The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-06-03
EADS TO TAFT.
False Statements About
the Failure of the
Jetties Charged
Home.
Cen. Humphreys and Mai.
HQwell,s AtteWpt, to
ON the Jettios.
ouessss 81 the Enteryrise, and E1ds'
r. "a est TO Deal with HeaI.
quarters Alone.
NEW ORLEANS, May %, 1876.

NEW ORLEANS, May %, 1876.
Hon. Alphonso Taft, Secretary OF war, wash
inEton, ID. c.:
Shiny duty to those who have been
and are now supplying me with money
to consumate the grant made by the
Forty-third Congress, compels me, very
reluctantly, to call your attention TO the
inclosed letter (Inarked AZ. signed &. w.
Howell, Captain of Engineers, L. ,. A.,
dated May O, lS7C, and published In the
<Avsess.~.. ss,'u Deff'V''"t' VI 1N9" Or
lcasi3s
l desire to submit with it, as briefly as
possible, the following facts:
During the Forty-third Congress, two
plans for the improvement of the Missis-
sippi were presented tor consideration.
The one known as the Fort st. Philip
Canal was urged chiefly by Gen. A. A.
Humphreys, Chief of Engineers, U.S.A.,
and Major Howell, U. s.. Engineers; and
the other, the jetty system, by myself
and others. The subject was referred by
Congress to a mixed commission. COM
posed of seven distinguished military and
civil engineers, who, after careful delib-
Grafton, reported Zone member only dis
senting) In favor Of the jetty system:
whereupon, Congress granted to myself
and associates the right to improve the
South Pass, an outlet unused for COM
merce; the grant expressly STIMULATING
that we are to be paid nothing in case OF
failure to secure 20 feet depth Of channel
through the Pass to the Gulf, within
stated period. The act directs the Secre-
tary OF War to appoint an officer "whose
duty Il shall be to report the depth Of
water and width OF channel secured and
maintained from time to time, in said
channel, together with such other infor-
nation as the Secretary Of War may di-
rect.n
The grant expressly provides that 81
shall be untrammeled in the exercise Of
my Judgment and skill In the location,
design and construction of the works.
therefore did not suppose that another
officer OF engineers, aud one, too, avOw-
eddy hostile to the undertaking, would
likewise, without authority OF congress)
be charged with the official duty of OBJ
serving any part Of our work or its re-
suits. Least Of all did l suppose that
he would be permitted to give to the
public with perfect freedom such unfa-
Vorable and unreliable Information re-
specting 1t as might best seem to support
the predictions Of Its failure previously
uttered go confidently by his chief and
and himself, and thus really trammel its
construction by increasing my difficulties
In providing means with which to carry
it on.
Anonymous statements circulated in
this city aud subsequently seat hence by
Der 81 Newspapers through the Country,
TO the effect that new shOal was form
ing In advance Of the jetties and that
their failure was therefore certain. This
report, being persistently repeated, was
publicly denounced by me. with, per-
haps, too much feeling, as malicious
falsehoOd," but without suppOsing that
Major Howell was at all responsible for
the statement. Approaching the I'M
portanee, however, OF refuting such re-
ports by evidence that could not be chal-
lenged. addressed the superintendent OF
the United States coast survey rs follows /:
New Orleans, March I, ls7G.
Capt. &. r. Patterson, superintendent u. S.
Coast Survey, Washington, ID. {.
DEAR SIg-Last year Lieut.. Marinden
made sOuhdings on radial lines Stewards
from the bar of South Pass. l very
much desire that these radial soundings
should be repeated before Lieut.. NJ.
leaves here, and think you will agree
with me that it is Important to know
where the one or two millions of cubic
been swept out Of South Pass from its
bar, have been carried and deposited,
and what changes, il any, have occurred
in the contour lines of the mouth of
South Pass.
Radial lines OF soundings should be
made from the east and west lands ends
out two or three miles of shore.
Hoping that you will kindly oblige me
by ordering this work to be done by
Lieut.. NJ. l remain, with sentiments OF
high esteem, yours, very truly,
JAS. Ii. EADs.
In answer ! received the following
reply:
u. S. Coast Survey Office.
Washington, March 10, 1876,
DEAR SIR-fOurs of the 9TH is just re-
ceived.
Authority will be given to Assistant
Marinden to run such radial lines as YOU
may wish, but he has not the control
OF steam launch this season, only his
boats avail for the purpose, and conse.
quently he should run merely such line,
as may be absolutely necessary.
knowing the importance OF promptly
relating By official testimony these mis-
!. REPRESENTATIONS, Immediately addressed
the following additional request 10 thu
Superintendent OF u. s. Coast survey:
Port Eads, La. April q, ls.0.
Capt. Q. r. Patterson, Washington. ID. c.;
s. DEAR SIR-As the changes within Oul
jettied channel have been very grea
since Assistant Marinden surveyed the
bar would respectfully suggest the i'm
portsnce OF having his party sound thu
depth within the jetties and within a
thousand feet of their mouth.
This work can be done with much
greater ease and much quicker now than
before, IS l have signal ranges and sta
lions established by which my assistant
engineers make these soundings in two
days time generally. will be much
obliged II you will order this work to be
done as early as possible, and INSTRUCT
Assistant Marinden to furnish Inc copy
OF tie results. lie is now here preparing
Tor the radial sounding beyond iii,
jetties. l will loan him facilities for al
the work.
Very respectfully, JAS. b. EADs.
Feeling indignant and outraged at the
unwsrranted conduct Of Major HOwell's
assistant, published letter in tn
New Orleans Tunes, herewith enclosed
marked b, In which again pronounce,
rue reported shoaiing In advance of III,
Jett1es Is absolutely false. | had. how
ever, 50 much confidence In Majo
Howen's honor. and Ia the delicate seas.
of prOpriety which characterizes gentle
men o. the army, that exonsrated hin
u .thc following language, In the letter
from ~ coOplicity In this effort to In
jure ne and my associates. said:
s0u a. tllese works are not under III
s,Ipesvition Of Major Howell, 1t Is uI
Just - him 10 Infer that he has author
ixsd any Of bis assistant to make an 'ol
Gc1Al surrey Of the South Pass bar at VI