The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-25
NEW ORLEANS TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1875.

more rapid than that OF the bar. The per-
manent elevation of the food line at the
upper end of the jetties would by this sud-
den transformation scarcely amount to two
inches.
How soon would the bar reform after these
jetties were built. We see that it now keeps
the respectful distance of seven and one-third
miles from where the natural jettles are 1900
feet wide and the channel sixty feet deep.
Will any one presume to say that the bar will
reform nearer than that distance from an out
let of the same width and depth and dis
charging the same volume of water? AS the
water seven and one-third miles from the end
of the supposed jetties, or the crest OF the
bar, is nearly three hundred feet deep, and as
man would have done what it would take the
river 178 years to do, we may safely infer that
it would require at least 17S years for the
river to fill up the Gulf seven and one
third miles distant to the height of
fifteen feet and restore the bar again.
Bear in mind, however, that I say it would
take this long to reform it if the present con-
ditions existed. But is it not plain to any
man of common sense that the same condition
would not exist? The hill forty five feet high,
against which the river is to-day discharging,
and which is absolutely necessary to enable
the river to advance into the sea, would be
forever gone, and with it all power on the part
of the river to reform this earth-work, which
to-day enables it to fight its way steadily for
ward into the Gulf Its channel, which is
now defined twenty miles out from the South
west Pass. would flow twice or thrice as far in
all probability, for the river will flow through
salt water as easily as it does through banks
of earth. 1t is not deadened in its current by
entering the sea, but by encountering the hill
at the mouth of the river.
There are nineteen rivers in Europe to
which the jetty system has been applied;
many of them I have visited, and | have
made myself thoroughly acquainted with all
the others, and l have yet to know that one
of the jetties had to be extended.
In 1857 there was built at the m outh of the
river dixie or ietty of cypress timber It is
reported and believed that this was washed
away in the first great storm that followed its
building; but, when 1 went there last winter,
found about three-quarters intact and at
Stake Island thirty-two feet of water.
On my recent trip I, with several of the citi-
zens of New Orleans, took skiff and we
visited the dyke.
Gen. Bussey asked how long it would be be-
fore the work would be completed.
Capt. Eads replied the work once started it
was the intention to throw the getties out
as fast as possible, and as quickly as possible,
and he thought there would be between
twenty and twenty five feet of water by the
4th Of July next
In reply to a question from gentleman,
Capt. Eads stated that mud Jumps seldom, if
ever, were found in the channel of the river,
and the jetties would have nothing to fear
from them.
After thanking his audience for their at
tendance, Capt Eads retired.
HThe following resolution offered by Col j.
N. Sandidge. was unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That the Chamber of Commerce
has heard with much satisfaction from Capt
JAS B. Eads the expressions of his entire
confidence in the success of the jetty system,
which under arrangement with the govern
ment has been determined on for tbs improve
ment of the outlet through the South Pass
of the Mississippi River, and of his
determination to prosecute the enter
prise with all possible energy. Having but
the one object in view-a capacious water
way to the sea-this Chamber commends the
work of Captain Eads to the citizens of New
Orleans. and to all who are interested in its
success, for such aid and facilities as can in
any way be given, assured that from his tri-
umphs Eover the mud bars at the mouth of
the river will date an era of prosperous trade
and commerce to the people of its great
valley.
The meeting then adjourned.