The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-30

AN INSPECTION or THE SOUTH PASS yxrT1zs.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, May 20. 1876
Inc visit made by the Emperor yesterday TO Port
Eads proved singulary interesting not only from
the Importance OF the engineering experiments
there being successfully made. but as an iustra.
tion OF the untiring energy and invincibe pluck AZ
the American character.
Hts Majesty WAS accompanied by the yiscount de
Bonn Retire. and went on board the yacht Julia be-
longing 10 the contractor. Colonel Andrews. LISA
very gem OF steam yacht. New Workers win be In
terested TO know that this craft other than tha
William Tweed, the favorite pleasure boat OF the
fugitive Boss
Captain Eads met the imperial party on the wharf
and conducted them on board. where few promi-
nent merchants OF New Orleans interested in the
construction OF the jetties presented. The sail
down the river at night interesting, the city.
with its leagues Of shore lights, appearing TO great
advantage. BY Ave O'Clock Sunday morning the
jetties at the mouth OF the South Pass OF the
Mississippi reached, and the party
landed TO examine the system OF preparing
the materials for the construction OF the jetties.
Nothing could be more simple or more effective, az
Is amply demonstrated by the work already accom-.
plshed.
The system followed consists in the construction
oflarge willow mattresses which are lowed to the
place they are to occupy in the line or the jetcs and
sunk by stones being placed upon them and the grd
ual saturaton OF the willows. The river water.
lowing through these layers OF twigs, deposits clay
and sand. and in short time solid bank Is formed.
The jetties already formed extend over mile, and
the land behind them Is rapidly shoaling thus secur.
ing their permanence.
The object proposed to be attained by jettyng tho
South Pass OF the Mississippi Is the deepening OF the
mouth OF that river to allow ships Of heavy
draught to reach New Orleans.
Congress has made a law authorizing these lefty
works. but STIMULATING that the works should be car.
ried on wholly at the risk Of the concessionaires.
Congress agreed to pay the sum of s5,ooOooo when
the engineers appointed by the government shall
report the existence OF thirty feet OF water in the
South Pass OF the Mississippi, agreeing. however, to
pay 100000 as soon a depth OF twenty feet had
been obtained. In other words, the undertakers Of
this important improvement were obliged to accept
the whole risk OF their undertaking and are not to
receive dollar OF the public money until they have
achieved success.
When the Jetty works were undertaken the South
Pass was wholly useless for commerce. According
to the careful Coast Survey map the depth OF water
was only seven and eight feet on the bar.
During His Majesty's visit soundings were taken
out to the deep sea, and the depth ranged from
thrtyve to seventeen feet, the last depth only
curing once point Of hard clay bottom, which
Is wearing away, but more slowly than the otheI
points Of the river.
This wonderful result has been obtained BY simply
combining the waters at the mouth OF the river, and
forcing them out in compact column. Following
q natural law the river is rapidly ploughing out
channel large enough 70 accommodate the volume
that Is forced to pass between the jettes instead Of
speeding itself over vast area OF sh0al. The in.
creased depth Of water has therefore been created
by the action Of the ITSELF working with force
and persistence altogether superhuman.
The success OF Captain Eads' works win change
the whole future OF the Mississippi Valley, and there
is no longer any reason to doubt his complete sue
cess because what has already been accomplished
has demonstrated beyond cav1 the soundness Of tho
principles which have directed the construction Of
the jetties-
His Majesty was deeply interested, and expressed
surprise that private citizens should carry out such
important public works at their own risk. His
Majesty was delighted with Captain Eads, and ex-
pressed hope that he would pay visit to Brazil,
where His Majesty promised him warm and hearty
reception
In conversation with the HERALD correspondent
His Majesty said that Captain Eads was a wonder.
full man, that he had been delighted and instructed
BY tho clear explanations given by the Captain, and
that before being engineer Captain Eads was
. savant." He said he already knew Mr.. Bayley,
the assistant engineer BY reputation In Rio, and
was surprised that he had never heard Captain
Eads name.
At quarter to seven O'Clock the imperial party
LEFT New Orleans by the Mobile Railway, with their
destination for Washington where their Majestics
hope to arrive on Wednesday evening, May 81.
Their Majesties are in excellent health.