The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-11-22
Qhelemurraf-S Star
AN CANAL.

1t is proposed by northern CAPT.
talists who have purchased the old
Mississippi and Mexican Gulf canal
to open that canal from Lake Borgne
into the Mississippi river above New
Orleans, securing it by proper locks
and deepening it to admit stern wheel
steamers and coal barges from the
lake into the river. This waterway
would enable steamers and barges to
pass from Mobile through the sound
into Lakes Pontchatrain and Borgne,
and pass to the front of New Orleans
upon the river. In this way lumber
and coal could be transported direct
to the shipping instead of being trans
ported, as at present, from the lakes
overland through the city to the ship
ping. The New Orleans Times Demo-
crGt says Of the benefits of this Ca
nal.
"The successful opening and opera
tl0n of this canal will result in meal
culable benefit to the commerce of
New Orleans. The canal will loom I'D
as Il competitor to the railroads and
the New Basin Navigation Canal
company as a route for the transpor-
tation of lumber from the shipping
ports along the gulf coast. The mills
at Pennington, Scranton and other
places will be enabled to load their
product aboard schooners, which will
discharge them on the wharves for
foreign shipment. This will do away
with the double loading and unloading
required when the lumber is shipped
via the railroads, and obviate the ex-
pense of drayage when the cargoes
come by way of the New Basin canal.
1t will also obviate the equally ex-
penslve system of shipping around by
Ship Island and The j%etties, as is re-
quired when the Mississippi lumber
men desire to employ an all-water
route and land their lumber on the
New Orleans wharves.
"When the government shall have
completed the improvements in pro-
gresS on the Black Warrior river, and
opened that stream to steamers and
barges all the year round, an all-water
route but eighty miles longer than the
railroad route will have been estab.
lished between New Orleans and the
coal fields of Alabama. This, Mr.. Far
rar says, will enable the coal mer-
chants of New Orleans to sell coal to
steamships at a rate of 81 per ton
cheaper than they at present demand,
and justly, because Of the additional
expense of railway transportation.
This will dispose Of the coal question
as a militant against the advancement
OF New Orleans as an exporting CEN
ter in the commercial world, to say
nothing of the advantages that will
accrue to the thousands of large and
small consumers among the residents
of the city. 1t will also prove bene-
fetal to the Alabama miners and the
thousands dependent upon the opera
ton Of the mines for s%ustenance, be-
cause it will increase the demand for
Alabama coal and give them constant
employment. Mr.. Farrar says this
new route to the coal fields Will run
through the Mississippi River and
Ship Island canal, Lake Borgne, Mis-
sissippi sound, Mobile bay, the Mo-
bile, Tombigbee and Black Warrior
rivers. 1t will increase the competi.
ton between the Alabama miners
and the West Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania producers, who have to employ
the long route through the Kanawha,
Monongahela, Ohio and Mississippi
rivers, and cheaper Pittsburg coal.
Mr.. Farrar will also endeavor to
impress Mr.. Wheelwright and his
associates with the Importance of
operating a line of steamers between
New Orleans and the near by gulf
ports through the Ship Island canal,
and he believes that he will he suc.
cessful."