The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-30
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
The Ends Jetly System.

There has been 50 much discussion, es-
pecislly in the Southern and Western
papers, Us to what has or has not been
accomplished by Captain Eads IN
his great work at the mouth oil
the Missippi that some facts CLEANED
from his latest official report, just
printed, will be interesting to news
paper readers. We learn from this re-
mort that the channel between the ietties
in the South Pass is two and half miles
in length, and this has been constantly
increased in width and depth during the
psst year. The jetties are built above
mean low tide, and for the greater part
of their length are fully up to the level
Of average high tide. These are import
ant points gained, and the effect already
produced proves the ability of the stream
TO maintain throughout the whole
length Of the jstties channel one
thousand feet wide and OF the requi-
site depth, SO soon as they shall be so lar
completed 80 as to entirely control the
current and prevent the waste Of water
The last survey, made June p, 1916
showed channel extending nearly 1900
feet from the upper end Of the ietties and
within $50 feet OF the deep, navigable
waters OF the Gulf. The average Width
ofthis waterway was $50 feet, its deptl
from twenty to twenty-five feet. This il
sufficient for all the uses OF navigation
In order to show the operation OF thu
accelerated current between the ietties i
may be stated that the twenty feet channe
existing on the 18th Of June had increased
in average width nearly one hundre'
fee. in the forty days between that dat
and the date of the last survey. There
now a straight and available channel en-
tirely through the bar Of twenty.one fee
in depth and 40 feet in width.
In order to increase the volume an
celebrity Of the water in the jetties Gram
Bayou was closed, which discharges abou
twenty.three per cent Of the water iron
above into the Gulf. This Of course re
duced the water in other parts OF III
river. But this has been obviated b
subsequent work, and large steamers ar
crossing the shoals in going and returnin
through the South Pass. These shoal
are to be reduced by the same principl
as that applied to the jettieS, the concer
tration OF flowing water, and there IS
doubt that the result will be equally SUI
cessful in the end. The objection hinte
some time ago, that the concentration
so much water at one point would max
the navigation Of the river precarious
others, has been shown to be erroneou
and at no time has the navigation oil III
stream been more easy and certain.
To sum up the whole, 1t is claimed b
the engineer.in.Chiet Of the improvement
company that within fourteen months
the beginning OF the work on the jetti'
the success Of the plan has been demon
strated in an unmistakable way. In the
unfinished condition the works has
withstood two severe storms; have demon
strated the entire ability OF the delta 10
nation to safely sustain the works me-
essary to control the river discharge, ar
although over three million cubic yar'
Of earth have been swept out from b
tween the ictties to the Gull, and Il
channel across the bar deepened fro
nine to twenty-one feet, still the who
structure remeins in a perfect conditio
and no extension will DO required
open the mouth OF the Mississippi to 4
demands OF the largest commercial crat
aao9t.
The amount to be paid to Eads at
his assigns or legal representatives
"five million two hundred and fifty tho
sand dollars for constructing said worl
and obtaining depth Of thirty feet
said channel, and the annual sum OF OF
hundred thousand dollars for each ar
every year that said depth Of thirty te
shall be maintained by the jstties ar
auxiliary works aforesaid in said Soul
Pass during twenty years after securir
the said depth" By the act authorizir
this work unless Eads and his ASSOCIATE
shall secure nayigable depth Of twent
feet OF water in the pass within thir
months after the date Of the approval
the act, March 8, 1875, Congress may r
woke the privileges and cancel the gran