The herald., 1913-06-19

Win oOIHc carefully prepared data
showing that this local war plant. To-
Gated as it is, in this growing city
while performing the functions for
which, as stated, it was primarily de.
signed, may, through the enlargement
OF its scope, be of greatly increased
advantage to the Nation.
We are, of course, assuming that the
National Government intends to now
push to completion these necessary in
stallations which will provide for the
| protection of the entrance TO this river
as well as for the protection of the
commerce of its valley, contemporane-
ouSIy with the fertilization OF the Pan
anna Canal, whose commercial success
must so largely depend upon the I'm.
hampered use of this great free water
way in bringing down the products or
this prolific manufacturing and agricuI:
tural region by gravitation to the sea
The completion of this Isthmian wa
terway is now rapidly approaching, and
the time Will soon be at hand when the
financing OF the necessary fleets of
boats and barges and the elevators and
warehouses and terminals necessary to
handle this mighty commerce, will
nave to be taken up seriously.
1t would not seem to be an unreason.
Iable assumption that until it is certain
that no interruption such as the de.
.struction of these jetties would occa-
sion such vast undertaking, these ne
.cessary financial arrangements cannot
be effected.
We trust that you will find upon in.
vestigatiOn that this statement is in
strict accordance with existing condi.
lions as they appear in this section to-
day. We believe that our expectations
In this matter are fair and reasonable
and we believe that if these expecta-
lions are realized, the result will, we
repeat, be Of great advantage to the
Nation
While it is our firm conviction that
in the not distant future this river and
its commerce is going to be fully pro.
tected, and that this Station is conse-
quently going to be operated, we also
believe that this magnificent deep and
spacious fresh water harbor of miles in
extent, where the whole American
Navy could finn berthing room, if needs
be, offers the grandest site on the Con-
tinent to-day for Americas greatest
war plant.
With health conditions now second
to none, and steadily improving. as we
are driving out the mosquito. the CITY
OF New Orleans, responding to the
great world movement. now being
evolved in these environs, which will
soon transfer the center of the worlds
sea commerce to the Caribbean. must.
In the very nature of things, become
one of the great maritime centers of
the modern world.
Just as the Panama Canal is a corol- |
larry of the practical application of the
mosquito theory, and just as the new
pass at the mouth of this river and the
great lntercoastal Canal which will |
cross this river while connecting Bos- |
ton on the North Atlantic with Browns.
vile on the Rio Grande, are but corol.
laries of the digging across the erst-
while fever-stricken Isthmus. so also
will the Lakes-to-the-Gulf deep water
way be but a corollary of the operation
or these giant physical forces which.
as stated, will soon be found to have
brought this regenerated Southern Sec
ton into its own.
Let us therefore lay the foundations
today for the protection of this great
river, and that of the great valley
through the heart of which it courses
SO majestically to the sea.
We can assist in this grand consum-
nation in no better way than by build
ing up this local Station into the great !,
Southern naval base suggested, which,
while facilitating the ships of war, will /
De safeguarding the ships OF peace.
AS citizens of New Orleans, we know
hat the opening OF this local Station
IN scale commensurate with it's i'm
'ortance to this river, and consequent
y to this Nation, will mean much in
ocal benefits to this city, and it's en-
irons, but We are as honestly and
irmly convinced that these benefits
will be infinitesimal as compared with
he larger benefits which will accrue
o the American people, after the OPEN
ng of the Panama Canal, in having the
'ntrance to the Father of Waters pro-
'erly and permanently defended.
Let US therefore place the same safe
yards around the Gateway of the VAL
ey" that we are placing around the
Gateway to the Orient" so that both
f these great portals may be thrown
pen and kept open to the ships of all
he seas.
And in thus building up American
ommerce, we are building up America,
7hich is, after all, the end for which