Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-07

There are all sorts OF people IN the lob
by. 1t is undoubtedly true, as intimated
in the interview above, that it is possible
for the paid attorney or the protector of
any important and proper measure to
pursue the occupation of lobbyist" in
way quite above reproach. These men,
as a rule, object to the term ''lobbyist,"
as applied to themselves, and represent
themselves as "attorneys' of the inter-
ested parties. One Of the most prominent
figures in the lobby is that of EX-Secre-
tary Belknap. He makes Washington his
home during the sessions of Congress,
and much of the time between the ses-
sions, He lives at the Arlington Hotel,
one of the leading hostelries of the city,
and devOtes his entire time apparently to
this sort of work. He is understood to
especially represent some of the ordnance
manufacturers of the country and others
connected with army affairs, He divides
bis time between the departments, che
hotel Hobbies and the capitol, and is al
ways ready to make a set argument be-
fore department chief, or to wrestle a
member of Congress in his room or in the
lobby of the House or Senate. His family
are understood to be still abroad, where
Mrs. Belknap spends most other time. He
appears to be quite popular, being heartily
greeted by the returning members of Con-
gress, while as an attorney" he is evil
IDENTIFY quite successful, supporting his
family abroad and himself in comfortable
style here, beside owning some valuable
property in Washington.
Another familiar face which has al
ready made It's appearance here is that OF
Capt. COwden, of Mississippi river fame.
81 have been on the Mississippi for over a
half century," he said to your correspond
ent, land think l ought to know some
thing about the river and its needs"
''And what is it that you are asking of
Congress?"
s'The right to construct an outlet from
the Mississippi to Lake BOrgne, an arm
of the Gulf of Mexico, only a few miles
below New Orleans. / believe, and so do
some gentlemen who are associated with
me, that this will lower the floOd-line of
the river materially and deepen the chan
mel, thus preventing Overfiows."
''And what do you ask in advance with
which to make this experiment."
ENOthing. We ask the passage of a
bill permitting the cutting Of a channel
from the Mississippi to Lake Borgne, a
distance of five miles, the channel to be
about one mile in width and ten feet deep.
This will have fall of three feet to the
mile, reaching the Gulf in those five miles
instead of running 120 miles, as it now
does, with a fall of an inch and half to
the mile. For doing this the bill proposes
that the government pay us $1,000, 900 for
each foot that we lower the flood line at
New Orleans within sixty days, and 3d.
100000 for every foot that we deepen the
channel IN five years from Cairo to New
Orleans. We propose to do all the work
without asking cent unless we accom-
plish this. 1t we succeed we will save
$100,000,000 a year of losses from these
overfloWs, and 81 900, 900, 600 in the cost of
the impracticable scheme that the engi-
naarG are trying tn mt through WHY
Gen. Comstock, the head of the River
Commission, said himself that the present
plans might cost $500, 900, or even a
81, 000, 900, 900, and that then there was no
certainty as to their accomplishing the
results.