New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-18
Proposed Formation of a Company Is
Clear the Mouth of the aIississippi.

Clear the NOutu Oh inc uAlSSlSSlppls
A Times reporter ascertained yesterday
that bill will soon be introduced in Cone
gress to incorporate the National Improves
ment Company. an association of capitalists
which will have for it's object the cOnstrucs
ton of docks, harbOrs, canals, levees, the
removal of distractions from rivers and
deepening their outlets to the sea, and al:
works of a similar character. 1t will, howe
ever, more especially authorize the CON-
pany to Immediately undertake the deepen
ing of one of the passes of the Mississippi
river by the construction of permanent
works which will control the waters of that
river as they flow into the Gulf. The bill
will provide for the payment by the govern
ment of $5,0O0,00O to the company when
depth Of twenty-eight feet of wafer shall
have been obtained, clear and uninter-
rupted, between the Gulf aud the Missis-
sippi and of ample width for all purposes
of commerce and navigation.
One of the remarkable features of this
gigantic undertaking consists in the fact
that the payment of money by the govern
ment will rest solely upon the accomplish
ment OF the proposed improvement. The
company will undertake the prosecution OF
the work at it's own responsibility and wths
out aid from the government. 1t will be-
entitled to 10 payment whatever la case Of
failure.
The bill will provide for partial payse
ment of the sum named when a reliable
aud uninterrupted depth of twenty fees
shall have been obtained by the proposed
works, and additional payments will Big
made by the government AS this depth il
increased to twenty eight feet. 1t wlls
likewise provide for an annual payment fOe
the purpose of maintaining this deptEs
keeping the works in proper repair and ire
surfing their permanency.
The importance of this undertaking cav
uot ho m Tod in ifs no
the trade, commerce, future prosperity and
general development of the Mississippi vale
ley.
The corporators named in the bill ara
among the most enterprislng, wealthy and
reliable citizens Of the United States.
The engineer of the company and the
originator of this bold proposition is our
fellow-citizen, Captain James b. Eads.
Thirty five years of the lite of this remark'
ably successful engineer has been in Intimately
identified with the Mississippi river, in ths
removal of distractions from its channels
and harbors, and in operations with diving
bells beneath its waters, and in the cone
struction of gunbOats suited to its navigas
ton; and no one in the whole range of cOuns
try through which the Father of Waters
sweeps is as familiar with the wants of it's
commerce. or more clearly comprehends
the remarkable vagaries of its phenomena
1t is claimed that these results, abova
mentioned, can be accomplished IN less
than half the time that will be required for
the construction of the Fort st. Philip
canal. And even if the canal scheme
should meet with the approval OF Congress.
it will be no less to the interest of the
whole country to accept the proposition Os
the National Improvement Company.
Captain Eads once before made propoe
sitsn to clear the Mississippi river OF its
distractions from st. Louis to New Or.
leans, and keep it, as we'll as the Ohio rive:
below Louisville, clear four years fo:
81 900 900 per annun. 4 bill accepting
this proposition was passed by a two-thirds
majority in the House of Representatives
in 1861 and would have passed the Sen.
ate but for the opposition and maneuverinS
of Messrs. Jefferson Davis and Judah +.
Benjamin.
The Fort st. Philip cana! wifi eoss.
whether it proves success not. 5 10 ,0O0e
900, and it will take ten years to complete
1T, whereas it is claimed that this propose
ton would cost the government specitiet.
sum only upon it's completion, and that ie
would require. at the outside, only twcs
years to carry out the enterprise.-Stc Lo',is
Times.