New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-16
Jettying or Canalying-Which

In connection with the recent visit Of tht
Hon. w. A. Wheeler, chairman of the House
Committee on Commerce, to the passes o1
the Mississippi, the Inter Ocean gave the
Fort st. Philip canal, and urged its claims
| to congressional consideration. OF all the
schemes thus far suggested for a proper
outlet for the vast commerce Of the Missis.
sippi valley, that of a water way connect.
ing the great river below New Orleans
with the Gulf of Mexico unquestionably
recommends itself for superior economy.
1t is admitted that such water way,
affording safe and easy access to the river
Fort St. Philip canal, commencing on the
left bank of the Mississippi few miles
below the fort, and entering the sea four
miles south Of Breton Island.
Considering the imm ense importance of q
project in which more than II 900, 900 of our
population are directly interested, it is not
strange that it should not only have been
moOted from time to ii ine for the past forty
years, but that it should now again come
prominently forward in the report Of the
board of engineers ordered by Congress to
consider the plans for the improvement of
the mouth of the Mississippi. The report of
this board-as we learn from an editorial in
the columns of ths New Orleans REPUB-
LICAN-briefy disposes of all the canal
projects, excepting that relating to the
Fort st. Philip canal, whose construction is
pronounced to be entirely practicable. The
cost is estimated somewhat higher than
previously computed. being $ll ,5l4. 200, in
stead of $S,OOO,OOO, but this includes the
annual cost of maintenance. The report
also recommends the following changes in
the old plan: |. A basin 1000 feet wide
and 5000 feet long between the lift lock and
the gulf. Q. The widening of the excavation
for tine gulf approach from 800 feet at the
six feet curve to l40O feet at the twenty
four feet curve. 3. A second lock. The
changes, which naturally increase the ex-
pense, are, however, thought to be unneces.
sary. The idea Of basin was evidently
suggested to the board by the Rhone canal,
and without thought of the peculiar
reasons which neoessItated there such
basin. The RhOne canal admits vessels
drawing twenty-five feet to it's basin. On
the Mississippi places are provided tor
transferring freights from large vessels to
others Of lighter draft that alone are able 4
to ply the shallow waters of the river. With
the deep water of the Mississippi, a canal
would, however, need no basin, and its
in the plan, therefore, only
serves to increase the cost. The widening
of the excavation for the gulf approach,
too, appears rather strange in the face of |
the statement that 900 feet is sufficient |
width between the jetties or dykes, as they |
are called, at the South Pass. The second |
lock may be regarded as another useless |
expense, as the report presents no evidence,
but only vague hints of possible injury or |
to the main lock.
In commenting on the fact hat the report |
If the board prefers Captain Eads' plan of |
ettying or dyking the mouth of the river,
% the construction OF the Fort St, Philp |
ANAL, although 1t considers the scheme per- |
ectly practicable, the Republica,, remarks: |
"The statement of the report is that the |
lykes, if successful, would give at South
Pass an entrance 900 feet wide, and O mini
mum width of pass OF $50 feet, which would
20 ample, while the canal would give q
o say that this width would be ample.
which must be an oversight, if not disingeu-
lous. No data are given to show that it is
nown that dykes 900 feet apart would give
navigable width of 900 feet between them.
ieithe1 does it appear that tho nayigable
width of the Sulina at the piers is equal to
he distance between them"
1t appears that the board was bv no
means unanimous in its decision, General
Wright being unqualifiedly in favor of the
anal; on the other hand, even those who
ave preference to the jetties did it only on
onditiOn that they should be applied at the
outh Pass. As this is in opposition to the
Jews OF Captain Eads, who insists on
outhwest Pass, the friends of the canal are
ill hopeful. 1t is stated that the members
the board will be summoned to give tes.
mony regarding their real opinions, it
eiDg believed that the conclusion arrived
in the report had been the result of a
ompromise. "The doubts in the minds of
,me of the MEMBERS" says the Republican,,
were satisfied only in that way, and it
ust be said the ifs have it, Moreover,
lille the possibility of the construction of
10 canal is admitted, there are limited at
bstacles to the success of the jetties.
Considering the Importance of the inter
ITS at stake in opening region Of 100000
luare miles to the commerce of the world,
is to be hoped that Congress will not act
astily in the mater and reject either
heme for u permanent highway from the
ississippi to the sea until every doubt is |
ssipated.-Chicago Inter- Ocean.