New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-12
THE MISSISSIPPI JRTrIRS.
An Act to Secure the Permanent Navig
bility Of the South Pass.

ate amendment to the House jetty bill as
finally passed Congress:
Amendment reported frbm the select Com
mittee on Transportation Routes to tn
| SeabOard to be proposed to the bill III. H
| G40) making appropriations for repair
| preservation, and completion OF certain
| public works on rivers and harbOrs, ant
| for other purposes, viz: Insert, as add
tiOnal sections, the following:
SECTION /. That James 3. Eads, of st
| Lonis, Missouri, be and is hereby authorized
with such others as may be associated will
| him, ON the conditions hereinafter mentioned
| to construct such permanent and sutficien
| jetties and such auxiliary works as are nee
| essary to create and permanently maintdin
| as hereinafter set forth, wide and deeE
channel between the South Pass OF the Mis-
sissippi river and the Gulf Of Mexico, and fol
that purpose he may construct in the river
outlet or pass, and likewise in the Gulf Of
Mexico, such walls, jetties, bikes, leveet
and other structures, and employ such boats
RATS and appliances "a he may. in the
prosecution OF said work, deem necessary:
provided. that no such structures or means
employed shall hinder, delay or materially
interfere with the free navigation of said
pass, and, to protect his said works, he
may build and maintain such levees or EN-.
bankments as may De necessary to secu. e
their permanency along the banks of the
river or South Pass; provided. further, that
unless the construction of the proposed
work shall be substantially commenced
within eight months from the date of the
approval Of this act, and prosecuted with
due diligence, the provisions cOntainfd
herein in relation to the said South Pass
shall be null and void; and Unless the said
Eads and his associates shall secure a navi.
gable depth of twenty feet OF water through
said pass within thirty months after the
date Of the approval of this act, Con-
gress may revoke the privileges herein
granted in relation to the said South Pass,
and cancel the obligations herein assumed
by the United States. And Congress may
revoke the privileges herein granted in rela-
ton to the said South Pass and cancel the
obligations herein assumed by the United
States, unless the said Eads and his 1850
ciates shall, after securing twenty feet of
water, secure an additional depth Of not less
than two feet during each Succeeding year
thereafter until twenty-slx feet shall have
been secured, and in case said Eads and his
associates shall fail to comply with the
foregoing conditions as to depth Of water
and time for any period Of twelve months
in excess Of the time fixed as aforesaid.
then the privilege herein granted, and the
obligations herein assumed in relation to
the said South Pass, shall absolutely be-
come null and void without action by Con-
gress.
SEC. .. That the conditions herein pre.
scr!bed being fully complied with, the
pay to said Eads. or to his assigns or legal
representatives, S., 250, 900 for constructing
said works and obtaining depth of thirty
feet in SAID channel. and the annual sum OF
100000 for each and every year that said
depth of thirty feet shall be maintained by
the je:ties and auxiliary works aforesaid in
South Pass during twenty years after
first securing the said depth. Pay
ments shall be made on certified state
ments of an engineer officer, who shall
be detailed by the Secretary of War, and
whose duty it shall be to report the depth
Of water and width OF channel secured and
maintained from time to time in said
together with such other inforna-
ton as the Secretary OF War may direct.
When a channel of twenty feet in depth,
aud Of not less than 200 feet in width, shall
have been obtained by the action of said
jetties and auxiliary works, $500, 900 shall
be paid; and when channel Of twenty-five
feet in depth and 200 feet in width shall
have been obtained by the action of said
jetties and auxiliary works, $500, 600 shall
be paid.
and not less than $50 feet in width, shall
have been obtained, there shall be paid
$500, 900; and after said depth and width
shall have been maintained during twelve
consecutive months, there shall be paid
600, with five per centum per annum
interest from the date when said twenty
four feet were first obtained.
When channel twenty.six feet in depth
and not less than 300 feet in width shall be
there shall be paid $500, 900; and
when a channel of said depth and width
shall have been maintained for twelve
months consecutively, $25O,000 shall be
paid, with interest at five per cent per an.
num from the date when said channel was
first obtained.
When . channel twentv-eight feet in
depth and not less than $50 feet in width
shall be obtained, there shall be paid
shall have been maintained for twelve
months cOnsecutively, $25O,000 shall be
,aid, with interest at five per cent per an
lum from the date when said twenty-eight |
eet were first obtained.
When channel thirty feet in depth and |
lot less than $50 feet in width shall be OBJ |
aimed, there shall be paid $500, 900; and |
Ifter said depth and width shall have been |
for twelve months consecutive |
y, there shall be paid 100000, with interest
It five per centum per annum from the date |
when channel of said depth and width |
vas first obtained; making a total aggre.
ate of $4,250,0OO for the aforesaid pay
nents, the respective depths and widths of |
hannel being measured at average flood
lde, as ascertained and determined by the
'ecretary of War.
When . channel thirty feet in depth and
80 feet in width shall have been obtained
" the effect Of said jetties and auxiliary
7orks aforesaid, the remaining $l,O0O,OOO
ho hov b. |
aid Eads and associates; but said amount
hall remain as security in the possession
f the United States for the purposes here
natter set forth, interest at five per cent
er annum on the same being payable to
aid Eads, his assigns and legal represen-
atives semiannually, from the date when
hannel of thirty feet in depth and $50 feet
4 width shall have been first secured, so
'ng as said money or any part thereof is
cid by the United States.
Sec. 3. That after said channel of thirty
eet in depth and not less than $50 feet in
'idth shall have been secured, 100000 per
mum shall be paid in equal quarterly
ayments during each and every year that
aid channel of thirty feet in depth and
SO feet in width shall have been main
aimed by said Eads and his associates, by
he effec, of said ietties and auxiliary works
toresaid, in said pass, for period Of
wenty years, dating from the date on
'hich said channel of thirty feet in depth
nd $50 feet in width shall be first secured;
rovided, however, that no part of such
nnual compensation shall he paid for any
eri0d of time during which the channel Of
lid pass shall be less than. thirty feet in
epth and $50 feet in width, as hereinbefore
,ecitied.
Sec 4. That the said channel of thirty
ct in depth and $50 feet in width having
cen maintained for ten years, one half Of
,e 81 900, 900 hereinbefore mentioned shall
. released and paid to said Eads, his as
GINS or legal representatives; and said