The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-10


lions or even a billion OF dollars, and that
then there was no certainty as to their &C
comDlishing the results"
How do your plans correspond with
those OF the commission and engineers, Cap
lail!n
"They are just the reverse. They propose
to build dams, place distractions in the
river, stop the flow of fall, .slacken the cur
rent, and thereby will increase the overfows
and make navigation worse. Ny plan will
lower the food line 10 what il was when the
mouth OF the rlver was st New Orleans low
eriDg it some thirteen or fourteen feet. 1t
will within two years re-establish the food
line OF ages ago all the way to Cairo, lowering
II from fifteen TO twenty feet below the present
line and preventing all overhows, and put
ting an end to the need for improvement OF
the channel"
But you are meeting with good deal of
opposition from the engineers are you not2
They do not appear to believe in your
plan."
They are opposing it because they are
in the service or under the influence
of the railway powers. The railroads
don't Of course, want the Mississippi i'm
proved, and they are fighting rs by every
means. The plan is so simple, SO feasible
and SO safe to Government that they are
alarmed lest 1t be accepted and the Missis-
sippi made what the Almighty intended it
the crest transportation route for the people
OF this great country"
The Captain. who has been coming here
for nearly decade, continues confident of
inal success. His bill will, he believes, be
reported faVorably in the House and Senate
within 3 few days and passed during the ses.
sion. 81 hope" he said in conclusion, ITO
be able 10 get it through in time TO complete
the work before the spring floods come on,
and thus pI event another disastrous overflow
in the Mississippi Valley"
Another familiar face that is to be here
within few DAYS again is that of Captain
Esds, of jetty fame. His earnings by this
enterprise are counted by millions, yet he
does not commit his projects to other hands
when he bss any to lay before Congress. He
has an attorney, Mr.. Alexander C0chrane,
who was formerly member of Congress,
who comes here often to further the Cap
taiD's schemes, but when that gentleman
has any important matter TO be presented he
usDally comes here himself. He would be
shocked TO be classed as q lobbyist, yet he is
most succe ssful one. he talks not alone to
members, but TO committees. he goes bold
~ at his men, placing his enterprises on
business principles, and makes the fight for
them as q matter Of business. Does be want
TO get help for his scheme for deepening Gal
weston Harbor, he goes boldly before the
River and Harbor Committee aud tells them
all about it, making no "bones" Of asking
for SC, 900 900 or 3, 600, 600. Does he want to
get Government aid for his ship railway,
costing 100000 or S100, 900, he has
no hesitancy in appealing for this aid
in committee and by bill. He is q
lobbyists of magnificent possibilities, Cap
tain CowdeD, who has no affection for Mr.
Esds, believing his jetty system a practical
fraud, says they are failure; that the chan
mel in them is but twenty-five feet deep in.
stead of thirty. as it was to be, and that the
engineers who report the channel at its con-
tract depth do go in order TO share, in q
small way, Captain Eads' profits Captain
Eads' latest project, ons for which he is to
make fight this winter, is for system Of
improving the harbor at Galveston at cost
Of some s., o0O0O0 throwing away all that
has been done in that line thus far.
The most persistent lobbyist is perhaps the
small one who practices the vocation to get
through some petty bill for his personal
benefit. Dr. Mary Walker is q sample Of
this class. She perseyeringly pleads for the
passage of q bill for her pension
or relief, until the average member
of Congress flies from her approach as
from the breath of pestilence. Another
persistent lobbyist is fresh young colored
man, who hangs about the doors OF House
and Senate. asking members TO subscribe
to weekly paper which he publishes,
and send the copies so taken to some colored
men in their respective districts. A pair of
lobbyists who dc a thriving business are
known as husband and wife, the latter q
well.developed blonde, who smiles swestly
upon the members from the gallery or pleads
with them in the ladies' room at the en-
trance Of the House. There is another, s
woman. who has a record OF having KILLED
her man." who is TO be seen often in the
lobby She was last season frequent Wis.
itor 10 a wealthy member from the West,
when some Of his friends quietly whispered
something of her record in his ear and their
conversation in the lobby came suddenly to
an end. Still another woman, of pleasing
address, WORKS the Senate end of the Cap
itol industriously, having been so successful
as TO enlist the sympsthles OF Mr.. Arthur
when Vice President for some of her schemes,
until her true character appeared, when he
refused further 70 respond 10 her cards.
AUSTIN.