New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-29

: patent. We do not think that Gener1
! McAlester has patented the dredge boats
+ They were built upon the best models
g and we have heard that they were though
t to infringe somebody else's patent. Til
r professor should be more careful how b
) assigns motives. He will observe tina
, the logic which proves that the chief en-
glneer did not recommend one inventio,
because he had adopted another is yer,
defective. Non constab but he nigh
have rejected both inventions.
This plan SO much excited the Board.
of Trade of st. Louis, Cincinnati and
Louisville, and SO greatly alarmed that Of
chicago, that ''the latter refused to give
him public meeting Of their body to
examine it, " and caused their vice presi-
dent to say:
IL is not our interest to open the mouth OF
the Mississippi for the outlet of the grain
trade. 1t would be better for us if it were
blocked up from Cairo to the Gulf. You
can not surely propose to us, as business
men, to unite with St. Louis and other val
ley cities in bringing our influence to bear
| upon the Congress Of the United States to
have that thing applied to the bars of the
river. and to that of the Southwest Pass.
The application OF it would have the effect
OF turning the whole trade of Nebraska, Iowa
and the whole Northwest away from Chi
cago, and carrying it away from us and
down the Mississippi, and ont at it's mouth
lie then denounced it in language much
rougher than care to write, and concluded
RavlnO hrciv ,<>TC
who would advocate it was fool.
Having thus given the Professor a free
blow, we will state our impression of his
plan. In doing SO we hereby release all
claims to any invasion of his rights,
which, indeed, we think, have been duly
secured by letters patent. Some time
about the year 1860, Professor Fon-
tame appeared as the agent of plan for
improving river outlets by means of cast
iron caissons, to lie filed with stone, and
sunk in parallel lines along the channel
OF the stream. 1t was in our recollection
an English invention, and there was SUBJ
sequently an Office opened in this city for
the purpose of pressing its claims for
use here and elsewhere. These re-
mlniscences are immaterial, except !
to identify the plan of Professor Fontaine.
With this plan, it is our impression, he
visited the Western cities and strove, as
every faithful agent on salary, commission
or contingent should do, to obtain hear
ing and secure subscriptions Perhaps
this agency had some little to do with the
presentation Of the scheme to our Acad-
envy OF Sciences "while I was secretary"
and the professor may barely have visited
the Western cities not as philosopher or
philanthropist, but in the somewhat
commonplace and sordid pursuit of stock
subscriptions, with prepayment of a few
iollars share as is usual. The purpose
II this notice is to show that the schemes
If Eads and Fontaine probably originate
n the personal interests of these distin-
yulshed scientists This is greatly
o be regretted. New Orleans is
unit in favor Of canal. st.
louis sets aside this choice and
works upon an untrue scheme of large
'rldge contractor. Now comes another
chemer, representing, we believe, the
'atentee Of mode Of improvement, and
dds his plan to others which distract the
alley interests. If the Professor halls
rom New Orleans he should understand
nat he is mar1o and make-mischief !
this indirect advocacy of a scheme that
as arrested all improvement. If he has
'ported the vice-president of the Chicago
GARD Of Trade correctly he must be con-
need that the complimentary cursing be-
owed upon his invention by that profane v
Snitary would efectually deprive it of
e vote of Chicago. 5