The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-11
THE BARATARIA SHIP CANAL.
A PLEASANT AND INSTRUCTIVE Ex.
CURsION ON THE PROPOSED
ROUTE.

A PLEASANT AND INSTRUCTIVE EX
CURsION ON THE PROPOSED
ROUTE.
Affecting ON the steamer and Resolution
Passed.
To use the graphic phraseolo2y Of Edgar A
Poe, "the skies they were ashen and SOBER" OIL
Thursday morning last as the party of excursion
lists that were going over the proposed route o
the Barataria ship canal started at o'clock on tn
steam tug N. M. jones for the head Of Harvey't
canal.
The tug N. M. Jones belongs to Messrs Brown
and Jones, coal dealers, who had placed it at The
disposition of the excursionists.
The weather, though sultry, was pleasant
enough and the trip to the canal was accom-
plished in short time. After disembarkng and
re-embarking on the U. g. coast survey steame,
"Barataria, "a name quite suggestive OF the ex.
cursion-we began to take observations and, az
the saying is, to count noses" The result was
very satisfactory and rarely did better party
meet on q steamer for an excursion. A few ladies
grsced the occasion by their identifying presence
Mrs. O. F. Vance, Miss Bette Vance, Mrs. B. +.
Coleman, from Eemphis, Tenn, and Mrs. Amos
8. Collins, from New Orleans.
The passengers Of the uglier or sterner sex (as
vu0 AnuO1 u6Y pic1oeJ WCIo NA1ooTbs JDuu Wv"
den, Bronson Bayliss, Major Minor Merriwether,
J. O. Fleming, r. d. Jordan, Rev. David Walk,
Avery Merrwether, B. T. Coleman, from Mem.
phis, Tenn; Dol. John J. Williams, Jackson,
Tenn; g. Benson, Samuel D. Peters, Michael
Mcsweeney, DR.. J.; Potter, John Roy. F.
Fl. Hatch, James r. Howell, Joseph Har-
vey, B, Bridge, Lucius A. Pratt. Capt. T.
P. Leathers; A. Brady, J. r. MoClintock,
Jules A; Blanc, Thos. Lucy, VIM. McCorkipdale,
Harry Higginbotham, B. G.. Denniston and Capt.
HnuaI1 from Naw 0raapa. A r Gartar Fron =
Louis. The press was represented by Mr.. Dan
iel bennett, of the New Orleans Picdpnne John
F. Oahill, editor of III Concrete del Yale. St.
Louis; John II. Miller, Memphis appeal; W. J
Yves brook, editor Bee, Brownsvitlt, Ienn., and
John Augustin, New Orleans DEMOCRAT. The
shipping interests were represented by Capt.
Archibald Reid, OF the English steamer st. Louis,
trading between New Orleans and Liverpool and
belonging to the Mississippi and Dominion
Steamship Company.
The Barataria was commanded by Capt. W. Ell.
Peasants, OF the United States ooast survey, and
plotted by Capt. Michael Mcsweeney, of New
Orleans.
The trip down was marked by few incidents OF
peculiar interest. 1t WAS weary ride of six
miles over Harvey's canal, where there is very
little to notice, and ride on Barataria oanai Of
twelve miles, much enlivened by the scenery on
the route and rendered interesting by the sound
ings made every Ave minutes, corresponding ex.
acfy with the chart published by Capt. john
Oowden in 1874, that lie, varying from the
beginning to the end of the bayou between
> depth of twelve feet at the start to
eighteen and twenty.nine feet, as the
steamer progressed. From thence we dropped
INTO the Rigoets, where the water varies alter
nately from depth Of seven to twenty-four feet,
the entrance to Little Lake b ing about thirty
six feet Deep Little Lake is somewhat shallow,
ts depth being only three feet in some places
md twelve feet in others. Bayou st. Denis
wnich comes after, varies from twenty-fOur to
,hirty-six feet In depth. BaratarIa Bay, wnich
comes after, is shallow for several miles. unil
opposite Independence Island, where it begins
With seventeen feet in depth, and ultimately
caches depth of between forty to fifty-six feet
The sand bar which exists beyond Grand Terre
md Grand Isle, varies from twelve to eighteen
eet in dep'h.
The idea is to continue the canal beyond that
and bar. which, according to the opinions Of the
xperts with whom we have conversed. will be
asy OF removal by means of steam dredges.
We have taken particular care to collect the |
pinions Of the prominent men on board, who |
tudied the route and scrupulously observed the |
oundings. All are of opinion that Capt. Cow
on's project is feasible. and would entail very |
ttained, which is q depth Of from thirty to fifty |
Get from New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico.
Tomorrow morning we will give to our readers
be result OF our Investigations on the subject.
It's can be gathered by perusal Of the proceed
lgs held on board the steamer Barataria as she
cared New Orleans.
A meeting of the excursionists over the route
the pr posed Barataria canal was held on
osrd the United States steamer Barataria, on
aturday, Nov. 10, at 2 p. m.
Rev. David Walk, Of Memphis, opened the
roceedlngs by explaining the objects Of the
eeting, and nominating Maj. Minor Merri-
eather, OF Memphis, to the chair
Upon unanimous consent Maj, Merriwether |
'ok the chair, and John F. Cahill, Of st. Louis,
as appointed secretary.
On motion Of R. D. Jordan, of Memphis, a
'mmittee OF four was appointed to draft resolu-
ons. sfr
In the absence Of the committee addresses
ere delivered by Mr.. Daniel bennett, of the
ew Orleans P5cdynae; Rev. DR.. David Walk,
'hn Roy, ESQ.,, OF New Orleans, and Maj. Minor
erriwether.
The general tenor of the speeches made by the
sntiemen, who had just inspected the route of
le pre- posed canal, was Highly favorable to the
'oj ct, and the general feeling evidenced by all
! board was one Of enthusiastic appreciation.
At the close of the remarks of the last speaker
10 committee presented the following preamble
I'd resolutions, VIII oh were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, we, the representatives. of the cite q
st. Louis, Mo-, Memphis. Tenn, and the ci l.
ms OF New Orleans, La, having passed over the
ute OF the proposed Barataria Ship Canal, hav-
g examined the maps and plans, and having
ojector Of this great commercial enterprise, and
wing witnessed many of the soundiugs and
verifying the report of Messrs J.
Williams and O. G. Forshey, the engineers who
I've surveyed the same and estimated the cost;
erefore be it
RESOLVED, That we are entirely satisfied with {
70 feasibility Of this great enterprise, and be-
we that its completion will afford safe and re-
Ible outlet to the sea for the commerce of the
ississippi Valley.
Resolued, That our cordial thanks are due and I
Q hereby rendered to Capt. @. P. Patterson,
perintendent Of the United States coast survey,
: his generous courtesy in allowing us the use
the United States steamer Bsrataria; to Capt.
Il. peasants, the officer in charge, and to
pt. M. McSweeney and the crew for their at
ntion, kindness and hospitality during the en-
a expedition.
Resolued That our earnest thanks are rendered
Mr.. Geo. F. Rootes and Capt 81. P. McNeely
: the use Of their fine steam tug. the N. M. ,
mes, for our transport alton from New Orleans +
the Harvey canal.
II auas further resolued on motion of Mr..
'nnett, that the Rev. DR.. Walk, of Memoirs,
invited to address the citizens Of New o. leans J
on the obj ect of the great enterprise and it's {
portance TO the growing commerce Of the Mis- !