New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-30
TIE BARATARIA OUTLET.

| AoSuo-SAo supreme necessity,
and the vital issue in the next election.
THE BARATARIA OUTLET.
The report of Mr.. Cowden, published 9
few days since, represents the recon
noisance Of route to the sea long sine,
projected and advocated. The reproduc
ton of this scheme at present revives tn,
interest in any possible permanent mode
of outlet.
In our comments upon the theory of
the jetties we have considered canalizatior
the sole mode by which the salt water
connection can be effected. Whether by
one line of canal or by another is to us
immaterial We believe that the physi.
cal laws which formed the delta are a
permanent regimen of the river; that the
river restricts its own velocity by the
friction Of its channel, the resistance Of
its curves, and ultimately by the alluvial
rampant raised against the assaults of the
sea. Let us imagine the water retired from
the outlet. The topography Of the lower
delta would present natural fertilization
corresponding with the rules of art. We
should behold the bed of the Mississippi
some miles back from the bar, sixty feet
below the level of the bar. From that
point the channel would rise to within
the normal depth of twelve to fourteen
feet Of the tidal surface. There would be
thus the scarp, the bar would make the
parapet the slope of the bar to deep water
would form the glacis or counterscarp.
Between the several passes the soil would
constitute the bastions, and the spectator
standing in the channel would look up to
a work of defense worthy of Vauban or
Mahan.
This rampant has been raised in the
war waged for centuries between the river
and the sea. These Notifications have
advanced, and by means of this earth
work the river has gained on the sea
gradually, making sure its advance by
the deposit which its current constantly
supplies, and casts over the bar upon the
glacis. As We find the nominal depth
of the river upon the bar century
and half ago just what it is now, We
had concluded that man can not in.
terfere with effect in this grand con-
fiict OF gigantic forces. That any at
tempt to restrict the outlet at one
place would cause an increased out
flow at some other, while the effort to
deepen the channel would bring against
it predominant force Of the ocean. It
seemed to us that the dynamic gravity and
force of the ocean was insufficient to OBJ
struct absolutely the overflow of the river.
That the weight, volume and velocity of |
The river IVES insufficient to cleave its
channel through and into the sea. That
he casting in advance the eternal gabions
# mud was the only way in which the ]
liver could assume its defense against the
Of the sea, or the advance
# its channel against the eternal assaults
f the sea. Believing this reasoning
orrect, we were averse to relying
pom a perpetual effort by human
gencies to adjust or arrest this con-
let Of natural forces We deemed it best
0 avoid any Intervention in this unending
'ar, and to effect the commercial conrec-
ion between the river and the ocean
'ithout disturbing the laws which GOV
IN the action Of either.
We were moreover satisfied that any
rtifcial mode of effecting this con-
ection, which must depend upon annual
r periodical appropriations of money, or
pom the imposition of commercial
III, would be subject to too great politi-
Il and commercial uncertainties to he
lied on. This reasoning brought us to
le conclusion that canalization, offered
le best means of obviating the national
fticulties, and. to use our own express
on, it would be better to flank the =,
ltlet forces than to fight them. il
Subject to the experimental effort now f
ing made to employ the natural forces of q
g river as means of obyiating the OBJ !
acles which they have created, we still I
aintain the superiority of canal con- e
ction. r
1t is to be remembered, however, that 8
are wholly uncommitted to the locality
such work. The cross cut from the
er to the sea near Fort st. Philip COM
ehends some Of the terms Of that con- 81
ction, but we do not affirm that there v
y not be better location. That is the a.
air Of the engineers. W
The route to the sea by the chain of Of
es and bayous to an outlet in Bara- u
ia Bay is eminently worthy of more W
lberate consideration as ship cana Ii
n it has heretofore received It is g
rmed that it is Il
!. Some twenty miles shorter to the We
nth OF the river than by the river itself. es
;. That it would cost less than the Jet ii
J, the capital of the dredging or con- So
uction of the Fort St. Philip canal. tn
!. That it would open into the best OF
Dor and anchorage this side Of Pensa- or
J.. M
o these alleged advantages we have tic
hing to add, except that, if verified by pa
errmert survey, the Barataria Bay Gi
canal would solve the difficulty ow
outlet navigation. No doubt the WI