The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-15
THE RIVER AND HARB0R APPRO-
PRIATIONS.

The press dispatches on Friday announced
that Gen. Gibson and Mr.. Elan had been
before the Committee on Commerce urging
an appropriation of 100000 each for the inn
provement of Red river and the harbor OF
| New Orleans. A special to the Ptcay1tae likes
| the figures at 100000 for the harbor at New
Orleans and $500, 900 for Red river, and adds,
by way of explanation, that "the reason why
nothing was included in the river and harbor
bill for these objects is that no estimates
were before the committee" In view OF the
recommendations Of the engineers who con-
Quoted the photographic survey recently
completed, this discrepancy between the APP
preparations these gentlemen are represented
as asking for and the sum the photographic
commission say is absolutely necessary for
the protection Of the city, is. to say the least,
very singular. The statement OF the chair
man of the committee, furthermore, does not
correspond with the statements made in
specials to the DEMOCRAT, which left us to
! infer that the data were before the committee
and we're of such unusual importance as to
induce the committee to exclude these appro-
priations from the general harbor and river
bill in order to give them special considera-
tion and make them the objects Of special
legislation.
This explanation has been accepted by US,
and has forbidden any comment on inc eA-
clusion Of the harbor Of New Orleans ana Inc
Improvement of Red river from the items Oh
the general harbor and river bill. we hest
tate even vet to charge upon our members OF
Congress SO grave and criminal neglect OF
their duties and the interests of their constitu-
ents as this exclusion would imply; yet we
must say that, II the Representations MADE
to us were true. it is very singular that Gen
Gibson and Mr.. Elan are, at this late day,
making such desperate efforts to have these
appropriations included in the general har-
Dor and river bill The dispatch to the Picd-
aatae indicates that these appropriations may
be recommended by the committee, but thai
they object to changing their bill. In view OF
} these facts it is seriously proposed to send on
. delegation to urge, at least, the appropria-
+ tion of 5000, recommended by the hydro
D graphic commission as absolutely necessary
+ TO the Improvement of this harbor ane
the safety of the city. This woulc
e be very grave reflection upon our members
- of Congress, and would imply negligence
: on their part almost criminal in its character
o Certainly these gentlemen cannot plead ig
S norance for these matters were brought Gil
d rectly to their attention as long ago as las
n Nov ember, when the coast survey submitted
to Mayor Pilsbury the estimate Of the prob
o able cost of the photographic survey OF tn
h harbor Of this city. Since then this surve
"a has been in progress, and has finally resulte
It in one of the fullest and most complete work
n of the kind that has ever been accompllshe
= in the whole history of engineering. 1t eel
% tainly cannot be that our members OF Cor
gress have been ignorant Of this survey, COZ
" Quoted by the most eminent engineering Oft
N GERS of the army, assisted by ship-of-wa
r, specially detailed for this duty.
Id 1t will be very strange, indeed, in view {
If these facts. if New Orleans alone is not pre-
~ videtl for while every other section of til
country has secured all it has asked TO
Memphis and Vicksburg have each receive
: $40, 900 for the Improvement OF their rlV'
1t fronts. while immense sums have been a.
20 nronriated for the upper Mississippi, the Mi
% souri, and other rivers but New Orleans, tt
= second CITY In the Union in the value OF
l. imports and exports, gets nothing 1t Is n
,r too late yet for these appropriations
a he secured. Even If the House cor
10 mittee should decline to include them
" its bill, they may be put in by amen
X ment in the Senate. It is only necessary 4
a. our members of Congress to bestir Their
: selves In the matter and place the prop'
il data before Congress. It would be o
Of ssdamnable iteration" to go over the hgur
a. to show the importance Of New Orleans as
as commercial centre. This is recognized ~ T