St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-03-27

I
WASHINGTON, D. c., March Is, 1886. !
EDITOR ST.. TANNANY farmer:
Dear SRI thank you for the
copies Of the St Tammany FAkxER
containing articles urging the I'M
provement Of the Bogue Falia. l
have not been unmindful Of the in
terests Of that portion OF our Dis
trict, and ever since I came here I
have been interviewing one after
another of the members of the Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors, for
the purpose of urging the improve
ment OF our streams. At the in
vitation of the committee I appear
ed before them last week while in
session and made an argument in
behalf of all our streams, taking
them up one by one. I have taken
particular care to explain the stu
ation of the Bogue FaIia. because
the q. 8. Engineer has confined his
report to the Tchefunota, and has
said nothing about the former
stream. lam glad to say that sew
eral members of the committee.
among whom I may raention Mr..
Blanchard, Of our State. Mr.. Catch
ings, of Mississippi, and Mr.. Muir
pLy. of Iowa, have promised me to
do all they can to get the Commit
tee to recon- mend liberal appropri-
ations for our streams.
Inasmuch as the Bcgue Falia has
never heretofore been included in
the estimates of the United States
Engineer, I fear I may not succeed
in getting an appropriation for it
this season; but I am promised that
in case an appropriation cannot
now be had for its improvement. a
survey will be ordered, so that it
may hereafter be placed officially
in the report of the Engineer, aud
will come regularly before the Com
mittee like all of the other streams
in the country. The COMMITTEES is
holding daily sessions and is work
ing hsrd to get in its appropriation
bill ut as early day as possible;
but you can we'll Imagine what a
labor it is to consider all the rivers
and harbors in the United States,
to hear arguments from all persons
who desire to go before them, and
to make q just apportionment OF a
limited sum among such vast
of streams. It will proba-
bly, be some weeks yet before they
are ready to report In the mean
lime you may rest assured that
will not be neglected., but will do
Ill in my power to secure favorable
.ction Cor our streams.
I received, two days ago, pei-
ion from the citizens. Of st, Tam
many parish, asking that the daily |
nail service by rail be discon-
inued, and daily service by boat
70 established to Covington. Yes
erday morning l presented the
to the Second Assistant
Postmaster General, who has juris-
fiction over all suoh matters. and
urged him to grant the prayer OF
he petitioners. He replied that
,s would be glad to comply it he
could do so without mourning too
treat an expense. He said that he
vas anxious to give st. Tammany
! daily service by boat, and. before
making the present contract. he Of
cred Mr.. Coyle $500 to carry the
nail daily to Covington. The offer
1as refused, and he made a con-
ract for the present service. which
osts the Government $3.50 per
ear. His offer to Mr.. Coy!e was
2261 more than it new costs, and
"a said he did not feel that be
7ould be justified in disseminating
he present service to establish il
y boat at the very largely increas'
d expense which Mr.. Coyle de-
handed. The present administra-
ion had promised reform in the
expenses of the Government and
Q did not think he could establish
be service by boat without vio-
ating that promise. After q long
iscussion of the matter he finally
that he would take it
ato consideration. and would see
that could be done. The differ
nee in the price. however. is SO
rsat that I doubt II lie will make