New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-13
THE JETTIES.

THE JETTIES.
We have steadily held the opinion-also
held by many engineers in whose judy
ment we have confidence the great
interest which demands deep water chan
mel from our river harbor to the gulf can
be served best by the construction of the
Fort St Philip canal. The grounds on
which this conclusion is based are familiar
to our readers The canal was acknowl-
edged certain remedy, while the jetties
we're considered by high authority as ex-
detrimental, offering at the best only tenn
porary results.
The jetties have been in progress some
months. Glowing accounts of their prob
able early success have been given to the
public. If these reports have had the ef-
feet of filling the Golfers of the "South
Pass Jetty Company" we are content
since, under the ''no cure no pay" speci-
fcation of the company's contract with
Congress, such filling is essential to the
early completion of the jetty experiment.
But if the company is paving the way for
a modification of its contract, to permit
any amount of payment before ''cure," it
becomes our duty to warn the public and
the company against such action.
We note q general feeling of distrust
among those who have an opportunity of
knowing with certainty, and better than
people at distance, what has been DONE
This distrust was increased by the recent
action of q convocation of engineers in
New York, all of whom had previously
committed themselves to the jetty expert
ment. They were informed of the dis
covery, by an assistant of the coast bu-
reau, of shoaling of the river at the
head Of the passes which has taken place
since 1889. This shoaling, it was con-
cluded, was due to the opening of ecu
bits Gap" 1.-THE Jump" and the Bonnet
Care crevasse. The alarm this so-called
discovery is represented as producing was
made the basis for a resolution asking
Congress to provide for the closure of the
outlets named. This action betrays
either contemplated attempt to get an
additional contract out of Congress, or o.
measure of relief in advance of cure, or
ground for hedging on the original con-
tract.
The so-called discovery is, in fact,
nothing new. 1t has been known here
for years, and appears on many a map.
The engineers composing the two boards
that have sat in judgment within the past
two years on plans for improving our
river outlet, should have been shown it.
1t is, above all, strange that Mr.. Eads,
after the assumption of superior knowl-
edge Of the conditions of that outlet,
should now plead ignorance of one of the
most important.
South Pass was selected for jetty i'm.
provement mainly because its volume of
discharge and the rate of advance of its
bal, were less than for the other passes
The closures proposed can but increase
these two items. The Jump alone has
built out ninety-threesquare miles of land
since 1889, which, but for it, would have
been added to the delta at the mouths Of
the main passes. II is notable that while
the convocation recommends the, closure
of Cubitt's gap, the Jump and Bonnet
Care, it adopts the suggestion of Mr..
Eads that Grand Pass be left open. Why?
It is suggested in answer that the lefty
company has no shadow of claim on the
United States for extra pay for closing it.
These channels have at times protected us
from inandation. If their closure does
not effect the object for which it is osten-
sibly made. will the closure of the La
fourche and the Atchafalaya be demanded?
# the South Pass jetty company" and
the CONSTRUCTION company" out of the
muniAoenee Of Congress, can succeed in
giving Us the necessary depth Of water We
shall be content; but, ct the same time, If
tho public welfare has required ! warning
We have given it. 7'
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