New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-24
THE MISSISSIPPI JETTIES.

THE PLANS OF CAPT EADs LAID BEFORE SIR
CHARLES HARTLEY AND LARGE NUMBER OF
ENGINEERs-THE WORK PROCEEDING SUCCESS
FULLY-THE DEPTH OF THE CHANNEL ALREADY
DOUBLED.
The arrival of Capt. James B. Eads, who
has undertaken the improvement OF the mouth OF the
Mississippi River enables THE TRIBUNE to present some
important information in regard to the progress OF that
work and the by the engineer in charge TO
insure its success. At the request OF Capt Eads Sir
Charles A. Hartley the eminent British engineer who was
hnghed by Queen Victoria for his splendid success III
improving mouth OF the Danube, and who has also
been highly honored for that service by other European
PowersIh has this country arriving on Saturday
IN Baltic Capt Eads desires to place his plans before
e Charles Hartley and to have the benefit of such adj
vice his great experience In similar undertaking
may enable him TO give as to the progress
Of the work. Moreover, number OF distin-
gusbed engineers Of this country also met here yester
day ut the request Of Capt Eads Those invited by him
were Gen. j. g. Barnard, President OF the Board by
which problem of the improvement OF the mouth OF
the Mississippi investigated in 1873, and vino was
the only officer OF that Board who reported in favor OF
jety preference to the canal plan and the follow
ing, who composed the Board OF 1874, by whom the
whole subject thoroughly examined under direction
Of the Government: Gen. Ii. q. Wright u b. f., Presi-
dent; Gen G. b. Comstock u. 8. E. Gen. b. g. Alexan-
der T. g. E.; Prof Henry Mitchell, u 8. Coast Survey
Col W. Miner Roberts, c. E.; ID. Ii. Whcomb, c. f., aud
Gen r. T. Sickles. C. E. This Board spent months in an
elaborate investigation of the problem visiting Europe
for that purpose and examining the most important
works Of similar character IN tie Old World, and was
upon the recommendation of this Board that
the plan Of Capt Eads was finally adopted
by Congress. In order, however, the more
surely TO protect himself and the Government against
failure and delay in this great work, Capt Eads ac-
dressed letter TO the President requesting that the
members Of this Board should be authorized to meet to
examine the plans upon which the work is being CON
structed and give him the advice which their thor
ough investigation Of the subject might suggest The
President pleased with suggestion showing earnest
desire the Of the undertaking warmly
approved It, and authorized the engineers in the United
States service TO assemble as proposed at the expense
Of Capt FADE Some of them Will not be able TO accept
the invitation, but Others met at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
yesterday, and will hold other sessions In future
The proposal OF Capt. Eads was 10 undertake this
work at the sole risk OF himself and his associates,
receiving payment whatever from the Government
until certain ulaed depths Of water should have been
secured maintained The act Of Congress provided
that certain should be paid when depth OF 20
feet had been secured an additional sum when depth
Of 20 had been secured, and on up to 80 feet
that twelve months after each prescribed deph had
been secured further should be paid If that depth
had during that time been maintained and that SloOO0O
year should be paid for twenty years for maintaining
the works and extending them II necessary az to pre-
serve the channel of the required depth Thus Capt
Eads takes the whole risk himself and an officer has
been appointed, Gen. c. b. Comstock T. S. f., TO meas
ure and report from time TO time the depths attained
The work begun by Capt Eads the 4th of june
and s progress already gives such tokens Of that
he believes that the largest ships sailing out OF the harbor
of NewYork will be able the mouth OF the Mis-
sisspp without risk delay before this year ends Yet
tie South Pass upon which the work OF Improvement Is
undertaken formerly bad less than feet OF water
on the bar. Little more than two months have elapsed
and much of that time has necessarily been spent in
gathering materials, building houses for workmen and
perfeeting other preparations But kilograms received
by Capt Eads yesterday that the work has already
had the effect Of deepening the channel fully seven feet
ct the head of the works
plan adopted remarkable for its simplicity. The
general aim is well known TO confne the waters OF
the mouth within straight parallel walls proportioned
width TO quantity Of escaping to produce
. certain velocity Of current and force the stream "
seour channel for itself OF required depth. The
great difficulties Of the problem were only in de
vising means Of creating these artificial walls,
the exceedingly unstable foundation afforded.
The Mississippi River empes itself over sediment many
Feet Depth deposited by ITSELF and through walls OF
such sediment In like thrown up Oh either eide
BY it, current In effect foundation and walls ale of soft
mud which any works of stone would speedily sink
and disappear Piles alone crb-work, however firmly
placed would be undermined and swept away ny
the scOur of To meet these dihcultcs,
which seemed TO engineers almost lnsilpera-
be Capt Eads Duids the artificial walls OF the river with
broad hat OF willow brush securely dashed To-
gsther, nchored TO interior of plies. Inc
preliminary work 10 the driving VI pics along and inside