New-York tribune., 1875-02-12
MOUTHS or TIE MISSISSIPPI

JErTIES AT THE SOUTHWEST INSTEAD OF THE
SOUTH PASS.
TO the Edftor Of The Trt6une.
SIR. letter has been received by Senator
West of Louisiana in which forty Mississippi Ryer ana
Bar Pilots" dating from Pilot Town, at the mouth of
the river "peton Congress to improve the Southwest
Pass by means jettes proposed by Capt James b.
Eads instead Of the South Pass iOr reasons winch ne1
set forth as follows:
First. The South Pass ia too narrow 10 permit tho
passage of vessels past one another WhtI NOV
ing in opposite directions and too narrow o allow large
ocean steamships TO pass tow Without danger Oh COL
lsiou in either direction. .
Secondly: There Is not room enough inside tne bar IN
South Pass for vessels TO anchor. without O0structing
the channel and preventing The passage OF other vessels
and Of the accidental sinking OF any VesSe m
South Pass the whole Pass might DC ODstIucted untl
the wreck could be removed .
Thirdly: AS the width between jettes Mt the south
Pass wOud be only Gu feet il IS our opinion that IL
would dangerous for vessels to attempt enter theIe
during fOggy stormy weather. whereas az Soulh "ese
PISS with an opening 1899 feet In width between jet
ties II would be comparatively saie TO enter III any
FourIy: There a bar at the head Of the South Pass
which be dredged out and kept clear by continuous
dredging. whereas the Soutl-West Is VIDE, deep an
without any bar at It's head. Ihe current above VIII
maintain the entire Southwest Pass channel, at all
times to and across tue pai Det"etn ytteic9 p @
larry dredging VIII always be needed probably to main
tam The South Pass channel.
FDttg: There is more cert5nty OF oD.ainI"E an, anu
maintaining vide and deep channel across the SOutH
Nest Pass there il of obtaining narrow chan
ne South Pass ana this certainty VIC regard Us Oh IL
self an important consideration.
SrttiV: Iue South Pass aOnc would De Dsullclcnt 10
accommodate the vessels required by the Mississippi
River commerce; therefore VIC think that that Pass
which alone is adequate for the uninterrupted pas
sage of every class OF vessels, OF any draugnt OF
water and in any number all tImes good weather
bad in fOgs storms, shonld be selected Tor lu
SerenMly: And finally. since the South West Pass
channel aOne vii, supply the demands Of the Mississippi
Valley commerce, IL would be- in our humble opinion
unworthy of great and powerful nation 10 under
take from motives OF false economy work VI minor
Importance al the risk Of practical failure.
This letter of the Pilots justhcs the taken in the
memorial 10 Congress Of the 81. Louis Merchants TX
chapge that the South Pass will not when improved,
copsttute the safe and cOmodious outlet the de-
manded by the present and prospective interests OF the
region drained by the Mississippi" and that the " con-
sauty increasing demands OF the West for better fac
tiles OF TRANSFORMATION indicate that the larger and safer
ou,et-thc Southwest Pass-win in few years have TO
be improved involving the partial total loss Of any
present expenditure at the South Pass for the
merce OF the VALLEY long be content to be
fined to narrow and pcrilous pass when greater
OF entrance and OF navigation inside be secured by
improving tho wider and safer Southwest Pass"
There can be doubt that public sentiment n the West
is overwhelmingly in favor OF taking tho best and
largest Pass OF the Mississippi for tho erection OF per-
manent works. The subject Is now engaging the atten-
ton OF Committees in both Houses and It TO be hoped
that their action will be in harmony with the public
pectation The Mouth OF the Mississippi has been be-
fore Congress- in form or another for nearly forty
years. and ought be disposed OF III such
Of the people present and prospective
WGshiHyl1H, Feb O. 1875. E.E.E E.