The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-24
THE SUCCESS OF THE JETTIES
ASSURED.

r, South Pass OF the Mississippi. 1t is, the
~. fore, no small matter that the Advisory Boa
~ OF Engineers, called by Mr.. E Ids to consid
~ his plans for the S o1th Pass Jetties, consi
ing OF five of the most distinguished g
~ gineers of both hemispheres, after Cal
full and ample personal inspecio
~. should unhesitatingly announce '.that Il
supposed or attributed engineering dit1icult
ed OF construction of works at the South Pass
the Mississippi, as depending on peculiariti.
> of the Mississippi Delta, are illusory." l
H. other words, the members of the board d
- clare that to the accomplishment Of the pul
poses OF the act Of Congress- according t
: the general plan and contract of Capt
le Eads, there are no insuperable OF
le stacles. They pronounce the propose
work to be far less difficult than several re
cent works of the kind at the mouths q
} European rivers, being works which hav
l. been inspected by members of this board
They affirm that the physical characteristic
, OF the delta and bars of the Mississippi Rive
and those of the Danube are similar in man,
: Important respects; and that owing to CREATE
sea depth, to tide water. to the wearing forces
OF the waters of the gulf and to the tineness
OF the san of which the bar is composed. the
South Pass is more susceptible of improve
ment than the Sulina mouth of the Danube.
where depth Of 2O9 feet has been obtained.
lettering to the work actually done by
Capt Eads during the past five months, the
members of the board disclaim sany doubt
as to the efficiency and permanency of the
Jetties wnen they shall have been completed
upon the location and plans heretofore ap-
proved by the commission"
The inspection of the board appears to have
been thorough, and the report is candid and
comprehensive. The ma lin point of it is. the
concurrent opinion of five great civil en-
glneers that by means of parallel piers at
the South Pass permanent outlet to tie
gull, sufficient IN depth to accommodate the
largest vessels, may be secured on the plan
adopted by Capt. Eads, and within the time
stipulated They approve the work as far as
done, and the only suggestion Of Importance
which they make relates to the propriety of
employing or having in readiness an abun.
dant supply of stone ballast.
This unqualified Endorsement of the plan
OF Capt. Eads and of his works in pursuance
OF that plan, besides encouraging him and
stimulating him to renewed zeal and energy.
ought to give thorough assurance to all others
interested, that the great work is in successful
progress, and will be accomplished in due
time.
1t is probable that the report Of the Advisory
Board OF Engineers, or the leading facts
therein stated, will be inserted in the report of
the Secretary of War, in pursuance of the
act, approved March 3, 1875, which makes
1t his duty to keep Congress informed as to
the progress of the work. That off, GER IN
fact exercises supervisory agency in the
works, and may at any time appoint CON-
mission to inquire into their progress and
efficiency.
BY the terms of the act Congress may re.
yoke the privileges granted and cancel the
obligations assumed in reference to the jet
les if Capt. Eads and his associates fail
within thirty months from the date of the
ct (March 3, 1879 to secure a navigable >
lepth OF 20 feet through South Pass They
re IN like manner obliged to secure feet ad- :
itional in depth during each succeeding =
ear thereafter, until depth of 26 feet is :.
ecured, otherwise the contract to become
ull and void. o
For securing permanent depth of 80 feet, =
apt Eads'is to be paid s5,25O,OOO, and for II
that depth an additional sum of
for fno
ayment for construction is to be made as =
flows: o.
When channel Of 20 feet deep and 200
ct wide is secured, there shall be paid ca
5OO 900. ly
When a channel of % feet deep and 200 "a
ct wide is secured, there shall be paid p
100000. tn
When channel of "a feet deep and $50 Vi
et wide is secured there shall be paid I'd
100, 600. tn
After the depth of "a fest has been m,in-
ned one year, there shall be paid S25O,OOO. an
When channel 26 feet deep and 800 feet oil
de is secured there shall be paid $500, 900. to
When said rs feet channel has been main tn,
ned one year there shall be paid $3.50. 600 co,
When 2S feet deep and $50 feet wide is sc. il
red there shall be paid 100000, and after tn,
same IS maintained one year, $3.50, 900 thu
re. \
When channel of 30 feet deep and $50 ayo
wide is secured, there shall be paid fac
1000, and after such channel has been der
intained one year $500, 600 more for,
'heSe payments will amount 70 St 0sn ooo
other million dollars will be paid in in pla
llments of 100000 per annum, with il G
'sf' until the whole shall be paid. low.
'e recognize here the singular feature IN situ
eminent contract that the contractors re- tow
neranon is made contingent upon his sue. kill
), and proportioned to his actual progress. visa
secure the channel of 20 feet he may be NV !
lpelled to expend much more than the of
OOOO then due him, and to secure the ~,