The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-04
Practicability Of Creating a Permanent
Navigable Channel.
VARIOUS METHODS EXAMINED
Estimated Cost Of Each Plan
Of improvement.
THE CHEAPEST PROJECT.
Majority Report Of the Board Of Engineers
Favoring the Jstty System.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. 1875.
Under IN act Of Congress approved June Is,
1874 board OF engineers was appointed BY the
Secretary OF War In the month following to make
- survey Of the mouth OF the Mississippi River,
with view 10 determine the best method Of OBJ
tanning and maintaining depth OF water
sufncient for the purposes OF commerce,
either BY canal from said river to
the waters OF the Gulf, or by Deepen
ing one or more OF the natural outlets
Of said river" The report Of the Board was made
to the Secretary Of War on January Is, and by
him transmitted to the House Of Representatives
on the next day. A very brief summary was then
published, but the subject IL one OF 10 much i'm
portance that We deem che report worthy OF pub
hcatton IN ertenso. The following IL the docu-
ment:--
THE REPORT.
SrR-The Board OF Engineers, constituted un.
der section OF an act OF Congress, approved
June %. 1874 having completed It's !abors, has the
honor TO submit the following report
The act OF Congress referred TO required that the
Board should make plans and estimates Tor the
sufficient for purposes OF commerce at the mouth
Of the Mississippi River, either by canal rom
a cne or more Of the natural outlets
river, and to report the same. together with heir
opinion thereon, showing which OF all SAID plans
the Board was ordered by the Secretary OF Var
to meet on July 20, 1874 at New YORK city. 1t met
AS there has been no example III this country
- to give an outlet 70 the sea With much On
par, the Board, in It's consideration OF
what ex perience has elsewhere SHOWN to be prac.
There has been great difference Of opinion
Europe, as to whether me best method Of secur.
ing deep water outlet from Q misunderstanding
.lysr Which empties NE the Mssss ,n the Wis
Al the vistula, after vain attempts for many
formed Q new outlet. and the old one, turned into
lateral canal has long gwen the needed water
inc m0Rss Of the DanuD after the canal
System and the jettee system had each been pro-
posed BY eminent authorities and neither adopted,
rhe results were af better than the engineer ex.
ouss 70 Ss bsnaSs ''
At tine mouth or the Rhoue the engtneerSi ter
S sny 70 nsyss Ssa 09 s y
abandoned that plan and built Q lateral canal
wnieh 10 more than adequate TO the wants Of COM
While the results were 80 contradictory. the in.
formation at the command OF the Board about the
nS Ssssn yer: Except
me ~ nyo ~ a. y sns
ma Il. costly 9Sss Il i =
% The method TO 20 adopted. AocordinFly. IN Or:
i6s sisst .uits obtansd siss where IN this most
e: moSS q & sSs 1s n
bearing on canal and harbor, also the North sea
Tie result Of THESE examinations abroad, while
additional Information has Oeen- gained on almost
lvery point relating to the problem before them.
lhe value for tettses at the mouth Of the Missis.
Dippt River, OF the iasctne dlkes used In Holland
q Caland IN the Improvement OF the Mas mouth
After returning from Europe the Board met In
new Orleans. spending about three weeks, OF
which eight days were employed IN examinations
st the mouths Of the Mississippi River and at the
site Tor canal proposed BY Captain Howell.
Board the conclusions reached win be gwen.
L-CkNAL
.red nv me Rosr1 amo au wntcn NAV he man.
toned the one proposed by Captain Howell, near
Port Sc. Philip; one leaving Pass pOutre,
about SIX miles inside OF its bar. and running
the south Pass at its head BY q dam and entering
1t by canal and lock from the southwest Pass,
and opening It's mouth Dy dredging. the mouth
The advantages Of the sites at Southwest Pass
and Pass rOutre are, that the difference OF water
coed foot, and may often be SO small that the use
OF the lockout would be unnecessary; that the
Sei"a near VI passes iii snt drauas ves
canals Would asCoucn into deep wafer a. once
outlet OF the Fort st. Philip Canal there are only
twenry.elght feet OF water at low tide.
IL tnat It's de0ouche would gradually silt up In the
advance OF the delta ana that the cost OF the bar
IT'S % s
wnle cue proposed outlet Of the Fort saint Philip
doe: no. need expensive WORKS t 20 cover its en-.
trance. the sites below tine Head OF the
90 az 70; s' ns s SUTs e. sS a:
plan Of can alixlng the south Pass would involve
the dimcnlty Of opening and keeping opep its
m y, wncn IL the main dlmcni'y snould )ettees
Aissr careful consideration Of the several sites
adopted, with one dissenting member. Aside
q psrmahsncs than the other sites. Il does
q the proposed canal. and { comparison OF the
ecs map q G 1855 AND capsD Row. N map
1e12 show no Important cnanRe. The Board de.
81 Sas BY s. ~aS sSs
s:cM sncn ave " ana ma s
sSsI: should % basin Sf 1000 - Zoo
ls, thsso should % look. 800 feot long between
lie mltsr.stlls OF eS ieet clear width aud with ~
teot OF water on ttg mtter.snls ct mean low ttdes
she part OF the lock IN the Vicinity Of the gates to
be OF masonry. on pued foppdation, with heavy
grlags; the rest OF the prism Of the lock to be or
earth with reverted slopes o. one upon one guard
gates 10 DO placed above and below rho lock
the canal to be 400 lset vide gu tue bottom, II
feet deep ct mean low water and with SIDE slopes
Of hall, or one vertical on two horizontal allow.
ing these to nAtten II they wlll-rne bank OF Gu.
belts gap stands ON slope OF nearly one on one
70 depth or 40 feet~-ie2vinR the BASIN the canal
y run In straight limo to the little bay behind
yable Point, beginning to widen when 1t reaches
; ieet OF water In the Gulf and widening 10 l,4oo
Get ~ - iest Of water; beyong the depth o. Il
feee IN the Gull, tue canal TO DO without banks,
~, IN spite OF every precautiup, accidents might
occur which would make 1t Impossible to use rne
JOCK for considerable period VI time, second
entrance from the river 10 tue paan should be
begun a. soon a. the canal Is oompeted; tbs
SECOND entrance having Its own lock and guard
rates. A there WIN ue tendency 10 s;it up at
the river end Ot tho canal, and also In the cut ut
the otner end, leaaing to deep water 10 tho Gulf
some dredging wili uo NECESSARY. should tlat at
she Gull end prove large, 1t might become ndvis.
ebIe to build dikes along the sides OF the cut.