The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-06-03

bayou was reduced by the dam now par
TALLY completed, and which now throws
an additional quantity Of water into
South Pass, and found it considerably
larger than the size shown by coast sur
vcy soundings made last year.
| would further state that on the day
when the Grand Republic visited the
iettics, there was Il navigable depth OF
fully sixteen feet entirely through the
jetties at high tide. 1t was measured by
myself and several other persons on That
day and the day previous.
Very respectfully, etc.,
4. l.. CoRTnELL,
Chief Assistant Engineer.
fully concur in the statements made
by Mr.. Corthcll, and certify to their cor
rcctncss. 1 myself superintcndcd the
taking of line OF soundings into the
pass between the jctties on the day the
Grand Republic visited Port Eads, and
in no place found less depth mt average
high water than sixteen feet, with only
one place SO shoal as that.
Very truly yours,
G. w. X. BAILEY,
Resident Engineer
New orleans, La, May ~, lS'c.
Port Eads, La, May 20, 1916.
Capt Jas u. Eads, New Orleans, Ia:
have assisted Mr.. f.. l.. Corthell in all
the surveys that have been made under
his direction ut the mouth of South Pass.
| have mapped them out carefully ana
from my own studies Of the changes that
hax AZ. tsi1
ictties. can fully indorsc Mr. CortholIs
statements and testify TO their correct
ness.
Very respectfully. your optdient cor
want MAN +. SCHMIDT.
Assistant Engineer South Pass Jctty
Work.
About the time Major Howell pub
lished his letter, received the following
courteous refusal of my second request
from the superintendent of the coast sur
ycy:
United States Coast Survey.
Washington, II. c., Nay J. 1870
DEAR SIR-Iour letter of April y is
duly received. | would cheerfuly COM
ply with your wishes, but the law cx-
pressly provides that the inspecting Of
Ulcers OF the engineer corps tGen Com
stock shall execute the class of surveys
YOU WISH WITHIN the Jettles.
The rndia lines from the outer ends of
the jettics were run at your request, for
the purpose of finding, il possible within
their limits, the deposit OF removed ma
terial.
shall be glad to offer any assistance
in my power to General ComStOck,
should he express wish for the survey
to which you refer.
Yours Respectfully.
C.P. PATTERSON,
Supt. L. s. Coast Survey.
James Il. Eajs, New Orleans.
Immediately after the visit ofthe Grand
Republic, Capt. Brown, L. >. Engineers,
assistant of Gen. Comstock, } commenced
survey of the bar, and believing that in-
formation i'm his possession would COM
petcly refute Major ilowel's assertion,
asked him for an official statement of
the depths of channel at that time. This
he declined 10 give, stating as reason
that he had not made his report to Gen.
Comstock, Learning that the latter OF
ticer had just gone to the ietties, telc-
graphed the secretary of war as follows
New Orleans, La, Mays. 1876
Hon. Alphonso Taft. Secretary of War, Wash
ington, ID. &.
Please instruct Gen. &. Il. ComstOck,
now at Port Fads, to sound the channel
between the ietties with me; likewise
dredged channel through southwest pass
bar, and furnish me with the results
promptly. Major Howell has published
a misstatement, affecting public conf
dence in my work, ana this Information
is required in justice to myself. and will
benefit the public. JAS. b. EADS.
| IaI n n of lat
Gen. Comstock on his way back. urg-
ed his return, that he might measure the
channel with me, if so authorized by the
secretary of war. On my urgent declar-
alton that wrong had been done me
and one that was seriously affecting the
prosecution Of the work. Gen. Com
stock consented to return. and remained
during the day at the Ietties awaiting in
structions but as no answer to my dis
patch came. he left that evening for New
Orleans. lie declined TO give me any i'm
formation respecting the depths III ques-
ton, Tor the reason that he had not yet
made his report 10 General Humphreys.
Four days after sending my dispatch to
the secretary OF war | received the fol
lowing telegram
Washington. May -, ls76.
Mr.. Jas. Eads, New Orleans, l..
l accordance with the law. Gen. Com
stock received authority and instruc-
tons for complete survey and examine
ton of the South Pass Improvement be-
fore leaving Detroit. a copy of the re-
suits of his soundings will be furnished as
soon as received. ALpHoNSo TAFT.
On RECEIPT of this telegram dispatch
ed to the Superintendent OF the Coast
Survey requesting that Mr.. Assistant
Marinden be permitted to inform me of
chiefly ut my own expense, in advance OF
the bar. In reply received the follow
ing telegram:
WASHINGTON, May TO- 1870.
Capt, jas. Il. Eads:
Regret Marindcn cannot furnish his re-
suits. Gen. ComStock will give all in
formation required by law. Will write.
Z. l.. PATTERSON, Sup't, etc.
1t will be seen that have been unable
at the end of three weeks TO obtain from
any government officials, the facts in their
possession or control, with which To defend
this enterprise form the persistent and
Injurious misrepresentation that have
appeared anonymously, semi-otlicially
and authoritatively during the last few
weeks, and that ! have been refused the
request 10 direct Gen. Comstock. when
on the spot, to measure and certify to me
the depth of channel, to right wrong
done by "A brother officer. In prominent
contrast WITH the difficulties ! have en-
countcred in getting this Official iniorma-
ton, which would have been of great
value TO me If promptly obtained, | quote