The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-05-01
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
THE HARB0R BILL.
A Letter from Congressman X. L.. Gibson
on the subject.

Letter from congressman ~. IL, sstnSOH
on the subject.
Mavor pilsbury received the following letter
yesterday:
HoUsE or REPRESENTATIVE Es, /
Washington, ID. g.. April 26, 1878.
Hon. T. Pilsbury. Mayor Of New Orleans, Lou
isiana:
Dear Sn-I telegraphed you the other day that
an appropriation OF $4,000 had been allowed
for the Improvement of the harbor OF New Or
leans. including the cost OF survey The rule
e to allow appropriations only on the estimates
made by ~ the he which 1 mot aIs feefse e 1he
vey i'm our harbor until after the committee
had oompletel its labors.. The moment | got
committee and urged an appropriation, and
the very moment the official report reached the
engineer's Office g copy was made for me. and
appeared before the committee with it; and also
offered bill In the House and had the report
printed, copies Of which are herewith nelosed.
do not think we got quite as much as we are
entitled to. but the committee had already
made up appl opriations, In the. aggregate
amounting to over s7.gooooo and 1t was very
recognition, which amounts to sort of enter
ing wedge. The language of the report was un-
Fortunate rs It appeared to be forth improve,
it was very difficult indeed to overcome obec-
tions founded ON the phraseology.
Our delegation will go before the Senate com
crease of the amount allowed But i you will
examine the bill you will find that the appro-
priations for the rivers In our State, notably
for the Red river larger than they ever
were In tho history of our state. We had no
report for the work mt the mouth Of Red river.
and had to content % Ourselves . WIN g aer ,e,e
Benyaurd. His report arrived subsequently TO
the passage Of the bill and s very nble and and
good navigation through the mouth OF Red
river from this time forth.
You will observe, too, upon looking over the
bill that there is almost twice as much nppro-
priated for the Mlssissppi river and its tribu-
hs Np hs yer 40 "na s be
justified in say ing that the APPROPRIATIONS for
our Mississippi valley. and for our state and
city are larger than they ever were before In
the history Of the government. for the benefit OF
Our committee will report the bill for run
ming the mint in a few days. hope it may not
be sent to the COMMITTEES of t o whole. But at
all events am quito sure will get the mint
started this session ! am also ~ -, hopes that we
you may rely upon 1t that our representatives
will put forth their best exertons in that direc-
ton.
If we can accomplish these things and secure
proper tariff on sugar, shall feel that we have
not wasted our time here.
Yours faithfully, X. L.. GIBSON
The bill referred to by Mr.. Randall Gibson is
in one section and provides for the apprcpria-
ton of st76 600 (the estimate Of tho photographic
commissionl for the protection and improve
ment of the ha,Jor of New Orleans. tho word
,rha,res. which 1t ie alleged. created the misap-
prehension being eliminated.
The Mayor has also received letter from
Col r. G. Wood the secretary of the hydro
graphic commission. on tho subject of the ap-
preparation. 1t repeats in other words the
terms of Mr., Gibsons letter. Col. Wood adds:
Il am engaged now in preparing statistics for
Mr.. Eusts and 1t has been arranged for me to
| see Mr.. Conkling and others. Gen. Humphreys
and other friends, are active and .zealo.us.
think we shall make success,
Gen. Weitzel will be here before he sails for
Europe and will do us much good