The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-01-23
The. Triumph Of the Jetties.

The, Triumph OF the JettioS.
The following appears Al special
dispatch from Washington, dated
January Il, in the St. Louis Repab-
liapr, one Of the organs Of Mr.. Eads
and the St. Louis bridge combination /:
Captain Eads came over from New
York last night, 6nd after, hooking
| around the field feels in high feather
over the prospects of his jetty bill.
The entire Louisiana delegation,
from which hot opposition came last
year, now has given it's undivided
support to the bill, while Mr.. McCrary,
Of Iowa, chairman Of the House Com
mittee on Railways and Canals, to
which tile bill was referred last ses-
sion, aud one of the most influential
men in the House, has promised to do
all he can to put the jetties through
on the double quick. Mr.. McCrary
has favored the canal heretofore, and
was largely Instrumental in getting a
favorable report for it into the House
last year. e MN. 4 Il
Senator Window Of the. Senate
committee which has Captain Eads'
bill in charge, is confident that he
can get it through that body at an
early day, with little or no opposition.
Senator West, Of Louisiana, will sup
port the bill. The Senate committee
agreed last year to report the bill,
being unanimously in favor of it, and
they will present it to the Senate as
soon as they are called. A new rule
adopted last Saturday provides that
IN hour Of each day shall he devoted
to the calling Of committees, and
that no committee shall have more
than one day at a time. Under this
rule it is believed that Senator Win
dom's committee will be reached in
about ten days, unless the Louisiana
debate shall Interfere.
No intimation has been received as
to when the report Of the commission
of engineers will be sent to Congress,
but it is expected during the fore
part of the week. The department
and members Of the commission are
extremely reticent concerning. its
context, but the following is believed
to be fair statement Of the report.
The commissioners state that they
first took into consideration the rela-
tive advantages of the various plans
suggested for the Improvement Of the
month of the Mississippi secondly
the practicability Of the different
plans, and lastly the probable cost Of
each. They are unanimous that the
plan for providing an open mouth by
means Of jetties is far, superior to the
canal, if practicable. Upon the ques-
ton Of practicability five Of the six
commissioners agree that the jetties
will maintain q permanent deep chan.
mel. .-a...l4 -4.-s ~ s4t.- n 10 I,.j =
Senator Wright dissents from this
opinion, holding that they are inn
practicable. Upon the canal the COM
mission is unanimous, all agreeing
upou it's practicability. In reference
to the cost Of the two plans the re-
port estimates that u canal upon the
line surveyed for the Fort St. Philip
canal will cost SIC, 00O, 600 fur the
jetties they place the estimates at
90, OO0, 600 for the South Pass aud
GIG, 600, 900 for the Southwest Pass.
The report finally concludes that i'll
view OF tue superiority of an open
mouth to = canal a majority Of the
commission recommend the .ietties,
and that upoH the score Of economy
they believe the South Pass presents
the most favorable opportunity for
Improvement. .'l5 .'''l
These are about all the points of
interest covered in the preliminary
report, but from outside sources seine
further interesting facts are likely to
be brought out in the examination Of
the question by the House committee.
It is understood in the first place that
the commission stood five tOsix against
the jetties when they began the ex-
animation Of the question, and that
their change Of opinion has been
worked IN the face Of this prejudice
by the stern logic of facts. There is
also good ground for the statement
that four Of them were firmly con-
WINGED Of the absolute impracticabiIity
of the canal plan, but deferred their
views on that subject for the sake of
getting stronger report from the jet
ties. It is thought that the members
Of the commission will be called before
the committee on Railways and Ca
nails in the House. when the facts as
to the impracticability of the canal
will be elected, as well as some other
strong points. in favor Of the ietties,
which were not put in the report be-
cause the different members were not
thoroughly in accord upon them. ~.
Regarding Captain Eads' intentions
it may be stated that he will not change
his proposition at all, but will insist
upon the Improvement Of the South
west Pass. His proposition is to give
a permanent channel Of a specified
depth and maintain it at his own ex-
pense for nine years for sum total Of
Gil ,O0O, 600. He has calculated 3d.
O0O, 600 for deferred Interest, as, ac-
cording to the terms Of his proposition,
he will receive no pay for two years
and half after the work begins. He
would do the work for So, OOO. 600 cash