New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-26
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
THE PATHWAYS OF COMMERCE
Government Work in Louisiana
and Texas.

We are permitted to condense the follow
ing information from the annual report,
tor the year ending June 30, 1875, of Major
C. W. Howell, of the United States engi-
neer corps, the officer in charge of ma
tional works of improvement in Louisiana
and Texas.
OF THE MOUTH OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
This work was continued during the year
at Pass-a-rOutre. The greater portion OF
the commerce of New Orleans has passed
through the channel due to the work of
dredging, and while meeting with some de-
tention ON the bar, has suffered much less
in this way than during years proceeding.
The depth of channel available each day,
at high tide, has ranged from seventeen to
twenty and half feet, with put ne lew DAYS
showing less than eighteen feet. The width
of the channel for the above stated depths
has ranged from forty to 100 feet at the
narrowest point.
Regulations provided for by act of Con-
press to govern the use of the channel made
by this work went into effect January ~,
1875. The interests concerned were so di-
verse it was expected that none would be
pleased with the regulationst presented.
L
has q single suggestion been made to the
officer in charge as to desirable change in
any portion. The regulations have been as
generally observed, perhaps, as could have
been expected, considering the time they
have been known, and the result has been
to place them, to all appearances, in grow
ing favor.
Surveys made In connection with this
work have covered the bars of Paes-a-
1snu<ro South poaa and SOufh waat paaa
the head of the passes, Cubitts' Gap and
the Jump (Wilder's bayou. The latter has
been surveyed from the river to the gulf,
through all its passes, developing about
ninety square miles of cultivated. timbered
and sea marsh land made since 1889.
Observations for velocity of current, vol
ume of discharge and amount of material
carried in suspension in the passes named
have besides been made at different stages
of the river. Tide gauge and wind gauge
records have been kept at Pass Outre
and at Southwest Pass.
Early in the present fiscal year extraordi
nary natural changes occurred at Pass-a
rOutre, forcing resumption of work al
Southwest Pass, where it will probably be
continued throughout the year, unless the
results of the jetty experiment at South
Pass may be such as to warrant suspension
of dredging.
To date the channel at Southwest Pass
has been kept in fair condition, and several
vessels drawing nineteen feet have passed
it with but little or no detention.
Amount expended during the year, 1923,
653 S.
IMPROVEMENT OF GALVESTON HARBoR
TEXAS.
This was an experimental work for test
ing plan devised by Captain Howell fol
improving the entrance to Galveston har
bor, over the outer and inner bars, by means
of jetties constructed of cement covered
gablons, filled with sand.
The work done, to give the information
required, at the close of the year, consisted
OF an extension of the Fort Point pier by q
Gabon ietty 500 feet in length, constructed
in water averaging twelve feet in depth
carried up at the shore end to the surface Of
low water, and at the outer end to within
six feet of that surface.
The stability of this plan of improvement,
is assured, it is thought, from the fact tina,
the exposure from all directions has been
such that the head of Galveston Island
from which the lefty starts, had been stead
lily worn away until the commencement Of
the jetty, together with the outer portion Of
strong pile pier, which was attempted fol
the protection of this end of the island.
The changes resulting from the work
show that the east end of Galveston Island
has been steadily built out as the work has
progressed; the general depth over the
inner bar has increased, and q very notable
change has been effected in the channel
The channel is evidently returning to the
position it is report ted to have had when
there was much deeper water over the inner
bar than there is now.
The work was continued during the pres
ent year up to the time of the recent hurri
cane, when it was temporarily suspended
on account of the destruction Of buildings
tools and material accumulated at For,
Point, and to ascertain from photographic
survey the effect OF the storm on the jetty
completed, and on the channels and shoals.
The survey has developed the fact that the
jetty is in position, unimpaired, but settled
somewhat deeper in the sand. Finished
gabions in the manufacturing yard, though
OveItopped by the waves and exposed to
their greatest violence, remained standing
in the yard after the storm but little in
jured, and nearly filed with sand from the
waves beating over them.
The cheapness and stability OF the gabion
construction have now been SO well demon.
strated that the officer in charge has recon-
mended resumption of the work. Amount
expended during the year S6S, 100 %.
IMPROVEMENT OF RED FISH BAR, IN GAL
WESTON BAY, TEXAS.
This work consisted in the extension of a
cut made by the United States in 1879 and
1873 so as to admit the passage OF vessels
drawing seven and half feet.
The extension was 1882 feet in length GO
feet wide, from IN to 10 feet deep, and
made connection between seven and halt
feet water in the bay above and below the
bar.
Owing to the rapidly increasing demands
of commerce cut was required connecting
ten feet depths in the bay above and below
the bar, and having a width OF $50 feet.
For this purpose an appropriation was
made in June, 1875, under which contract
was made for completing the work during
the fiscal year ending June, 1876,
Expended during the year SIC, ,439 7S.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE SHIP CHANNEL FROM
THE MOUTH OF SAN JACINTo RIVER TO
BOLIVAR CHANNEL, IN GALVESTON BAY,
TEXAS.
This work is a continuation by dredging
north and south of Red Fish bar of the
ship channel through the latter, for which
appropriation was made in March, 1875,
and contract made for completion of the
work during the fiscal year ending June,
1876.
IMPROVEMENT OF SABINE PASS, TEXAS.
Appropriation for this work was made in
March, 1875 and contract made for dredg-
ing channel across the bar of the Pass, to
be completed during the fiscal year ending
june, 1876.
REMOVING RAFT IN RED RIVER, LOUISIANA.
This work consisted in clearing the banks
of the river above Shreveport, of brush
wood and overhsnging trees, and keeping
the channel through the raft opened in
1873, free from the formation of new raft.
In November. 1874, at Captain Howell's
request, the work was assigned to Captain
w. H. H. Benyaurd, corps OF engineers,
stationed at Vicksburg, Mississippi