The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-31
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER,

Realizing the great Importance tn the com
marra pf the entire Mississippi valley Of Inc
Improvement Of tho Mississippi river. and 81
tho evaea M ali essential part Of the work.
Tho pnMnruAr has strlven to arouse In the
people most Interested. and especially In the
peona Of Louisiana, 4 sentiment that wonld
when Expressed III conventions and otherwise
hastan congressional action. Tho Wnst and
tho South are bound together indisanlnhly ~
their commercial relations. and there ~ grad
ually but surely growing ND feeling that
thcae two great sections IF tho country, work
ing together for tho accomplishment 81
antnman plrpuao. will he Irresistible. that
their intrreats have Too long boon
permitted to langulsh. whlla tho money
III the government Inns boon rnurni
ont laviahly III Tho North and Eaat
ThelWrat and Tho South haveat lRai awaknnfd
e. n roa liantinn of the fact that the grandast
commercial highway IF tho world has boon
shamefully neglected. hv The general gevorn
mcu' which alone has The power ~ improve
IT, ani which tnceivoa tia power from tho con
stifutioua provision irleg tting "a Gnngrraa
lila Right ~ regulate rnmin"trc.
Ii has bnan enueIu4ivnly ahnwn ~ Tho able
arguments advanced hv ON Representatives.
IN GnlNi nan that the control over tho entire
river by tue Ganetnl government IS absolute.
~ II Is u great nntitnaI aud commercial high
way ami the lnvoca aio ncenenary commercial
appliances. without which ihe proper control
or tho rivor would be imposaihlN. " thNe
aver WA an inatane" III which IN" govern
mt,ui might constitutional y spend the money
aF the pcuplo FAt al iuternal Improvement We
think that tI,n MiAnisaippi furnishes that
inatanco II Is claaflv and essentially IA
tionnl natter ani ono over which thnanparnio
alatca Gnu hayn AMI aheuld have na eon
troll. III tlle different ana conflicting RyRtena
yhloI would necessarily result from tho "N
erefpr ug controlling righta hy The individual
tSiaina would obviously result In great Injury
tn thp Rtrram aud eventually impo ~ navEa
tion Enr ihrac roannna tho timn Inns cnInn
when he voice IF nvory one of H." millions
who inhaht tho grand valley ahnnld hn lft"d
III To- lnmaud that tongrraa shall make
ample provision for thn permanent improve
mont " The Mississippi. Every stat" IN III
trrrat allrud mako ita power and iniuenon
golt HI tho national rnnncla and ita repre-.
snniatvea should hn netlurtna To ueo thnr
Tho great work IL will not do tn
rest content with what haR hHcn
dono and trust tp tho national
government e. carry out tho purpoae " the
hill introduced Ivy Mr. Gihaon. under which
the Mlaaiaaippi River Cnmriinai"n was orc
at"' Our representatives In Cnngroaa must
bn SUSTAINED by n living. oarnnat and enihua-
autIc anntlment IN favor of the oatlnn fnr
which they have hMm and arc srrlolalY Ii
boring Our people must learn tnundelstnnd
and appreciate tho vagtneaR ~ thr benefit
which will accrue "a MI tho dwrlIcia VI TN,
banks ani Ill tlln valley IL tho MiFaiHairri W.
thu Improvement of Ia channel from tho
Gulf "a its hoahwatara. and also Of its firth
utnrna VIZ regard tho convention which IL
| Ia proposed to hold IN this city in February
aa u Very necessary and important step TO-
| ward tho achievement Of tho Desired end. Tor
| Il will give voice 10 TIN vnwR and fanlingp pr
| tho people If Tho Valley Stit"s on thiRRubIrc'
| Will materially Hsaiat in moulding public
opinion. and rerhapa develop now raett aud
| idraa which may ho Of great service IT, the
| ougnonra who compose tho commission.
| whose duty II is mHdo nndor the act io ''rn-
| port IN full upon tho praciioahilty. fcaaibili j
| and probable cost ~ tho various plans known
| ma tho rtty eyHtcua. th" icvec Hyatem ana thr
| outlet systcn. "a well 40 upon nurh otheta ~
| thov may d,em necessary. fha commission
| IA not tied down to amy particular plan ~
| theory and the momhora thereof should ~
| glven tho benefit Of tho knowledge and cvpR-
| riencn Of all thosn whose lives have been spent
| upon tho river or who have Devoted time and
study to tho subject Of IT. pnCuliarilca nnd
| requirements. Tho proposed convention
| therefore i, both proper ana timely. and we
| have no doubt. will exert most salutary III
| tlusnCe upon Congress-
III another column wa pnhliah two lNtterp
| on tho subject, both OF which ara interesting
| IA showing that tho matter Is nngnging thc
| serious attention Of our people