New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-24
THE JETTIEs.

Idb JhlI1bS.
We trust that all interested in the en-
terprise or honor of opening the mouth
of the Mississippi upon Engineer Pauger's
! suggestion to concentrate its current by
| closing all outlets save one, will do the
REPUBLICAN this justice: 1t is to remem-
Der that we accepted the experiment of
MIR. Eads in good faith. We have con-
scientiously refrained from intimating
any opinion which might, even to the
humble extent Of Republican authority,
have impaired its success in our commu-
nifty. We learned from publications made
when the proposal was made to substitute
the jetty for the canal that the protector
had ample funds, and only asked to be
allowed to make the experiment on the
principle of ''no cure no pay" We still
maintain this impartial position. We are
still willing to contribute whatever we
can to solve the problem of more
| than century-how can the bar be re-
moved? The matter seems, however, to
assume an aspect differing greatly from
the first proposal. We have publications
| to show that the escape of water through
those channels which the river makes
| for itself through the marsh about its
outlet, has so reduced the head and
pressure above the passes as to impair
the cutting force OF the current. Then,
| as we understand, it is proposed to close
these outlets from Bonnet Care down to
and including the Jump and Cubitt's
sluice, in order that the concentration OF
current may be etfectually secured.
How shall this be done? The jetty ex-
pertinent can not be expected to add an in
ciden.al cost Of millions to the principal
enterprise. It certainly can not expect
the United States o'adopt the jetty enter
| prise and incur the expense of closing all
the outlets save one. We hope no one
considers that the scientific and practical
men who asked this concession from the
| government did not know the regimen CT
the river, and did not accept the permission
| to experiment without a full knowledge
of the head and pressure upon the outlet
assigned and accepted. We trust that
there is no idea anywhere that the United
States is under any obligations to furnish
any head and pressure of current at the
cross section of the stream above the
bifurcation of the passes. 1t can not be
possibly supposed that the government is
liable for any disappointment for the
alleged deficiency of this pressure to effect
the success of the jetty experiment.
The State of Louisiana has a special in
terest in this subject. The whole sugar
and part of the cotton crop of Louisiana
is protected by some 1900 miles of levee.
1t has long been question mooted by as
able hydraulists and mathematiciansa as will
ever come among us, whether the agricul-
ture of Louisiana can be best protected by
levees or by the relief of lateral outlets.
1t will be perceived therefore that the
natural interests of sugar and cotton Gull
ture, as also that of commerce, are in
volved in the hermetical closure of lateral
outlets. We should prefer to save our
crops from the possibility Of injury, and
Congress, which is called on to build lev
ees for the protection of the national crop,
should examine carefully whether the one
interest will interfere with the other.
We have noted with some surprise that
the press of st. Louis, which assaulted the
press and people of New Orleans with the
most unworthy motives, in proposing a
canal made and maintained at the cost Of
the nation to any individual enterprise
whatever, still charges itself with the i'm.
provement of the whole river navigation.
1t has been true that in our local con.
ficts Louisiana has greatly neglected the
care of these local interests, but that is nc
reason a commission of incompetency
should issue to put her affairs in the hapds
of her guardians and next friends. The
st. Louis press has intimated that Con
gress should appropriate some fifteen mil.
lions of dollars to guarantee adequate
navigation between St. Louis and the sea.
To this we should have no objection.
We, however, understand this suggestion
to imply that Mr.. Eads, who has volun
tarily undertaken to furnish deep water al
the river mouth without present pay, il
to be appointed to conduct this improve
ment and apply this appropriation. We
by no means depart from our voluntary
and verbal assurance that we would offel
no impediment to the jetty experiment
when We say that We oppose any proposal,
should such be made, to commit the con.
troll of our river navigation to any person
whatever. We are opposed to monopolies.
We can not consent that the Congress Of
the United States shall delegate such Q
duty to any man or set of men. Human
life is too short Human intellect, energy
and integrity too precarious to perform
any such trust.
In our impartiality, we may add oul
entire opposition to any plan or plot "a
confer upon any company OF contractor
the duty Of building or maintaining the
levees Of the Mississippi. We respect
| folly caution the Republican minority in
Congress against permitting the govern.
ment to commit itself to either scheme