New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-03
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

/ were READ anu approved
| report was received from Mr.. L. j.
Highly, chairman of the committee appoint
ed to investigate the grounding of the Ex-
| celsior four days on the bar at Pass-a
| fOutre, which was recOmmitted for further
| action.
The committee on the Laboring and
Homestead Company Association reported
it as most praiseworthy organiza ton, at
| the head Of which were highly esteemed
| and well known gentlemen, who would
carry out all its objects, and the committee
recommend that the chamber extend It's
appreciation to the company.
| Mr.. Bailey, of the committee On tie ne
cessity for legislation in regard to the city
| finances, submitted an elaborate report, de-
failing the amount Of the city debt, tie
! outstanding warrants, expenses OF the gov
eminent ard amount of interest required
| on the debt, together with the remedies
| proposed for the existing state of things.
! The report was received and adopted and
| the thanks of the Chamber rendered to its
| author.
The president stated that it would be
necessary in order to carry ont tie objects
| of the report, that a law should be drafted
and a committee appointed.
| Mr. Sandidge suggested that the commit
| tee who made the report be authorized to
| consult with other members to prepare a
| memorial and bills to be presented to the
Legislature. The City Council having been
engaged in preparing bills the committee
| might consult with them.
The president stated that it was proper
! for the committee to take the matter in
! charge. The City Council are ac:uated Icy
the best motives, and there is hardly any
| divergence between them and the report.
| The influence of the Chamber was great and
ought to be exercised
| Mr.. Joseph suggested that the committee
| be increased to nine.
The following resolutions offered by Mr..
MADDEN, were adopted:
ReSolred, That the committee on city in
debtedness and taxation be instructed and
empowered to prepare and present to the
Legislature such bills as will give effect to
the reforms reported to the chamber by the
committee.
Resolced, That committee of five be
appointed by the chair, charged with the
duty of pressing upon the Legislature
the adoption Of the acts prepared and pro
posed by the cOmmi tee on city indebted
ness and taxation.
The president and two vice presidents
were added to the committee.
Colonel Burwell said it had been sug-
gested that the Chamber of Commerce, by
petitionlng Congress, might cause the re-
establishment OF the business ct the New
Orleans mint.
The following resolutions, offered by
Professor Forsney, of the committee on
the mint, were adopted:
WHEREAS, The chamber has learned with
pleasure that the Secretary of the Treasury
has recommended to Congress to make ali
appropriation adequate to prepare and or.
game the United States Mint Of New Or
leans for coming the precious metals in the
metallic currency of the United States; and
Whereas, The vicinity and access CT
the city of New Orleans to the great pro.
ducing regions OF the precious metals rem.
der it important TO the nation that such
facilities should be afforded for the coinage
o. our own and foreign governments. there.
fore.
LesolceA, That our Senators and Repre-.
sentat!ves in Congress are respectfully re.
aIested TO present this preamble and reso-
luton to the respective bodies of which they
are members. by way of memorial. and to
| use their best influence 10 secure an immeGl.
ate adequate appropriation for the purpose
indicated in the preamble, and also such leg
is!ation az will empower the government
of the Caited States. at lis discretion. to
order the coinage OF any bullion which may
be Off. red for that purpose by any foreign
government. not the metallic currency OF
surh government.
i3cSolre6. That the secretary forward to
each representative .. Louisiana Ill Con.
gress and to :hc chambers Of commerce
and board, Of trade o: the principal cities
in the Union copies of thee resolutions.
with a request .or the cooperation OF such
commercial bo1ie. aat .: their representa-
t:ves in Congress.
Judge Kennari, Of the committee -
WHOM, aa! been referred iii. memorial OF
the Union Merchants Exchange of st.
Louis 20 Congress relative to national i'm.
rroyements. reported that it containe!
many suggestions that :hc Chamber would
ind"rse. .u: one. the scheme Of Captain
lads. vas If such a charaeterthat it must
he ccn!emne! as an attack on the Fort -.
Philip canal rnie: the guise of faint praise.
He lad written to the president. Nr. w: NJ.
Sauuels. Stain: these ;'oiDts. and he had
replied stating the Merchants Exchange
heartily indprstt: the canal and advocated
She scheE.s pf I:s Ea!s in connection
with il.
Judge H.nn ,rl nai ais, written - Hen.
L. Il. Stannard. of ST. Louis. stating the
sc!.ems Gf Mr.. EaGs; that it was an old
one. and would greatly iijnre the prospects
OF the canal, and should be opposed. Mr..
Stannard had agreed will. this view. and
promised 10 support it.
Professor Fovshey paid high conpli.
!nens 20 the sDslneerln. skill Of Captain
Eads in building the bridge at st. Louis.
and then read a review of his letter to Sen
ator Schurz, which he had prepared. Cap.
cain Fades proposes to open the mouth OF
the river to = depth of twenty eight feet,
and receive $5,005000 when it is done, and
S2000,000 when twenty feet are obtained.
The opinions Of all engineers in pri-
vate life, and that Hf the abiest body
of United States engineers ever assem-
bled, are in favor of abandoning the
Sisyphus labor of cleaning out the mouths
of the Mississippi. Professor Forshey re-
viewed the statistics OF the natural depth
nFx - ~ ~ a
sibility Of constructing permanent struc-
lures at the passes, the sinking of the
French fort at the Baizo for example; the
difference of the soil at the site of the pro-
posed Fort st. Philip canal. The mud is
so soft that vessels drawing nineteen feet
will pass through when sOundings only
show fourteen feet, and in a few hours no
trace of the passage would be found. De-
tails Of experiments similar to that of
Captain Eads we're given, and the
immediate return % the bar to its
natural condition when the work
ceases. One million two hundred thou
san! dollars has been spent in this
way. The object is always attained while
the work is kept up. but a lew weeks fees
sItion causes the advantage to be immedi.
atety lost. Eighteen feet is maintained
easily throughout the year: nineteen fee.
can always be obtained. and twenty feet
frequently made. a synuosi. Of al. these !
experiments was given. Captain Eads
stated the question fairly. bu. Profes |
ser Forshey took issue on al propositions
su.. 2sted By him. The sea level OF the ,
riser az its mouth prevents the necessary |
velocity OF the water TO cut tho bar. The T!
plastic clay deposited will remain. Jetti.s |
vii nearly dam thc river. and the water
will accept the situation and seek another |
cntie,. Il they are built close enough to- !
gethe- tie water wi. uudermin. them. !