The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-18
CURRENT TOPICS.
rHz M1ss1ss1pp1 RIVER COMMISSION.

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION.
In the abstract OF the report OF the Missts
sippi River Commission. recently published
no mention was made OF the fact that the com.
mission was not unanimous In their conclu.
sione. It is now stated that Gen. Ben: Harrt.
| son. Of Indiana. and Gen. Oomstock. OF Detroit
have filed q minority report. In which they hold
that levees are Of very little value In improving
the low water navigation Of the river. They
claim that bad navigation arises from excessive
low water width at certain places. and must be
remedied by contracting such low water width
to about 5000 feet. This contraction, they say
must be effected by work In the bed Of the river
and OF by levees on the top Of Its banks. out oil
con tact with the low water river. They admit
the necessity OF levees In protecting alluvial
lands against destructive floods. and to obtain
such protection they advise the closing oil
such gaps as now exist. With all Difference to
the opinions OF these two distinguished gene
rails. It Ia suggested that the people most direct
" interested In the question will be found will
Ing to approve the recommendations OF the
majority Of the committee. which IL known to
embrace gentlemen OF acknowledged ability
and practical experience In such matters.
MEXICAN BoBDKR RAILWAY.
The bill now pending In Congress to aid In the
construction Of the San Antonio and Mexican
border railway provides that the United States
may indorse the bonds Of the company at the
rate OF s16. 900 per mile. the bonds to be thirty
year per cents: the government at all times to
have preference In the use OF the road the
money growing out OF such government use to
be retained and held In the Treasury Depart
ment for the redemption Of the bonds. The
company Is. In addition. required to mortgage
its road and /. 63s 400 acres OF land now held BY
1t under grant from the State Of Texas. and to
pay D or cent per annum on the bonds. The
amount OF business which the government will
be com PEELED to do over this line will rapidly
retire the bonds and SD eedy railway commune
cation with the Rio Grande frontier would
operate as constant check to the Mexican
border raiders and banditti. The vast area Of
country between the Nueces and the Bio 0rande
is fertile and we'll adapted to stock raising. and
when civilized by railroads and rendered safe
for habitation. will constitute one Of the finest
grazing districts In the United States. The
immense esources OF Mexico are largely un-
developed. but OF what there Is OF Mexican
trade 80 per cent goes to England. France and
and 20 per cent OF 1t to the United
States. With the above and other railway con-
nections In progress or contemplation these
figures are likely to be reversed.
SOUTHERN WINTER RESORTS.
Florida. since the war. and especially In the
last four or five years. has become wonderfully
popular as place OF winter sojourn for North
ern people Of wealth and leisure. Half dozen
Of It's principal towns are widely noted and
largely patronized as favorite winter watering
places. All Of them can boast Of good hotels.
built and managed by the landlords OF popular
Northern summer watering place caravanser.
les. It is estimated that these Florida hotels
have accommodated forty thousand Northern
guests during the winter season now drawing
to close. All this. as We have above intimated.
has been the work Of comparatively few years.
and is the legitimate result Of the claims OF the
State being fully and attractively placed before
the public. In no respect can It be said that
Florida has advantages over Louisiana as q
winter resort except In the matter Of prcxim-
tty to the Eastern cities. which. by rail. Is com.
paratively but a few hours nearer. Our climate
is fully as salubrious. our breezes as balmy our
soil far more fertile. and our people as hospit.
able. while our countless water courses and
vast forests afford equal opportunities for
sportsmen. With our advantages properly
placed before the public. there is every reason
to believe that Louisiana and it's metropolis
would speedily become the great winter resort
Of the United States.