New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-21
Communicated
mr.. w, NIilnOr Roberts and Major G. w,
Howell-Soulh Pass Bar.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:

EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
We do not care to discuss the question
Of South Pass bar advance, which is the
text of Mr.. Roberts .. ticle, and which he
thinks has probably taken place; but We
will be disposed to see fair play.
Major Howell was violently attacked,
and he has replied with damaging rough
ness. He has been silent for year, and .
constapt stream of articles by nearly every
man in the jetty employ, and as constant .
fire has been kept up from three daily
papers in the city, whose columns are
closed to reply; and the press of most of
che United States, from the Scientific
correspondents-all in support of the jetty
contract. At length Major Howell is
touched by the contractor, in such way
that officers of the army strike back. As
he stands single and alone, and is very
~young" to defend himself-only sixteen
years an oficer-where men of gray hair
attack him, it may not be amiss to ask
whether he has expressed any opinion at
all. do not 60 read him. He merely
states three facts, whether true or false
They are these:
l. A bar is forming in advance.
9. The Pass is growing less; has dimin-
ished from fifteen to eleven per cent OF
discharge since the work Of jettying com
menced.
8. The Southwest Pass has increased cor
respondingly.
These are measurements. Until these are
shown to be in error, by competent author
ity, not interested in the jetties, We respect
fully deny the authority of Mr.. Roberts or
any body else at the distance of 1000 miles
to show that Major Howell was in error.
engineer, and man of great reputation in
the engineering world; but can his opinions
weigh at all against the measurements Of
an officer who has NO interests at stake,
ho wever young"
Much stress was laid upon an opinion ven
tured by Major Howell, then two years
younger than now, that he could get
twenty feet OF water in the Southwest
Pass by dredging, and he has only got eigh-
teen and half feet. Captain Eads, much
older man, predicted that he could get
twenty feet by jettying the South Pass bar,
.esud that by the first of January, and missed
it by full seven feet.
We do not think, however, that either
should be discredited for overrating his
ability. There is great difference, Mr..
Roberts, between the stating fact of
measurement, and the expressing conf.
dence in our abilities. Much allowance
must be made for self conceit.
We would, however, commend to Major
Howell the exhor,ation Of Mr.. Roberts on
hazarding youthful opinion" 1t is good
generally on an average, though it missed
on this occasion, because Howell had not
expressed al opinion; but he will see his
erIUr when the "open mouth" shall yawn
upon him. 1t will, however, be source of
profound regret, and weaken the effect of
Tins lecture. if the "Open mouth" should
never yawn; or, if once gasping, it should
G swallow the jetties and close again, seeking
stin other ietties to swallow.
We fail to see that the river and bars are
rs sensitive as the jetty engineers. to be in
uenced in depth b. opinion for or against,
we also fail to see that the contract to
en the South Pass included the right to
Op all other months and rivers.
ENGINEER.