The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-19
IMPROVING THE MISSISSIPPI.

There are some schemes of internal I'M
provement, which, from the evident magnl-
tude of the results and the comparative lnsig-
nifcance of the expense which they would IN
volve, seem to be almost necessarily usopian,
and vet are entirely practicable. OF this kind,
is the long suggested improvement OF the mis-
sissippi River from st. Louis to the mouth. A
depth of water that would float the average light
draught ocean propeller all the way to this CITY,
the year round, would open up such bound
less possibilities to the trade and commerce
of this great Mississippi valley, that no one
would dare estimate the proportions of its
growth within year. No one ever questions
the inestimable advantages of such an i'm
provement, but the people of the North and
East always dismiss the subject by character
izing it as chimerical and visionary.
1t matters not to them that the United
States engineers have announced its feasibil
ity; they talk of the millions that it would
cost and the nations poverty, and with sub
lime satisfaction in the reflection that their
rivers and harbors got big share of the mil
lions that have made the country poor, before
it got too poor to spend any more on internal
development they shut their cars. Millions !?
Yes, it would cost millions, but not more
than the development of the country occa-
stoned by this improvement would return
more than dollar for dollar in less than de-
cade of years. Millions? Do they know that
a couple of little creeks known as the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers, have one-third as much rec
ommt n led in the estimates Of the United
States engineer corps this year, for their
improvement as would be needed to COM
plete the projected works on the Mississippi
In all there is SIS, 159, 848 recommended for
those two streams, unknown almost except in
the States in which they flow, and $275, 900
FL fboi y,v NJ cf he
the river that we speak SO boastfully of as the
greatest in the world.
1t seems that it makes great deal OF diff
ference where the millions are spent. But
the North and East always exclaim, not five
millions, nor fifteen, nor hundred would an
swer to carry out this insane idea of improv-
ing the Mississippi. We said, though, that
the Fox and Wisconsin rivers asked for
third as much as would do for the Mississippi,
and that statement was made deliberately ana
advisedly.
Some weeks ago the Republican said that
Capt. Jas. B. Eads had expressed the opinion
that for S15,0O0,O00 depth of twelve feet,
from st. Louis to the mouth, could be or
tanned, and that seems to US good enous b
authority. 1t may not be to others, howe, or,
and as an assurance that this idea of improv-
ing the Mississippi is altogether feasible and
practical, it would be well fer Capt. Eads or
some other enterprising and responsible engi- |
neer to propose to Congress to perform this
work for certain stated sum. to be paid
when the work is done, after the manner OF
Capt. Eads for the constructor
Of the jetties.
Sucn proposition would silence the talk
about the millions involved in the under
taking. Capt Eads has been SO signally sue
cessful in the jetties already, and enjoys such
irh foti hO1 nd
of this enterprise. 1t would be fitting sup
plement for his work at the mouth. What
mas he to say? Can his shoulders carry the
new load or must we seek elsewhere ?-G
Louis Republican.