The New York herald., 1876-07-13
THE MISSISSIPPI JEY7IES.
Interesting Interview with
Captain j. B. Eade.
Red Tape and jealousy in the
Engineer Corps.
OTHER DIFFICULTIES TO OVERCOME

Perhaps no work of scientific engineering has moro
eugrossed public attention within a brief period than
the project Of the jees undertaken by Captain James
b. Eads in the opening of the South Pass a; the mouth
OF tho Mississippi River The distinguished engineer
was found by HERALD reporter at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel yesterday, and very courteously gavo him
great deal information regard to the work hand
and tho obstacles with in its mplishmcnt. He
aid-Ttc reports from the jsties continue to show
the most encouraging progress Since the closing of
Grand Bayou tho increased volume OF
appears to have accelerated tho process
OF deepening the channel Soundngs taken
recently-although have not heard from there since
tho 9th inst.-commencng outside the bar aud cntcr
ing the channel west OF what is known the outer
red buoy, showed tho following depths: "a feet 23k,
2o 224, 1o. le 49, 49, 10, 1913 2oi., 2I o2 %, II,
2ih, 19s, 2ls, 2i, 2o,s 81 23t, 22, 2s>s, 25, 25,
24 and "a The largest vessel you Will thus see, can
pass through safety but there 10 no doubt after
little more work. there will be clear outlet from the
city OF New Orleans via South Pass for vessels draw
ing twenty feet
The Captain then showed the reporter an acknowled-
mcnt OF his services to the city, Of the news
papers there, OF recent date.
JErrgs
Now, said the Captain, | viii give you brief and
suconct history OF the jettics and the way In which
they came to be constructed. MAJOR c. W. Howell,
United states engineer In charge Of tho dredging opcr
atons at the mouth OF the Mississippi, settled the
plans for the Fort St. Philip canal, sort OF sido Gu,
through she bank OF the river into the ulf The
Committee in Congress on Canals and Rail-
ways unanimously reported a bill favoring this
plan little later made the proposition to deepen
the water in of the natural outlets by OF
dykes levces constructed under water agreed to
ask for money until had secured navgabe depth
Of twenty feet This proposition zealousy opposed
by General Humphreys and Major Howell The Canal
bill was passed by the House of Representatives, bu
rejected by the Senate At the First OF tho Forty
third Congress. A commission OF engineers then
appointed 10 examine and report upon tho two meth
DDS This committee, as Is well known, reported in
favor of the Jetcs and Congress then granted the
right TO undertake the improvements under the
dltions named. and the smallest outlet OF the
Missssipp-the South Pass-was selected by Congress
for the experiment. Tho result before the world.
The work has been carried on, too solely by private
means, without any ad being asked OF inc government
Now. wish to emphasize a very nice point:-Cou-
gress directed the Secretary Of War; tho agent the
part OF the government to sec that tho mutual asrco'
erly carried out but the absolute control OF the
s,ructon and design OF the same left With me- Re-
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR
complaining that my operations had been embarrassed
by publications. made government expense, aud
extensively circulated by General Humphreys Chief OF
Engineers, to prove that my WORKS would be failure
l also felt argrcvcd that Major Howell IN defiance Of
law had making surveys the South Pass and the
ettes publishing untruthiui reports calculated to
destroy public confidence in the enterprise while
General Comstock, the inspecting oftccr TO report
to tho Secretary OF War; has not furnished any nor
nation 10 in relation TO surveys and soundings,
been making his reports to the Chief OF Engi.
necrs who sends thcm to tho Secretary Of War; who
in turn transmits them TO Congress, and are conse-
Sueny about TWO months oa De'orG S .ney reaHn pub
cuted and results follow speedily, General Comstocks
Information possesses little or no value Major Howell.
among other stacments published an assertion that
there was only twelve feet of water between my
jettes, whereupon telegraphcd 10 the Secretary Of
War 10 direct General Comstock, who then the
spot to measure the depth OF the channel with and
give official certificate Of the Same, stating IL was
10 correct misapprchension m made by Major Howell
This the ground that full survey Of the
works about TO bc made by General Comstock, and
that when the results werc received IN Washington
copy would be furnished me- thus delaying for month
or the Information TO which Justly entitled.
Tho managers Of tho Cromwell Steamship Line, how
ever knowing that their steamers would two
hours In their time 10 Now York. began to uso the
cttcs just alter this trouble and the passage OF ships
which major of engineers declared there only.
twelve feet became mystery which has not yet been
explained
THE FINANCIAL QUESTION
however undcrlies the jetty experiments. and II the
people from whom expect to receive enough assist
ance complete the work, make up their minds that
government and officials hostile, the difficulties
must necessarily be much increased
To my letter OF remonstrance regard to these mat
ters, the Secretary Of War replied as follows:-
WAR DEPARTMENT.
wAsHrScroS, d. G.. June - 1876. :
s have tho honor TO acknowledge the rcccpt of your
letter OF 20h inst. representing IN substnncc =
F,rtThat in utnre the inspecting oncer contemplated
tho q the M.ssippi River be required TO mass
his report directly to the Secretary oil War.
the duty Of observing and reporting upon the
work will henceiorsh bs performed BY the said inspecting
rs:e-Th.s any oel.l publications with resrene. to .hs
said improvement will not bc permitted from any other Of
the Chief Of Engineer. directed to dscou
the south Pass
under the direction Of the sad Inspecting officer.
ns you or your authorized assistants any information no
hereafter acquire relating 10 the effects.
Your rss request has been granted ana beg
you Of the letter directing IT, To the second request
formed by the ocer assigned aud his assistants escu-
svcy As to the third request may be stated ge1-
ment TO the Secretary published consents
II any other officer OF the ENGINEER Corps should be called
fourth ~ request has already been carried inss
effect, as the ch,et Of, Engineers on tho s.s
no soundngr other OF any kind
whatever the South Pass the bars OF the river
tons to passes the main Of tbe river
should be the execution Of
enclosed cepy of css that Major dssocs IN
cordsnce with been directed to furnish
have may made under his direction
the peromsnce Of the dnes assigned him in connseion
Pas. u she W.pp River and the Guif Of 1Sd:s
the e. Approved March is1s ysry %
JANIS y. EADs, Esq, Washington, ID. q.
In concluding his interview with tho HERALD 70
porter Captain Eads said :--"You perceive o
Thing Of tho difficulties have had TO contend with n
Miss,ssippl NY vexations have not been confined %
that section. have received Injunction and
dict against the Brooklyn Bridge Company fos lie
fringemcnt oil my designs and patents In sinking
piers"