New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-17
A PROPHECY PREDICATED ON THE
POSSIBLE.

morist has imagined the typical New lea
lander whose civilization is jocularly sup
posed to survive our nationality. He is
even supposed to survey the ruins of our
national capital. Well, suppose some cen
turtles hence he repeats the discovery of La
Sale, and enters the mouth of the Missis-
sippi. Finding its navigation impossible,
&c organizes boat expedition. The scien-
tific corps which accompanies this expedi-
ton reports the ruins of a city. The mas
sive structures of granite eyince people
of much architectural skill. Miles of brick
buildings in rulns-streets worn with the
tracks of commerce, remains of irOnways
dong since wasted under the corrosion of
weather or of junk dealers, churches varying
in style but all apparently dedicated to the
worship of the same Deity, grounds once
cultivated and embellished were the haunt
of the alligator trees shooting up through
cemeteries, parks and courtyards, rank
vegetables through which the more timid
reptile steals away, or where the fanged
serpent recoils for deadly welcome to the
intruder. The botanical department of the
expedition found in the abandoned swamps
immediately above the impossible obstruo
tions Of the undoubted specimens of the
OJy-a satica, and saccharum Offcinarum
which they readily determined to be
Identical with the plants known as rice and
sugar. That these staples had been once
cultivated was evident from the ruins of
furnaces, works and engines. The whole
country had however been long since de-
populated apparently by the back or
refuent water from the distractions re-
ferred to.
This scene of desolation and ruin in the
country and city showed that the latter
had. like Palenque, been once the home of
a prosperous and intellectual people. The
commission further reports that this city
appeared from Inscriptions to have been
once brought to high state of prosperity
by the American people; that about the
year of Christ one thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four certain interests inim-
ical to the growth and grandeur of this
then known as the Crescent-city, en-
ployed an adroit and ingenious adventurer
" SOuuuCU tuo CoIhHOiCC VI ILLS
great river across it's course and to the out
let of other great and rival cities. That |
this emissary first built an impeachment, |
known as a bridge, across this noble |
stream. This arrested all the trade above !
the bridge and compelled it to go east by |
vast iron and water ways. He next de-
scended to the Crescent City, then emf oy-
sng an immense commerce, and proposed |
TO make that commerce even greater by |
building an immense structure of concrete
beneath the outlet waters of this great |
river. The rival interests which had sent
him on this mission having then the con-
troll Of the government. which they called
in that day their Congress. received per-
mission to occupy these outlets with this
experiment 1t appears that. contrary to
the remonstrance and protest of the prop
srty holders and business men Of the city,
the outlet of the river was SO delivered
over to him.
BY this tine other interests arose in the
Dominion of Canada and the Empire of
England perceived that to thus block the
only outlet to the great valley would be to
reverse and turn through the canals and
ron ways owned by those interests and
through the noble st. Lawrence all this
They therefore cheerfully De-
slowed upon this adventure all the means
necessary 10 c0HriHcc Congressman and
Congress, to persuade the press and to
provide the material necessary to block up
and destroy this outlet.
The result was as follows:
|. The larger shipping OF the port of the
ancient city was for five consecutive
years turned away from the most favorable
channel, the city subsisting chiefly on fresh
ish and oysters, and the population, which
could not emigrate, gradually exhausting
Ill their possessions available for such
purpose in the purchase Of -four and hog
products sent down from the farmers on
he river above them. Money stocks. Jew
Try, furniture were gradually absorbed
md consumed In the hope that there would ;
70 "a change Of administration" which ,
Gems to have been by the political sages of
hat day, watched intently in season and
nut of season as a summary relief for all ,
heir troubles.
After period, the subhuvian works were
partially completed. Then it appears the |
cut under and, in the language of +,
hat time, 'caved" the streets Of concrete {
'uilt on each side of the channel. These
we're buoyed at first, and such accurate 1
harts made as enabled the mariners to {
"Of Macaulay