New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-14

Il is BIZ no means certain that n case of
failure the government will pay nothing.
It is not unfreQuently the case that claims
arising under similar contracts are passed
through Congress II, after coz siderable
sup Of money has been expended and lost,
Eads and his associates come here clad in
garments which excite pity, slightly adorned
with pretensions of having done some good,
generous and sympathetic Congress may
make up their losses.
But sir, is it wise, in the presence Of the
immense interests involved, tor the Amer
lean Congress to adopt an experimen ii, when
the official engineers are so pronounced
against it; when abandonment mus. take
place sooner or laterl Shall We agree to
expend $10.000,000 to improve navigation
for ten years, when for the same sum it NAV
be improved forever! Canals have ever
been useful, and they have been tried as
long as civilization has existed. and in
every country inhabited by civilized man.
Ny objections are that jetties may OBJ
struct natures channels and make them
less navigable than now, and add to the
dangers Of overflow, the distressing effects
OF which are now so visible and over
whelming. and that the experiment will
postpone indefinitely plan that is a certain
IT. The railroad companies engaged in
transporting from the interior to the sea-
coast can afford to sink $4,000, 900 in an
experiment which will continue to them
the monopoly of transportation for period
Of five years. 1t is suggestive fact that
many OF the engineers who indoTse Eads,
without argument but by expressing con-
currence, are IN some manner connected
with these railroad lines.
We have experimented too long already
1t is time to cease. The country VIII not
and ought not to endure it longer. General
Warren has the proper conception Of this
subject. He says:
My mind, however, is fixed upon the idea
that the canal is the only project that VIII
meet the commercial, naval and military
demands of the United States. It's teasibiIl-
ty has never been doubted by any one, and
only on account of its cost have other me-
thods been heretofore recommended. These
other methods have always been regarded
as experiments, and the reliance has been
that If they failed, the CANA, as a final
resort, was certain. l believe the time has
come when that which appears certain
should be tried first. The cost OF the canal
will not be great compared with the end 10
be gained, and there is no certainty that
We will not have to come to 1t after great
delay and expenditure upon other methods,
none of which, when abandoned, will have
aided in the least toward constructing tie
canal.
Sir, when completed, we shall have ex..
pcEOeO SO,Vuo,upO lOI d chudf dlOuuu LGo
Des Moines rapids, and nearly as much for
ore around the falls of the Ohio, and are
annually making appropri atoms to improve
all the navigable tributaries of the Misais-
sippi that commerce may be unem baTrassed
and facilitated, and how imperfect will be
the work unless the outlet 20 the sea is
made ample ard permanent Without it
all the other improvements and expendi-
lures will fail to produce their full benefit,
will chiefly relate to internal, when their
full utilization can only be experienced by
giving free and reliable access 20 external
commerce.
If Congress shall undertake this improve
ment it must be no piecemeal affair. Those
who have familiarized themselves with the
subject know that partial appropriations,
or appropriations from year to year, impose
upon the government an increased cost,
and in many instances TO the extent OF
forty per cent. The construction OF a canal
requires the procurement of expensive ma
chinery, which ought not to remain idle.
There are many causes OF enhanced ex-
pendrures when delay is necessary for
want OF means. Besides, trade suffers and
burdens are endured by the whole people
By postponing the completion Of this work.