The New Orleans bulletin., 1875-11-23
confine the flow within the space of one thou
sand feet hetXeen the crests of the iettias

confne the flow within the space of one thou
sand feet between the crests of the jetties.
We tiud from the records of the pile div
irg, and from the manner in which the pile
have thus far withs.ood the action of III
| waves and currents that the material of tn
bar Is even more solid than We had venturet
to anticipate it wonld be, as we have alread,
remarked. We do not entertain any doubt al
to the efficiency and permanency OF the jet
ties when they shall have been completed
upon the location and plans heretofore ap
proved by this Commission. If the arrange
ments made by the contractors, Messrs
James Andrews q Co., for the early delivery
of additional large quantities of stone fcl
| weighing the mattresses, and for the protec-
| ton of the jetties against the action of the
| sea, are succes sfully executed, We see no rea
and permanent good results at an early date.
1t is hardly within our province, if it were
even in our power. to offer any specific opin-
ion respecting the period when given depth
| across the bar may be reliably calculated upon
since SO much necessarily depends upon the
| character of the season, the stage of water in
the river, and the vigor with which the work
is prosecuted; but judging from the amount
and character of the work already accom-
plished in advance of the date at which Con.
gress required it to begin. we are very favora-
bly, impressed, believing that there is pros
pect OF early and complete success.
The lines of the jetties are now distinctly
marked out by the rows of piles extending
seaward on the east side beyond the crest of
the bar into twenty-siX feet of water and on
the west side to about twenty feet depth, in
dicating the extent and shape of the new en-
trance.
While it would have been unreasonable to
have anticipated at this early period in the
progress of this important undertaking even
as much as has already been effected, we de-
sire to be careful lest we should ourselves un.
dervalue or cause Others to view lightly the
difficulties which yet remain to be overcome
before the final grand result shall have been
attained.
Care should be exercised to strengthen the
works already commenced, in order to enable
them to resist the gales of winter-and too
much haste to call in the river forces, for the
execution Of deepening, must be avoided. 1t
is mach safer while the foundations Of the
jetties are insuficiently protected by stone,
to allow the present escape OF water by lateral
avenues.
From what has already been said, it will
have been clearly enough seen that the Con-
mission did not expect at this early stage in
the prOgreas of the work that much securing
effects would have been produced. Such re-
suits can not be expected to exhibit them
selves in very marked manner, until, by
the closure of the opening, 900 feet in length
at the head of the west jetty, aud by the rails
ing of both the parallel piers to the water
surface throughout some considerable length,
the water shall be confined to lis destined
channel. From the eastern lands end to near
the head of the west ietty. the eastern ietty ia
now for the most part thus raised, while the
west bank itself imperfectly fulfills the func-
ton of its parallel pier. Throughout this
length-say for 44O0 feet-a marked securing
effect has taken place.
At this season Of the year, when the river is
low, the securing action of the current is re-
duced to its minimum. This, while il is the
least favorable for the exhibition of results
from the jetty works thus far executed, is the
most favorable to their safe and rapid con-
struction. 1t is quite undesirable that any
considerable deepening of the bar should oc-
cur before the spring shall find the works in
o condition to resist and turn to useful ac-
count the food that may then be expected.
On motion:
Resolued, That copy of the minutes and of
the foregoing r. sumo be furnished to Mr.. Eads
by the Secretary. Whereupon the Commission
adjourned sine die
j. G. BARNARD, President
CHARLES A. HARTLEY,
w. minor ROBERTS,
HENRY MITCHELL,
II. d. WHITCoMB.
A true copy from the minutes.
H. D. WHTTcoMB, Secretary.
*NoTE.-Equal to length of four miles
fifty feet wide and two feet thick.