons. traversing the torrld zone, ana
no complaint Of damage is made caused py
warm weather. The grain merchants Of ST.
Louis are particularly satisfied upon this
point. as is shown by their efforts 10 estab-
lish steamship Lines 20 the countries south
Of US.
The people of this country begin 70 feel
some sOlicitude on the subject OF adverse
balances of trade to be paid in coin. 1t is
seen that the desire to resume specie pay
ment can not be gratifed unless some steps
are taken 10 retain the coin productions in
the country until the quantity will enable
US to resume naturally ard easily. Hence
there is a growing disposition to 90 some
thing to increase expectation. We export
all the cotton and petroleum we can spare.
II at once occurs 10 thoughtful man that
our facilities for producing breadstu1ss
should cause us to endeavor to increase
their expectation. This we can not success
fully do unless the cost OF transportation TO
the seaboard is cheapened. The develop
ment of water lines is the only means by
which it can be accomplished; and the in
provement OF the mouth Of the Mississippi
river will put Us in the most direct COMM
nication with tie people who viii he most
likely to demand our surplus.
Since 1924 the government has extended
more than SO, 100000 for the improvement
of rivers and harbors. and three.iourths of
it east of the Appalachian mountains. Con-
siderable iberality has been displayed
toward the Northern lakes. l do not find
fault with this, for these expenditures were
useful, and it is proper that attention should
be given first to the localities settled and
developed earliest. The people Of the South
and West DO not wish other sections neg
lected. but they DO think, when they pre-
sent the greatest and least expensive work.
as regards the interests involved, ever
placed before tie American Congress, j.
should not be postponed for others, but
should be preferred rather. ipasmuch as
other sections have had their full share, and
at tine VIXEN il would most encourage
development. We want this now. We
most need il now. For the money expended
in this, enterprise we will return hun
dred fold TO tie treasury; we Will
return to tie people of the East more
than they lose by taxation in tie reduced
price at which we Will sell them our pro-
ducts. My constituents are vitally inter
esteG; buo l co not ask this work tor
them, not alone for the great Northwest,
but for the entire nation; for every nan,
woman and child will be benefited.
The importance OF this subject mus. be
too well understood and appreciated TO
need extended argument or presenta-ion
of facts. Hoping and believing that it is
the purpose Of Congress TO do This work in
some way, shall address myself TO the
plans suggested.
Il need not be said that the generation
which preceded Us saw this subject looming
up in all its present prominence, ard took
steps to understand the laws which govern
bar formations and the means to obviate
them. The practical result thus far has
been to apply dredging, mainly because OF
the inexpensive character, and as an eE-
pertinent, until some other plan could he
devised. 1t is now conceded that dredg-
1LS SoL ACNCi p! AUit IldE tlSAtGSU
TO twenty feet OF water. and tia. not con-
tinuonsly. when commerce demands
twerty-seven feet permanently. So that
we are now driven to content ourselves
with an Inadequate and uncertain chan
mel. at considerable annual expense, or
adopt come other plan which Will give
an ample and certain channel, even though
a ostractedly tie cost may seem some
thing Of burden. Two plans have been
presented 70 Congress-one by means OF
jetties TO remove, the other BY meacs Of a
canal to flank, the bar.
Before entering directly upon discus
sion OF the merits Of the two plans, it is
well to describe tie character Of tie Oh
struction to be removed or fanked. II is
believed by some that the mouth of the
river was at one time az high up
as the point OF confluence with the Ohio,
and that it has pushed the bar TO the pres
ent location, filing up the yast slluyial re-
gions bordering on ethel side. How.
ever this may be, careful measurement
extending through series Of years demon
strates that the bar advances into tie Gulf
about one mile in fifteen years. The vol !
nme of the Mississippi is not excelled By |
that OF any other river in the world, and |
the quantity of sediment carried along by |
It's current exceeds IN proportion 10 guam |
,ity OF water that of any other river Of |
This sediment is composed of |
sand, mud, vegetable matter, and minerals |
q particles and in solution. So soon as the |
liver water comes in contact with the still |
md heavier water Of the Gulf the current |
S retarded and the sedimenrary substances
,egin TO fall TO the bottom. BY chemical
action the saline element OF the Gulf water
combines with some Of these substances,
IND the result is tough, adhesive material
n earth, difficult to disunite or cut awav,
large masses form and constitute mud
jumps" which through the power Of gas or
ONE other cause rise TO and above the sur
ace and obstruct the channel, and thus far
AVE proved destructive to any work of
nan. An obstruction composed Of such
Material is ever forming, always adj
anelng. and will continue to form
nd advance so long as this mighty
Iver and tributaries continue the |
rocess OF leveling down the continent;
nd this oar which exists at every mouth
furnishes depth OF about fifteen feet of
7ater on an average END at the most favor
bic pass. At the South west Pass, which is
ne largest and deepest, for one and a halt
liies the water is generally no more than
fteen feet deep. The bottom is uneven,
nstable and changeable, like all newly
ormed earth, subject to the influence OF
urrents and storms.
/ bus far in the discussion, the advocates
f the jetties and the friends of the canal
1bstant1ally agree. II is now that the d.
ergence commerces-a divergence il phi
'sophy, IN professional opinion, and in |
recedent. There may be some disagree
ient as to the manner in which the sedi.
tent reaches the Gulf, but this is inmate
al, as IL finds it's way there by means Of
'me force or other, and forns tie obstruc-
on l have described.
The philosophy of jetties is that by mar
wing the channel or confning the current
greater velocity will be secured, which
III accomplish the removal which before
lere had been a failure to co. because the
ostruction will be moved against by a