New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-21

sDread pretty thin in Louisiana, and If
don't deserve reelection on any otncr
ground, will not ask it, But have this
to sav: The interests of this community
have been crying out for improvement .
for many years, and we began t11o plan OF
the canal four years age. lrroIessor
General Sypher-I stand corrected
fortv-four yesrs-but since We have had
the very able aid, efforts and cooperation
of the gentlemen of this body it is probably
not more than four years ago. We had
worked MP sentiment upon the subject OF
this canal we had our engineer corps en-
dorse it, and just at the moment that we
expected to realize something, and % We
ali believed it would be successful don't
mean the mouth Of the Mississippi river
our efforts were divided and we failed.
Why, if / had been convinced that
this canal project would be q failure
and would give only temporary relief
l would have been bound to vote for 1t,
and that would have demonstrated, at any
rate, at the cost of the government that
one plan, which had been considered f0r
forty four years, could not result in entire
success, and give the relief We desired.
From the history Of this work we had
reason to believe that the canal would be
remarkably successful, and we had the
country and of Europe to strengthen our
opinions.
Of the Gland grab" / know absolutely
nothiag am not informed upon that sub.
.ject If gentlemen thought it was 2 good
speculation TO locate or purchase land IN the
vicinity of this canal, think perhaps they
had right to do it. There never has been
. railroad projected through public land
but the whole country has had the Oppor-
tunity of locating lands along the whole
line. This has been the practice OF this
country, and will doubtless cOntinne to be
a. long as great improvements are pro-
jected.
There is one slight contradiction that my
friend INDUCED in. He spoke OF the Trans
portatiOn Committee of the Senate being
hostile to this measure and hostile to the
improvement Of the Mississippi river, and
of Senator Sherman, whose State does not
send its produce in this direction, and Of
Senator Conkling, of New York, being spe-
cially averse to it. Then, in closing his
remarks. he said they would be willing to
vote Us SIS, 100000 if the board of engineers
reported favorably. This is . slight con-
tradiction that do not quite understand.
/ believe that this committee Of the Con-
gress of the United States will vote for any
appropriation to improve the mouth of the
Mississippi river, bat I believe it will re-
Quire ali the pressure that can be brought to
bear by the States of the Mississippi valley.
and especially by Louisiana. But We must be
united. If the Senator stands ON one side
and we on the other we may fail. We must
be united and have the whole efforts of the
people to back your Senators and Repre-
sentatives. We must be united. We are q
email State, and have only six Congress-
men in House Of 300. Be united, and
am convinced that, as twenty-fOur States
have united in this measure, the necessary
will soon be made for your
relief.
this matter, as in all others of individual
relief to Louisiana, the Ievee question is
one Of great magnitude and Importance.
The board will soon be here to examine
this question. We don't know what their
opinions are, but believe that their report
will be Just, and similar to those of the
men who have examined into the question
We must stand united in
appealing to Congress to take charge Of our
levee system as q national work, and we
must collect such information for the COM
lated to secure that end.
The trouble with that Transportation
Committee was there were too many men,
bers Of it who want to be President. The
nOnOral Senator has spoken of Mr.. COnk-
ling not understanding the question of the
canal scheme as presented to the committee.
Well, am not surprised, as he is afraid of
New York, and that is the reason he is so
given to that hair splitting with which l
have no sympathy whatever. Yes, he
wants to be President and is afraid of New
York. He is afraid to give anything to
poor Louisiana. But we are not looking to
Jnnty IN lroc <n <hn
States of the Mississippi valley, which is
yoing to be the great centre of the wealth
md power of this country, for relief. We are
lot going to have any more Presidents from |
he East. We are going to have one fiOm |
vest of the Mississippi, and the men of the |
Cast who want to be Presidents will have |
o come and refresh and renew their ex, |
,austed systems in the great Mississippi |
ALLEY before they can enter that race with |
my hope of success. We are ''going for"
Sads and his jetties, and next winter l |
hink the Senator from Louisiana will be |
With US when we do. think our engineer
orps will give US all the facts that will
Justify Congress in legislatiDg favorably for
o, and that all will at last be we'll, nOtwith-
landing the delay. / believe that when
Ie again get into the harness next winter
7e'l carry the canal bill, which is on the
alendar, and comes up in its regular order,
nd not only that, but we'll get an appro-
ration for the levees of two or three mill
Ons besides.
At the conclusion of General Sypher's re.
'arks Mr.. Seixas said he had q question to
* Senator West if he would allow him.
II. West assented, and Mr.. Seixas said:
If the commission of engineers that has
zen appointed should report in favor of
le Fort st. Philip canal, would you give a
" to construct it your support
Mr.. West-MOst assuredly. l remarked
hen upon the stand that was for water.
said that whenever a report favorable to
le canal came from properly organized
Oard and responsible source it would have
" support.
will say further that the only difference
etween me and my colleague is that he |
anted the bill and wanted the canal.
Mr.. Sypher-Then l will say that if the
,natOr wanted the canal he should have
ade an effort to get the canal, and then |
, might possibly have had better success
ward accomplishing the desired object
an have had.
Mr.. Seixas then said he had resolution
offer, and the secretary read the follow
&:
This Chamber, founding it's
ton upon the almost unanimous opinion |
all engineers who have Examined the
bject, has persistently advocated the con.
ructiOn of the Fort st. Philip canal as
9 best way of securing permanent deep
alter outlet into the Gulf; and
Whereas, In accordance with q recent
t of Congress, the President of the United
ates has organized board of engineers
,Ose duty it will be to examine and report
finitely upon the whole question, and
lieving that the recommendations of this
ard will be but the reaffirmation of opin- ,,
Is heretofore expressed by so many
linent engineers, and lately sustained by :
arge majority of votes in the popular
anch of our national Congress; it is
Resoiced, That this Chamber of Com
arca has lea I'd with atisfac tinn the assur. |