New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-18

| lnlrly 1eeG OF water what does II
mean, for New Orleans, st. Louis and the
| Northwest!
Captain Eads promises it. Contractors of
high reputation for faithful performance of
their work have undertaken to secure it.
Unless they fail, as they and Captain Eads
believe they will not we shall have within
a few months channel of thirty feet depth
from New Orleans to the open sea-. Who
can tell how many conventions, represent
ing the commerce Of many States, have
demanded this outlet! Who can enumerate
| the petitions that have been signed the
memorials forwarded, the resolutions of
| State Legislatures adopted, during all these
years Uf delay!
Twenty millions of people who OCCUPY
| the $40 100000 acres of the Mississipui
| valley have longed for this great change.
| More than twenty years the people of this
great basin have argued and prayed but
all in vain. Well have they known that the
unnatural dependence OF their commerce
and industry upon artificial routes Of
transportation to the sea coast has retarded
the development of the West, deprecated
the value of their land, shut out their crops
from the best markets. made the producers
of the Mississippi valley little better than
the serfs OF railway barOns, curtailed their
purchases and their commerce, retarded the
growth of their cities and their manufac.
which, in men of Anglo Saxon blood, ever
resents prolonged injustice. and brought
upon the country panic and prostration of
industry more destructive than any it las
seen for nearly thirty years. Why has this
unnatural dependence existed! Because
the nation has neglected to open the natural
and free highway for its commerce. Be
cause there has not been, since 1855, water |
enough on the bar at the mouth Of the |
Mississippi for the lsrger and more econom- |
ical vessels. Because We have not had |
thirty feet OF water, we do not vet plumber |
in the States of the Mississippi &c, OO0, 600 of |
people, have as yet no city of 1000, 600 of |
inhabitants, and pay tribute to the manu-
facturers OF Pennsylvania and New Enland,
to the merchants of New York, and TO the
railway kings.
To day we hail with inexpressi BILE JOY the
of work which, We firmly
believe, will remove this great obstruction.
Give the commerce of the world free en-
trance and exit at the mouth of the river,
subject to no risks or delays, no extortion-
ate charges for pilots and towboats and
open to the deepest vessels used in the
of bulky freight. and the re.
'ui to the Northwest and to st. Louis as
is central city, will be incalculable Cap
,ain Eads, if he achieves this triumph, need
lot envy the glory of any great conqueror
he world has seen. The man or the paper
which has contributed to bring about this
esult-as the Democrat has for years labor
ID to dO-has not lived in vain.
Not W thin the limits of single article
an even an outline be given Of the ccnse-
uences which will follow the achievement.
human foresight, at the best, can only I
ain some glimpses Of that glorious future F.,
When Clinton gave to New York a ditch. |
riginally four feet deep and forty feet e
vide. even his brilliant genius did not quite I
oresee within fifty years State of $780,
w people, and great metropolis in which a
hree cities, virtually one, should combine t
he enterprise and industry of $1,000, 900 of \
ersons. 81, 500, DOC, 600 Of wealth, and a com. =
lerce represented by bank clearings of $
$4,000, 0uO.O0O yearly. Who will under. Il
Ike to say what an open river, free from 0.
'lls, unlimited III capacity, for thousand y
lilies never closed by ice, and without cost, Ia
by its own current a motive
over of four miles an hour to cargoes, NAV :.
D for the Northwest and for this city ? "a
calculations which now seem the widest | al
ay, before Captain Eads and his associates Il
g laid to rest, be laughed at by the world ~ u,
strangely and absurdly Inadequate. We ~
lily know that kind nature never fails to | fr
ward. beyond all their expectations, u
ose who faithfully call forth the resour- 10 =.
g which che has placed within our reach, M
ID trushngly rely upon and obey her Al
WIS. The Mississippi is natures highway
r the commerce of this nation. Let it be h.
'ened, and our commerce and industry er
Ill no longer fight an unequal battle al
alnst natures laws.-S. Louis Rep1,bH- vi