New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-05
Communicated
Tho 8arAtar1a Outlet.

Under the above heading you, in q mas
terly and graphic way, chow the folly OF
mans trying to interpose between nature
the Mississippi. As one who never has had
any faith in any kind of work ct the mouth
of the Mississippi in order to deepen the
channel there. / not only thank you; but
accept your mastery article as being con-
elusive on this great problem. That is, to
secure permanent outlet to the sea the
mouth of the Mississippi must be flanked,
and not only accept the reasons you as
sign for the Barataria being superior to
ali other routes, provided, as affirmed, that
it is
|. Some twenty miles shorter than BY the
river itself.
.. That it would cost less than the jetties,
the capital of the dredging, or the construc-
ton of the Fort St. Philip canal.
3. That it would open the best port on
the Gulf, except Pensacola. But will add
other reasons in favor. of the Barataria
route over any other.
4. 1t will do away with the immense con-
sumption Of fuel necessary to stem the
strong current Of the Mississippi, which will
be no small item in the commercial lifetime
of a nation like this, az we'll as obviate the
expense of costly towboats, which necessa-
rily impose on commerce heavy tax, and
the amount of capital thus invested in tow
boats can be more proftably employed in
stock in the canal, or small tugs, which can
do the towing in this slack water canal, all
of which will be remunerative at One-third
the cost for lockage and towage it now
costs vessels via the river.
5. That to secure q commercial gateway
to the Gulf that will be permanent. we
must 20 west from the river mouth. which
will ever 60 eastward as it has been doing
ever since it entered the Gulf at Baton
Rouge.
I. That if we ever intend to reclaim the
low lands from overflow, we must not think
of any commercial outlet or gateway that
cOntemplates the maintenance of the rivers
mouth or any portion of tho river beyond
the English Turn, for there at least the
flood tides Of the river must be diverted
into Lake Borgne, and III addition many
outlets must be opened from the river to
and through the marshes into the waters
OF the gulf, on the east side of the river,
down to the head of the passes; we must
have twenty Cublt gaps; all of these will
draw the water off and lower the water in
the river at this city perpetually down to
or near low or tide water mark, which will
draw the water off 60 rapidly that the river
will not rise to within ten feet OF the present
high water mark at Natchez. Thus, with
out foot of levee on the banks of the river,
Can We not only save most of the bottom
lands in Louisiana. but we demon
trate the practicability and thus lay
the foundation for the outlet sys-
way by which the flood tides of this
great river can be controlled for the sea
ana repeated failures for the last $50 years,
with levees to cOntine it's waters as well as
the trial of every possible device to deepen
the channel at its FESTIVE and ever changing
mouth, should certainly teach US the FOLLY
of both when there are other ways by
which the two great problems can be so
easily solved. and by your permission l will
make these the subject matter for two
separate articles
Thus far you have done full Justice to nv
plan for the Barataria canal. want it to
stand or fall on its tested merits, for what
want is commercial freedom want no
trick show or side show. This canal does
not propose to come in contact or inter
fere with any work the government is now
doing or may hereafter do at the mouth of
the river, and no matter whether the let
ties or any system Of dredging may be ever
so successful, this route possesses so many
advantages over any and all other routes
that it is thought it may be made profitable
for private company. But should every
thing fail at the river mouth there is no
reason why the government. in order to
secure to the people Of the Mississippi val
ley perfect commercial freedom, may not
buy this canal at fair valuation, as it did
the Louisville canal. Our object is to open
the river without any more delays, which
cost the country millions every year.
JOHN COWDON.