The New Orleans bulletin., 1875-11-23
Report of the Commission of
Engineers On the Jetties.
The System of Capt. Eads
Thoroughly Endorsed.
Bright Prospects for an Early
Opening of Our River.


Final Proceedings Of the Advisory Board o.
Engineers, Called by Mr. Etds to Con
slider His Plans for the South Pass Jetties.
PoRT EADs, La, Nov. Is. 1875.
The Commissioners, Gen. j. G. Barnard
Sir Charles A. Hartley. W. Minor Roberts
Prof. Henry Mitchell, and H. D. Whitcomb
assembled in New New Orleans, Novem be-
Is, and proceeded to Port Eads on the 17th
After visiting the works in progress the Com
mission held meeting at Port Eads on th,
18th.
Present-Gen. J. G. Barnard, President
and Sir Charles A. Hartley, W. Milnol
Roberts, Prot. Henry Mitchell, and H. D
Whitcomb.
| Communications were received from Gen.
Alexander and Mr.. Sickels, stating that press
ing engagements prevented their attending
| the meeting.
| The President read the minutes of the
meeting of the Commissioners in New York
in September
| After some discussion it was recommended
by the Board that the space of six hundred
feet between the north end of the west jetty
and the shore, across which piles are now
driven and mattresses being laid should not
be closed until the east jetty shall have been
raised to its full height out to twenty feet
depth of water.
Mr.. Eads having intimated to the Board
that it is of importance to himself and his as.
sociates that depth of twenty feet should be
obtained at the mouth of the South Pass as
soon as possible, the Board recommend, in
consideration of MIR. Eads' representation,
| that provisional jetty heads one hundred feet
| in length be established in depth of twenty
| feet in the line of both jetties, and that the
construction OF these works be in conformity
with the cross section OF jetty presented by
MIR. Eads.
This drawing indicates
l. That the said jetty heads shall consist of
stone and fascine work having a width of 26
feet at the water line with a slope OF 3 10 l on
both sides to depth of 16 feet.
2. That below this depth the base of the
work shall have width of 222 feet, and, in
cluding reyetment of stone, be four feet thick,
| thus giving on apron so feet wide at the foot
of each slope.
8. That the apron and slopes shall have
revetment of stone at least two feet thick, and
4. That the work be crowned with paving
stones, weighing not less than one ton each,
carried up to height four feet above mean
low water.
The Board further recommend that the
exposed sea ends of the temporary jetty
heads should have the same inclination as
the side slopes, it being understood that the
bottom out to the depth Of 80 feet in the pro-
posed line of the east jetty is already covered
with at least one layer Of mattresses.
With reference to the permanent jetty
heads the Board is of the opinion that their
construction, as regards profile fascines,
stones and piles, should be nearly as possible
identical with that of the jet'y heads at the
new mouth of the Mas, where the stones
employed in exposed positions averaged 120
pounds each, and where each cubic yard of
cobor uith half nf
stone. The Board also considers that like
covering of stone on the mattresses should
be employed in constructing the jetties at
the South Pass wherever they are liable to be
attacked by heavy seas.
The Board then adjourned.
PoRT EADs, Nov. 10, 1875.
The Board met at 9 P. NJ Present, same
Commissioners as on the 18th. Present also,
Mr. E.ds. After conversation aud discus
sion, the Board adjourned without action to
A. NJ, the goth.
PoRT EADs, Nov. 20, 1875.
The Board met according to adjournment
Present. same members as on last evening.
The following letter was submitted to the
Board and read, and ordered to be spread on
the minutes. The personal examinations on
the work made by the Board confirm the cor
rectness of Mr.. Corthels statement:
PORT EADs, Nov. 10, 1875.
Mr.. G. W. R. Bayley, Resident Engineer:
Dear Sir-Tne following is a statement of
work at this date:
There has been driven as guide piles for
mattresses about $500 piles, extending on the
East Jetty to q point about II, 100 feet from
East Point Signal and about IL 500 feet from
same point on West Jetty-measured on Jetty
lines.
The length of foundation mattresses laid in
,Jetty i
The length of second tier mattresses laid in
East Jetty ls------- 2eo0
West Jetty is 5000
The length of foundation mattresses laid in
cross dyke 600
Total linear feet ........-.......-....+ +z3,212
"Iu which there are rs, 900 cubic yards of
material all firmly secured in its position by
stone ballast. Sheet piing in the East Jetty
has been driven length OF $500 feet.
"There have been constructed 800 lineal
feet of launching ways for mattresses.
Houses and boats for the accommodation of
$50 men have been placed on the west side of
the Pass, and on the east side large house
for headquarters residence has been built,
and all the shops, walks and wharves neces-
sary for works The plant in the work con-
sists of foa,ing pile drivers, sheet pile
drivers, 5 derricks, s model barges, 8 fats, 2
stern wheel steamboats,, 2 tugs, 3 steam
with yawls and other small boats.
cat the head of the Passes about 200 piles
have been driven on the line of the defect
ing dixie, and at the Jump 200 lineal feet of
mattress ways have been constructed, with
in each place for all the men
required for the work.
81 am, sir, yours truly,
"E. L. CoRTaELL,
"Chief Assistant Engineer.
Respectfully submitted to the Chief En-
gineer, G. w. r. BAYLEY,
Resident Engineer"
Whilst the Board appreciates the prepara-
tons made for carrying on the works with
vigor, it is unanimously OF opinion that
rapid delivery of stone on the works is essen
tial to obtain speedy depth on the bar, and
for the protection of the jetties where they
are exposed to the violence OF the waves. 1t.
therefore, directs Mr. Eads's special attention
to this subject, with the suggestion that de-
post Of at least 10000 cubic yards of stone
be piled on the river banks, near the mouth,
as a reserve deposit to meet emergencies