New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-24

luprevenese q Red River.
Tho following memorial has been for
warded to Washington:
To the honorable the member Of the senate and
House Of Representatives, Of the United States
In Congress assembled:
The undersigned, memorialiste, respect
fully ask that an appropriation may be
made for the improvement of the navigation
of Red river from Jefferson, Texas, to ito
mouth, for the following reasons:
The commerce Of the Red river is next in
Importance to that Of the Mississippi and
Ohio rivers.
The people of large portion of Louisi-
ana, and q considerable portion of Texas,
Arkansas and the Indian Nation are entire.
ly dependent upon it as their only means Of
access to the markets of the country.
The people OF New Orleans and of the
Red river valley are not alone Interested in
the improvement of the navigation of this
river, for the population Of this valley are
large consumers Of the merchandise, manu-
factvred goods and products of the Eastern
aud Western States, and increased facilities
for commerce, cheaper freights and insur-
ance will add largely to the volume of trade
between the different sections of our coun-
try.
The navigation of this river Is very dan.
gerous aud extremely difficult and uncer-
tain. From its mouth, where it empties
into the Mississippi river, to Shreveport,
Louisiana, and Jefferson, Texas, the cham
mel is INSTRUCTED by logs, snags, wrecks and
leaning timber, to such IN extent that few
insurance companies will take hull rieks 1T
ALL Not more than three or four insurance
companies out OF the large number in New
Orleans will underwrite for boats engaged
in that trade. Besides the hull risks are
from eight to ten per cent higher for steam
boats engaged in the Red river trade than
they are for the Ohio or Mississippi trade
Although the very highest standard of
strength for boats engaged In this trade is
required by the underwriters land they
will insure on none others). yet the per-
centaRe of damage to them caused by the
instructions is fully ton times greater than
to boats running either on the Ohio or the
Mississippi, and of all the boats navigating
this river during the past twelve months
| twenty or more J, cot more than one or two
have escaped serious damage, and several
| have been sunk. Others have had to be
| dooked and repaired at large expense; sew
eral of them as many as four or five times
| during the season.
During the low v ater season, which ordi-
| narily begins about the latter part OF July
| and often lasts until the first of January,
boats experience great deal of trouble in
| "Old river" between the mouth of Red
river and the Mississippi proper (Old river
being the former channel Of tho Mississippi),
all boats navigating the Red, Ouachita and
Atchafalays rivers have to pass this place.
At the present time December. 1870, the
navigation of these rivers IL totally sus-
pended, boats being unable to pass this
piece Of river. Three-fourths of all the
boats employed in running these rivers are
now detained there with full cargOes on
board, and will have to wait till the rivers
rise.
| As further evidence of the dangers at
tending the navigation of Red river, We
may add that the insurance on cargoes
| from New Orleans to Shreveport, Q distance
of about $50 miles, is the same az to Alton,
Illinois, distance of about 1875 miles, and
| to Cincinnati, ON the Ohio, . distance Of
1900 miles.
We believe that the improvements in Old
river can be easily made.
That the distractions in Old river can
b. readily removed, and its navigation rem
derod as safe as that of the mississippi
river. It will be necessary to do some worh
on the falls at Alexandra, Louisiana, in
order to improve the channel and make the
navigation at that point sale.
Your memorialists respectfully ask, there
fore. the consideration of this important
matter, and for such an appropriation q
may be necessary to improve the navlga
ton of Red river from Jefferson. Texas, tc
the Mississippi river, and to free it from tht
great dangers and difficulties which nov
attend 1t.
And your memorialists will ever pray.
Signed nv Thomas A. Adams, preslden
Board of Underwriters of New Orleans
Cyrus Buseey, president Chamber Of Com
merce; William c. Black, president New
Orleans Cotton Exchange; R. $. Howard
president Merchants Exchange; John 6
G aine', president New Orleans Clearing
house Associations; Joseph A: Aiken; presi
dent New Orleans and Red River TRAYS
portrtation Company: w. T. Boardman
president Red River Pilots Association.