Comments on: Is New Orleans Sinking? http://informedspeculation.com/2005/11/22/is-new-orleans-sinking/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Sat, 07 Apr 2012 09:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dennis http://informedspeculation.com/2005/11/22/is-new-orleans-sinking/comment-page-1/#comment-8385 Dennis Wed, 23 Nov 2005 06:29:34 +0000 http://decision08.net/2005/11/22/is-new-orleans-sinking/#comment-8385 On the other hand, the Army Corps of Engineers has spent a lot of money over the years forcing the Mississippi to stay on its present course, rather than change course above New Orleans and leave the city (irony of ironies) high and dry. If New Orleans becomes a Galveston-sized city, I wonder if there will be a move to let the Mississippi start doing what it wants, in which case, the Big Easy's <i>raison d'etre</i> becomes even harder to discern. On the other hand, the Army Corps of Engineers has spent a lot of money over the years forcing the Mississippi to stay on its present course, rather than change course above New Orleans and leave the city (irony of ironies) high and dry.

If New Orleans becomes a Galveston-sized city, I wonder if there will be a move to let the Mississippi start doing what it wants, in which case, the Big Easy’s raison d’etre becomes even harder to discern.

]]> By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2005/11/22/is-new-orleans-sinking/comment-page-1/#comment-8378 Mark Wed, 23 Nov 2005 03:46:31 +0000 http://decision08.net/2005/11/22/is-new-orleans-sinking/#comment-8378 Yes, quite right...it's the reason that there will always be a New Orleans, no matter how dim a shadow of its former self... Yes, quite right…it’s the reason that there will always be a New Orleans, no matter how dim a shadow of its former self…

]]> By: politicaster http://informedspeculation.com/2005/11/22/is-new-orleans-sinking/comment-page-1/#comment-8374 politicaster Wed, 23 Nov 2005 03:04:14 +0000 http://decision08.net/2005/11/22/is-new-orleans-sinking/#comment-8374 I recently read a book on the Galveston hurricane of 1900. (Isaac's Storm.) I'm struck by a similarity: before the 1900 hurricane, Galveston was poised to become the major shipping center of the Texas coast. It's main competitor was none other than Houston. The last 105 years has shown which city won the title. That's not to say Galveston hasn't done well -- but I don't see professional sports (if that's any indication) coming there any time. Houston is certainly one of the main cities capable of shifting the balance away from New Orleans. However New Orleans has one important geographic fact, and that is that it is the gateway to the Mississippi. I recently read a book on the Galveston hurricane of 1900. (Isaac’s Storm.) I’m struck by a similarity: before the 1900 hurricane, Galveston was poised to become the major shipping center of the Texas coast. It’s main competitor was none other than Houston. The last 105 years has shown which city won the title. That’s not to say Galveston hasn’t done well — but I don’t see professional sports (if that’s any indication) coming there any time.

Houston is certainly one of the main cities capable of shifting the balance away from New Orleans. However New Orleans has one important geographic fact, and that is that it is the gateway to the Mississippi.

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