The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-04
The improvement of the Mouth of the
Mississippi.

[. Correspondence st. Louis Republican,
T WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-The meeting to-
morrow OF the Senate Select Committee on
transportation routes to the seaboard is
awaited with much interest, as it is believed
that there will be some definite expression
from them upon the question of improving
the mouth of the Mississippi River. 1t is
| stated that the members Of the Senate Com
! mittee are all in favor of the jetties, but are
divided in opinion as to the manner in which
they shall be constructed; whether they shall
be constructed as all other government work,
or by private parties under Capt. Eads's orr
ginal proposition, or under some similar con-
tract. 1t is now understood that this question
was discussed in the meeting of the Senate
Committee on Wednesday last and that
point was referred to subcommittee consist
ing of Sherman, of Ohio West, Of Louisiana,
and Davis, Of West Virg inia, with instructions
to report at the next meeting of the commit
tee. The friends of the E.ds proposition,
however, are confident that they will be able
to
DEFEAT THIS ATTEMPT
to rob him Of the fruits of his long labors.
The absolute necessity that the engineer to
whom this difficult work is intrusted should
possess not only the general technical train
ing of his profession in o high degree but
also thorough knowledge of the peculiari-
ties of the stream with which he has to deal,
make 1T hard to find any one in the army, even
among the most eminent engineers, suited to
the unusual difficulties which beset his work
This rare combination of technical skill and
special knowledge are known characteristics
of Capt Ead,, while the wonderful success
with which he overcame the obstacles pre-
scented in the construction Of the st. Louis
bridge demonstrates that he possesses ia an
AI,1@ J.
Of conception without which it
would be useless to undertake this enterprise |
Some disposition has also been exhibited to
let the work out to the lowest bidder, but that |
is regarded as absurd as it would be in be. |
ginning a suit at law, to advertise for propo- |
sails from attorneys and let the work out to |
The lowest bidder.
SOME OBJECTIONS
have been raised to the selection of the South
west Pass as the site of improvement, upon
,he ground that the difference in the esti-
mated annual expense of maintenance be-
ween the South and Southwest Passes is so
great To meet this objection and others in
eference to the matter of expense, Capt. Eads
las suggested several material notifications
n his bill to members Of the Senate commit
ee. He is willing to construct the whole for
IS, 600, 900 upon these terms: Government
ngineer to be detailed to watch the construc-
ion Of the work, and allow payment for one
alf the actual expense incurred not more
han S1,000,00O to be paid until channel
epth of twenty-five feet is secured, and not
acre than 100000 until a depth of twenty
our feet. The remainder of his COM
ensation is to be paid out in this
'ay: S2OOO,o0O to be retained by the
government for ten or twenty years as a
for the maintenance Of the work !
n which yearly payment of $4,000 is to
G paid. This proposition is a quarter of 1
lillion less for the first cost, and $4,000 a 9
ear less for annual maintenance than the $
'timates of the engineers.
Upon this great difference in the cost he
'sts his claims. and there is very good reason
expect that the Senate will pass his bills. F..
be peculiar position of legislation in the /.
ouse, makes all prophecies as to its vote there
lzardous in the extreme.