The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-11-07
Penss cola Boy vs.
che Crooked Mississippi.

me esteemed New Orleans Times
Democrat hsseeen Ct TO take exception
Do an article recently published in
ne Journal aren't the accident TO the
rmsn vessel bearing President Roose-
relt down the Mississippi from the
Crescent City Co where the cruiser
West Virginia awaited his coming
safely at anchor in the Gull, in which
the seaport" Of New Orleans and the
approach thereto were rather severe
81. but nevertheless justly. criticised
and. in an effort 70 resent the "slah-
der" omits. uninientionally Of course
to state absolute facts instead Of &c
ton.
The Journal said New Orleans
was a "river town. which is a0-
miued by the TimesDemocrat, but
egotisticaliy. that paper hkens the
port of NV Orleans TO those OF
London. Antwerp and Liverpool. AS
New Orleans is not en- the same class
with the ports mentioned. either as to
harbor facilities, nearness to the sea,
OF any other respect the comparison
IS preposter0us and therefore. could
not be advanced in sane argument or
replied toin any way save By reference
% ats absolute absurdity. The Times
Democrat then says:
TIfI.. na.-..-r saa
New Orleans Isl 40 miles from deep
uater. of course. LEADS 30 the Ques-
ton. Whet is deep w8ter3 There is
1ust in mont 81 this city 30 feet Of
water. about ten times the depth 90
De found in the harbor Of Pensacola.
Yes. dear contemporary, 80 feet IS
mighty deep. but The Journal fears
you didn't take your measurements
o. the right spot Isn't there so
fathosns, $50 feet, at one point on the
city Wharves2 And, BY the way. how
DO ships manage 10 anchor in the
sharb0r" Of New Orleans II the depth
IS 20 great3 Isn't such q depth a dis
advantage rather than a beneft? OF
course vessels can come close inshore
and find shallow water, but even II
the anchor finds bottom and holds on
isnt Ct a fact that it must be shifted
az least once in "a hours 70 prevent
tts being buried beyond all hope OF
recovery In the Shiny SIT brought
down By the Father Of Waters?
As 20 30 feet being ten times the
depth obtsinable IN Pensacola Bay
the Times-Democrat IS respectfully re
terred 60 any pilot or steamboat man
who ever sailed into this port There
is 8S feet OF water on the Pensacola
bar aud the heaviest battleship OF the
United States Navy can easily come
en- without g pilot Even New York
has no greater depth on the bar.
Even ~ New Orleans has al the
TimesBemocrat claims for &, &c
would be an impossib ility for a modern
var vessel 10 get into the river, al
though she might float an right In
that 30 feet OF water II IL was posi-
bic 90 anchor and 81 no maneuvering
was necessary.
Here is where the Times-Democrat
sets Cts visionary apparatus 70 work
with a vengeance.
NJ the mercantile marine of the
world should So develop that ships
drawing no less then forty feet OF
water could be operated economically.
snd The future nav develop such a
feet only az New Orleans on the
Gulf coast could a SUFFICIENT depth Of
water De secured 10 accommodate the
ships without bankrupGng the nation
sl Treasury. Other Gulf ports nav
DC dredged out only 20 en- up again
q suit the moods Of old ocean. Tbe
great river has only 70 be directed 20
drGdge Its own channel and to con