The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-09
THE DRERGEDOATs.
Ths GOserNMrnt Wefuses 10 Rave Then,
M0, eI tr0ns southwest vass
tFFIcE oF IRE CHIEF or EsarNEEpa,
Mnll lllirl.t.ln Ii ~

Washington. D. d. Aprl 81 isia
| Hon. Arhonso Taft Secretary of War
Sir Respecting the petition Of certain
merchants and others Of New Orleans
for the uses of one Of the Government
dredgebuats to eSeayate a channel owe,
the shoal at the river end pf the Soutl
Pass. and also tl9on the bar at the sea
end Of the South Pass, and the petition
of the ship owners. ship agents aud shin
masters in the port Of New Orleans. that
the Government dredgehoats be retain
| ed upon the Southwest Pass bar. and
that those boats should not he diverted
| from their work on the bar of that pass
to work upon the shoal ~ the river end
of the South Pass OF the bar at the sea
end Of the South Pass. have to report
that by the use Of the two Government
| dredgeboats a channel Is maintained
| through the Southwest Pass bar Of suiIi-
cient capacity for the passage of the
| largest ships engaged in the New Or
leans trade and that the ability Of the
Government dredges TO maintain s,,ch n
channel at the mouth Of the Mississippi
river for some years past has led to the
introduction OF ships Of increased di-
mensions for the New Orleans trade.
and in this manner and by putting an
end to the long detentions on the bar
that formerly existed, the use Of these
upon the commerce of New Orleans
The great annual food Of the Missis-
sippi river may be expected to occur be-
tween the present time and the latter
rart of July, and II usually remains AT
that very high stage during several
wceks, buning that period the uniteI
efforts of both dredges will hs required
TO maintain the channel Of tho South.
west Pass bar in navigable condition
aud all the preparations of the Engineer
Department have been made with that
object in view.
TO divert either Of these boats from
th's work VIII. IN my Judgment, as we'll
as IN that Qf the officer in charge Of
thep,. prove highly injurious to the com.
mefte of New Orleans, and the PRAYER
Of the petitioners that these dredgeboats
or one Of them should be used on the
South Pass, should not in my opinion
be granted.
II will Ire observed that the petitioners
present no evidence Of the abilit, of the
dredgeboats 10 open a channel twenty
feet deep through the shoal at the river
end of the South Pass in time for use
this season
II is further to be remarked that Mr.
Eads has entered into a contract with |
me UoNernment to open a channel /
'f' ~ 'ht A'ooNl uSS, tOUITafI T0at i
includes the shoal at the river end Of the 1
pass as well as the shoal at the sea end. |
and that he is now engaged upon the /
works. FOR that purpose. at both places.
The appropriation for the repair and
of the Government dredCe-
ooaN was made expressly for the pur.
pose OF opening and keeping open a
'hannel in pass that Mr.. Eads did not
contract to open
Very respectfully, your obed't servant,
A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Brig. General and Chief OF Engineers
1916.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Washington City. May l. 1876 {
NW-l have respectfully to acknow-
edge the receipt Of the request OF your
elf and others, that the Government
redgeboats be continued on the work
{ the Southwest Pass, and in reply beg
Q inform you that the subject has re-
elyed the careful attention Of the Chief
1 Engineers. whose report upon the
latter is enclosed herewith. whose
Jews are concurred in-that the boats
a question should not be diverted from ,
heir work on the Southwest Pass.
Very respectfully, your obedient ser
ant, ALpHoNso rAFT, Seo'y Of War I
Joseph Cooper. Esq, New Orleans.
,ouisiana.