New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-29
AN INsIDIOUS ASSAULT UPON THE FORT
At. PHILIP CANAL BILL,

| carry CTaQe uCfOSS tuc OllSoASolPPI 11'cA
& has now project to blockade the outlet
: Should the expectation Of giving US deel
!! !: water be disappointed, it will be som'
consolation that other ways have beer
provided to carry Western produce to thu
. East.
We have demonstrated that st. Louis
2 has virtually lent herself 20 embarrass the
! construction Of the Fort st. Philip canal,
and that she is virtually the patron Of a
joint stock ecavation company. which
proposes to experiment at the cost Of the
, | river commerce. We have cited and shall
! not repeat the evidence that this corpora
ton has used the commercial! authorities
Of 81. Louis to promote its schemes. and
sanction its undertakings. We now add a
conclusive proof OF this improper inter-
ference with the chosen mode Of outlet
improvement.
The St. Louis G'oj. publishes letter to
| Hon. G. Schurz. written by Mr.. James B.
Lads. 1t fully explains the purpose
which we 50 much deprecate:
In brief, my proposition will be the char
'erng Of q company, TO be called ''lhe
National Improvement Company" with
authority to undertake at its own risk and
| cost. the erection Of such works As 1t may
! deem aeedfui 20 secure q permanent and
! reliable depth of twenty eight feet. with a
! channel way Of not less than six hundred
feet width, from the Mississippi into the
| Gulf, through such pass a. it may select;
| the said works not to interfere, while being
constructed, with the free navigation OF
| said pass.
The bill will provide for the payment OF
$4,000, 900 to the company when this depth |
shall be obtained $2,O0000O of the sum 70 |
be due when q clear depth of twenty feet |
shall be secured, and The remainder in pro- !
portion rs the maximum shall be estab- !
lished. 1t will likewise provide for che pay.
ment Of One-tenth of the above cost, or |
$500, 900, every year thereafter for ten years;
provided, that during each year the maxi /
mum depth shall have been maintained in [
said channel.
This is accompanied with the following
comments:
OF course the novel method of undertak.
ing this work on the principle OF mo cure,
no pay" prevents the possibility of spend
ing any money in the lobby. or anywhere
else, to secure the passage of the bill, and 1
can only hope for its favorable cOnsidera |
ton and advocacy by those Senators and ]
representatives who realize the magnitude
of the benefits which will accrue TO the
whole country. and especially to the valley
who are really sincere in their wish to give
this river proper outlet TO the sea.
1t will be observed that this enterprise
is predicated upon the hypothesis ''if
am successful"
It is well known in New Orleans that
one experiment of deepening the passes
by a concentration Of current has been
tried. We may suppose the contractors
for that work employed The best talent
and effort 20 succeed. They had the same
inducement OF money and fame that MI. !
Eads will have. Perhaps Craig & Rightor,
the contractors. had not the aid Of as emf
nent engineers as Mr.. Eads. But the
engineers and shipping interests Of
New Orleans. with the fruits OF that
experiment before them, and with
better knowledge of the regimen Of the
river than any nonresident can have, de-
eide against dredging and concentration
of current. They beg Congress to give
them ship canal, and the engineers Of
the United States confirm the belief that
this canal is practicable. It is now that
ST. Louis permits herself to be used by a
private corporation, and throws off on the !
work which New Orleans, as the gate.
keeper Of the Mississippi. has recom- ,
mended US the best mode of relief prac-
ticabie.
What will be the effect Of this counter
project? Our opponents for the up river
trade Of the North and West will lay the
Fort st. Philip canal bill on the table. ,
They will say: ''Wait, gentlemen, until
the eminent bridge builder shall have COM
pleted his experiment. That will cost the
government nothing at present. You can
not expect Congress to order the commence
ment of canal that may not be neces- l
sary. Mr.. Eads will make this trial at
his own cost. We are greatly obliged to
him. and prefer to leave the matter as it
stands until the grand excavation COM
l
work will answer its expectations"
Now does any one expect that this work
viii be done without aid from Congress?
Is SO it viii! be the first great contractor
On public works which makes no claims /
Tor its services. Like any other quack dent
st when this great excavation company
gets into the mouth Of the Mississippi. it .
nay get it in such fix that the govern.
ment will have TO continue its services to
repair its mischief In the meantime
he commerce of the Mississippi will be
without relief.
At the present rate OF immigration into
The Northwest the time is rapidly coming y
when we will not have the power either to
make an annual appropriation for dredg. !;
ING, or periodical appropriation for the !,
continued extension Of the jetties into the
gulf. The West will have done
without the Use of our outlet
until this vii! have ceased 10 be indis-
psnsable. Othe. ports will have been
built up Oh the trade that rightfillly be-
longs to us. and will by no means be will
ing to abandon or restore il. II
We consider the introduction OF this :.
Lew proposition and the employment of !,
al able Senate. from the Mississippi to
advocate it. a. tending TO thwart the out.
lie; work. 1t j. improper to charge that !.
His insiiio,1, division Of the Mississippi |