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

| appointed by the president to take into con.
| sideration the claims of the Mississippi Val
| ley Association, and further to correspond
/ and confer with the chambers of commerce
| of Liverpool, London and other cities Of
| Europe as to the possibility of attracting
| populations and capital from Europe for
| settlement or investment within the valley
! of the Mississippi.
Mr.. Palmer said he heartily seconded the
| resolution offered by Judge Burwell. He
knew the president of the Mississippi Val
ley Society, and many members OF the
Chamber knew some of the directors. The
credentials of Mr.. Gritirg were of the
highest order. Since Congress denied us its
aid for the canal, other allies should be
sought. France went to England and easily
found the immense amount of money needed
for the Suez Canal. because England re-
quired that outlet for her commerce. Let
the canal project and its advantages be
represented to English capitalists exactly
as it was. and they would make it a success.
Mr.. Tucker said Mr.. Palmer spoke as if
he read nothing but st. Louis papers. He
favored the resolution, but had not yet
given up the canal. On the contrary, he
had greater faith in it than ever, for he had
received a letter from the chairman Of the
| Transportation Committee, Senator Win
| dom, in which he said he hoped soon to
! visit New Orleans to be present at the in
| auguratiOn of the Fort st. Philip canal.
| That statement from him had more
| weight to it than any opinion OF
| the st. Louis Democrat. He didn't care
what the St. Louis papers said. Our papers
| were as good as they were. Chicago had
already found out that New Orleans could
compete with New York, for his line now
| sent freight at forty cents, and New York
could not do it under sixty-three. We can
! beat them sixty per cent, for the proportion
of empty cars they send back is four to one.
The Mississippi Valley Society was great
company, and would aid in showing Chicago
| the folly of submitting to the extortion OF
paying for the return Of eleven empty cars
out Of twelve from New York, instead OF
one out Of four and a half from New Or
leans.
The resolutions were adopted.
Mr.. Highly said Major Howell looked ss
if he had something to say, and called on
him.
Major Howell said he did have something
to say. No appropriation had been made
by Congress to continue the work at the
mouth of the river, and he had that day
directed it to be stopped. For the last four
years he had complained Of the unnatural
opposition he met with. In his last report
he had said he no longer recommended an
appropriation unless Congress placed the
control of the work in the hands of the
officer in charge, SO that the channel that
the government made might not be de-
stroyed by its opponents. February IA
he had written that unless an appro
priation was made before the end of the
month work must be stopped. The reason
why the appropriation was exhausted was
because of the blockade last March, which
had cost $2S000. If it had not been for
this it would have lasted till June. The
lack of authority had cost nearly $50, 900.
He, nor any officer, could not recommend
an appropriation so long as the Towboat
Association were permitted to destroy the
work at will. just SO long as the govern
ment refuses to protect the fruits of
the appropriation he could not do his
duty and recommend them. He read
from memorial against military control of
the mouths of the river, which was signed
by large number of presidents of banks,
insurance companies and others, inclosed in
a statement by the Towboat Company and
others. The memorial stated that the rate1
were certain and fixed beforehand. Major
Howell read from a tariff he had obtained,
which disagreed. The memorial signed
stated that he had stated the interest of the
Towboat Association was to have bar
and SO be paid for taking vessels over
Major Howell said that was their interest
| and though he had been sued for libel for
saying so, he proposed to continue saying
| It. The last clause of the mem Orial stated
that they had sunk vessels on the bar. and
! that such statement was false.
Mr.. Samuel II. Kennedy said if his sigma
ture was there as president it was for
gerry. He had signed it as a private indi
! yidual, not believing the company had sunl
vessels on the bar. AS for the rest, Ii,
l hucW uOGuluS VI liS OWA huO WlCuSOs
Mr. Ogfesby said he had put his sigma
ture to the memorial. thinking it merel,
asserted that the company had never sunl
any vessels on the bar. If he had supposed
it was a memorial opposing the control 0
the mouths Of the Mississippi by mlitar.
authority. he would never have touched
pen to paper.
Mr.. Coyle said all the statements IN th'
memorial were true. The name Of pres
dent had been affixed to Mr.. Kennedy's sig
nature to show his position. not to repre-
sent it as his official signature. 1t was no
the interest of the Towboat Company t
have shallow water. The more Iwater tn
more ships, and the more money the
would make.
! Professor Forshey offered series Of rese
lutions regretting the cessation Of the az
priation, and that the cause was the OF
struction of last March; adhering to tn
memorial of the Chamber of Commerce fo
aid. and indorsing the control of tn
mouths Of the river by the officer in charge
The resolutions were adopted.
Slr. Kennedy moved the appointment {
a committee of four mem bers to proceed t
Washington, and represent the commercis
interests of New Orleans before bot
Houses of Congress. Adopted.
General G. T. Beauregard and Major T
A. Burke were elected members. and tn
| chamber adjourned.
J PERSONAL
Attorney General A. =. Field has beel
I 60 h. 81