The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-02
An English View OF the Opening Of tho Mouth Of
the Nis&snppi.

An English View OF the Opening Of the Mouth Of
the Mississippi.
The following is an extract from the
London STANDARD of the 9th inst:
We published some days ago brief tele-
gram from New Orleans, which probably
attracted the attention of not one reader
out of thousand. It. stated simply that
the works executed by Captain Fade for the
improvement of the mouth of the M'Ssis
sippi had been already SO far successful
that ship having draught of seventeen
and half feet had passed up to the city at
low water and it added that the works
will be costinued until vessels of twenty
five feet can pass up. There is every rea-
son to expect that the intention here an
nounced will be carried out, and, If SO, the
result will be that the cpst of sending
wheat from the Western States to England
will be reduced one half, and that the new
corn-growiDg regions, which now are uu-
able to export bushel, will suddenly find
the markets of Europe open to them on
most advantageous terms. The coRstruc-
ton of the Suez Canal furnishes most
influence which the opening of q new route
to commerce exercises. Already it has re-
volutionized trade, transformed naval con-
struction, and altered the relations of ma
tions with one another. It is not probable
that the effects of the opening Of the Mis-
6lBSlppt I'D bulpB OL Tue u08Vl6BG OurO00 Will
be as immediate or as sensational. But it
is demonsurable that they are iIcalculable;
and it is-not impossible that they may be
as great. At present it costs three bushels
of corn to convey one from Chicago to
Liverpool. This enormous cost is due to
the immense distance which the grain has
to be sent by land TO New York. Unfor-
funately the st. Lawrence is frozen half the
year, and consequently, is able to carry ON
only an inefficient competition with the
railways. The Western farmers accuse
the railway companies of purposely aggra
waiting the cost; but all the attempts OF the
Changers to reduce it have failed. And
great port of expectation, the cost cannot
be appreciably diminished. But if Captain
Eads 10 successful, the cost, it is estimated,
will at once be reduced to one-half. In
other words, whereas it now costs three
bushels to carry one from Chicago to Liver
pool, it will then cost NO more than one and
q half. Or, to put the matter more intelli-
gibiy, double the quantity now imported
GiG New York can then be imported ViG
New Orleans at precisely the same cost of
carriage. This estimate is based on the
supposiJion that use is made only of the ex-
letting type of vessels, and consequently
that there is transhipment at New OrleaDs.
But New Orleans merchants assert that
they are prepared to buid q peculiar type
of vessel, which will not only cross the At
lantic, but go up tie Mississippi. When
this is done 1t il estimated that the cost of
carriage will be reduced to a mere fraction of
what 1t is at present. No doubt new type
of veseel will be introduced q time, but
without taking that into account it Is mach
if the cost of carriage can be reduced one
half. There is no limit to the qnsntity of
grain which the valley of the Mississippi
can grow but the scarcity OF labor and the
cost uf transport. Even under the existing
conditions the quantity raised immensely
exceeds the consuming powers of the coun-
try, and large Quantities of Indian corn are
burnt as fuel every year in Iowa and Hill
nois, simply because, for want of market,
it is cheaper than either wood OF coal. II,
then, without q market the glut is such
that when cattle aud hogs have pampered,
and waste has done its utmost, there still
remains much for the fire, it will easily be
understood what the produce will be when
the market is made attainable. Further
more it is to be remembered that the
North West-that is the upper valley of the
Missiseippi,-being the nearest to Chicago,
has the advantage at present. In future,
on the contrary, the middle and lower val
legs, will have the advantage, and conse-
quently will be stimulated to increase their
productions enormously. At present there
Is practically no expectation from these dis
tricts.
The effects upon the United States them
selves aud on the great port of New Orleans
are so manifest that we need not dwell
upon them. It might be worth while in.
deed to speculate on the probable political
consequence of the new Importance the
West and South will attain but just now
we desire rather to call attention to less
evident results in quarters which, at fret
sight, would seem to be beyond the inftu-
ence of public works executed in the United
States. The first will be q great cheaper
ing of bread, aud to a manufacturing, trad
ing and naval country, like our-oWn, that
is on unmixed blessing. A second result will
of course be to increase the trade between
the United Kingdom and the United States.
We shall purchase more of their corn, and
pay for it with more of our manufactures or
of toe commodities which our ships bring
home from every part of the globe. Lastly,
We shall be able to give up more and more
orour land and pasturage and the feeding
Of cattle, an industry which for the present
at least. we cannot dispense with. And, in a
less degree, the advantage to all the West
of Europe will be similar. In fact, for the
thickly-populated parts of the Old World,
the effact will he tn r6nder RcarCi6Y I'M