Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-11
Ends, saflirs a Hnceess.

The latest news from the Eads Jetties
is that there are q success. The huge
willow baskets flled with stone have
been deposited in Two rows, and the river
cuts the mud according to the calcula-
tons Of the engineer. The proof is in
the passage Of ships. a correspondent
of the New York Tribune says of this:
can army officer, whom | met in New
Orleans yesterday, said that the severe
tsst of the j~etties would come in two or
three months, when the river brings down
the coarse sand Of the Upper Missouri
If there should be no aocretiOns on the
bar then, be thought the success Of the
enterprise would be amply demonstrated
Southwest Psss would then be allowed to
fll up, and all the shipping woald come
this way. Going out to-day, on a tug, TO
The sea end OF the %jetties, and observing
the strength aud velocity Of the current,
l could see no reason why the river, after
bringing the course SAND a distance OF
two or three thousand miles, should drop
it before il reach the open gulf. The
only remaining doubt as to the utility OF
the work | have heard expressed, con-
Germs its permanence. 1t is feared by
some that the worms will, in time, eat
the willow branches aud cause the %jetties
to erumbie. In reply to this objection,
Colonel Andrews, the chief engineer, says
that the worms only live in salt water,
and that it is only during a short period
in each year, when the river is very low,
that the sea water washes the %jetties sui.
Gciently to give them q change to eat the
Willows, What little damage they can
DO in such a brief space Of time be does
not think will prove serious
Port Eads is a little colony Of work.
people, Gremen and engineers, occupy
ing both sides of the river, a short dis.
lance above the j%etties. The houses are
mostly rude shanties perched on piles
over Che lAersh. There is a pleasant lit
lie hotel, however, and a few neat cot
tages. Not a foot Of GOLD ground is to
be iognd for ] don't know how many
miles up the river-nothing but two
strips Of wateF.soaked mud bordering the
tawny stream, and overgrown With a.rank
green vegetation Of spesr-like reeds and
tail grass with blades like swords. Back
ofthe river the marsh slopes to the waters
ofihe gulf, scarcely a stone throw away.
The piacs mpst have been desola,e and
melancholy beyGag endurance when
there was nothing to brssk the silence
butthecomplaining cries Of the seagulls
the sqii Ct the mind among the reeds,
ard tue sad EndeFtene Of the waves on
the bar; but Dog there IL = good deal Of
Tile and movement. The work on the
jetties employs about three hundred men.
two steamers and two 'ugs. Huge barges
heaped up with willows are towed down
from the b2yous above the passes, Mon
ater Aatboatg, loaded with stone, that
have come all the ysy from the Ohio
river, Aoat past to the jetues. The
launching and sinking of the mGttressei
are interesting daily occurrence. Be
sides, now that the pass is open for heavy
! shipping, there are vessels constantly
going end coming, escorted by stou.
steam tugs, aEd many graceful little pi
lot boats Ait in ano oEt OF the harbof
Thus life Is much more %eyentfY, here or
this mud bank, thrust far out INTO til.
gull, thaa 10 most inland villages. Amonl
the few attractions Of The place the big
fat oysters, found q few rods away. ant
that excellent gulf fish, the red snapper
caught outside the bar, are not to b,
overlooked. No one would be likely Il
come here however, unless interested il
the je;ies. These willow walls, %scarceI'
seen above the wateg ere doing the worY
they were meant TO DO. they are des
sned 10 benefit the whole vast yalles 9
Che Mississippi Rpd are the worthy NOR
uments to commemorate the genius, pei
severance and courage Of their proieC
tor