The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-08-24
The Mouth of the Mississippi--Ehe Suit
for SlSOOOO

The unwontod publicity which has boon given to
tue suit of the Government against the sureties Of
Craig Fighters, contractors for cleaning out the
distractions at the mouth Of the Mississippi Rivar
make 1t necessary that the public should understand
the facts connected with tho transaction, psr,icu-
larly since itmnst appear that tho suit is improy
dent ana that Goyernment has no Just claim asslnst
port, procured letters patent for now break wator
whereby sendbars and other, distractions could 10
removed with less expense and in shorter pericd Of
time than ty any other known process. The War
Department advertised for proposals to romove tho
0bstructions at the mouth Of the Mississippi Ciaig
4 Nghter were very little known either here or st
Washington, and were without means or acQuaint-
ance ADEQUATE to attempt competition ior the work
wine, whom they had consulted professionally, as to
They solicited his influence and advice and ho
cheerfllly gave. them both. The principle Of their
Invention and discovery was frankly opposed 70 him.
together with the bids Of many Others Was oi,rrsd
to u Board of Civil Engineers, EN- .nent for thair
scientific attainments. They reported f,yorsty up n
ing the contracts to us Colonel Davies. who was
then at the head of the. departmental oe,f a
neer--t --thorouallysxamned our plan, and approved
Of 1t. 1t became necessary that No should give
bond essehaialy M NY nominal nal Oecsnse no monsy wate
This enabled the Government at any time to protect
ITSELF and haye the outlays Of the contractors for
the work according TO contract We again called on
MIR. Corwine, and showed him the papers drawn up
by the Government and represented:our inability TO
furnish the security without his friendly aid. Ths
matter was likewise explained to Mr.. William Wis
we'll another liberal-minded citizen. who 10 ever
ready to assist honest merit. These gentlemen, ts-
| gether with Judge Corwine of Urbana, agreed to
helous in this, our hour of need, with their names
Having 4, rs secured the CON tract, wo went directly
to New Orleans, laid our plans before tho capitalists
the work. 1t involved an outlay Of many thousand
contract, and that had to como from somo other
A MIR. VIM y. Starke, Of that city, camo forward
taking assignment of the contract, and furnished
the funds For sixteen months We gavo individual
attention to tho work, spending many days and
nights az the Balize amid the storms and tropical
suns Of that region az the risk Of health and aysy
find that our labors were rewarded by a complsts
triumph. The Government had an officer in charge
tcrmine when 1t was fulfilled, and report upon the
progress and general management Of Mo work. He
had a fned our and thS work was @ accepted
by the Government. Mr. ,Starke, accompanied by
one Of US went to Washington 70 receive tho pay
The sureties, r. NJ. Corwine, Judge Corwino, and
Wswell, gave tho Department written notice not TO
question Of their liability as sureties was settled,
they claiming that they were discharged, by the acts
of the in extending ts time fer tue
without having consent of the sureties. Such extsn-
s0ns were . 10 twice
| InuS tn6 StOOu luL sOluo tmo~tuo buioboo
refusiugto to withdraw the objection-and they never
did withdraw It.. Notwithstanding all this, Starks
got the money from the Government. and the
undersigned have now litigation with him
for u Just and honest account Of 1t, pending
at New Orleans BY some means, wholly un-
known to US, the Government since they paid this
money, have let the work to another company, who
expect to accomplish, what we did accomplish, ~
the old, and exploded process Of dredging. BY the
terms ofhis contract with us, Sarks bound to dc
all that agreed, with the Government, to co; and
we will that he does it, Or out OF his large ostato
make proper cofnpensation. We are ready now, and
al all always be, to keep the passes open, according
| to contract. Since the work accepted by the
Government there has been plenty of water to enable
all vessels pass liz md out without difficulty, as w
wo shall be prepared to show at all times. ,3i .
Ii tho Government has ignored our contract BY
tho connivance or consent of Starke, or for any
other cause, giving us no notice thereof or opportu
nifty to repair any breach of Starke, it is no fault
ours; but nevertheless we SHALL as we arc indeed
now doing, at New Orleans, thoroughly investigate
this matter, with view to yindicate the principal
our plan, and to faithfully fulfill orr contract will
the Government 1t Is proper that we should adj
that Messrs. COrwine Il Wiswel became our suretie'
without any prospect of reward therefor, and tina
they have not derived farthing's benefit in th'
premises. ljl :. NJ t.1. ..U y I. r. .tra
Newspapers which gave publicity to the pendsnel
Of the suit are requested 10 publish this statement
~ ,o,o 5a.-arl ohAAd y hAHtiirh hAHttiiirh ~
huuost -, 'N'' s,,r. .-... ia |..