The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-17
THE JETTIES.
A "trip Down the Riyer--Eadsport, Its
Population, Present outlook and
ProspectsJThe works at the HI0utI,
of south Pass, etc.

New Orleans il that which leads from the city TO
Eadsport and the jetties at the embouchure OF the
MISSISSIPPI known 40 the South Pass Not only
does the eye take In agreeable scenes while GID
ing over tho smooth, II muddy, waters, Of the
great river: but at the objective point a-e seen
the interesting works which science projected
and patient toll has reared for the purpose Of
giving New Orleans, and, seoondsrily, the entire
Mississippi Valley, an entering depth OF water
sufficient for present commercial needs and to
fulfil the requirements which the growing neoes.
stiles OF the early future will demand.
The opportunity for such au excursion, conn
binIng pleasure and profitable investigation, was
furnished by the James Howard Sunday. This
fine steamer left her wharf at the foot of Poy-
dras street ut o. M, with about two hundred
ladies' and gentlemen aboard. The services OF
| the excellent band Of the 18th Regiment had
| been secured for the occasion, and were a source
OF much enjoyment. enlivenipg the party with
popular airs from the brass band by day, and with
choice selections by o full orchestra at night. A
representative Of the DEMOCRAT WAS aboard, ard
gives below some mesgre details OF what Ia "un-
known earth" to many Of the readers Of this
journal.
| From the city to the forts, distance Of eighty
miles there is succession of sugar and rios
plantations and orange groves, embracing many
! of the finest este tes in Louisiana. Perhaps no
section Of the country is in higher state OF cul-
tivatiop, and none yields more abundantly for the
care bestowed upon IL. An unbroken line Of
plantation houses and lsborers cabins meets the
view ION either eide of The river, and, with
few exceptions, oil display neat enolo-
| l,ot,t and al "a,
and comfortable negro quarters Many of
the planters have erected their places
churches for their employees, some Of them being
tasty structures, with an approach to elegance
Nearly all the plantations show careful tillaA O.
and the fruitful earth bids fair TO yield rich
harvest OF the three staple p auctions OF this
section OF the State. Nowhere can better gem
eral idea OF Southern plantation, with it's marked
and distinctive features, be afforded the tourist
than on the lower coast Of the river, from this
city to Forts Jackson and st. Philip.
Below the forts the prospect changes. The
smiling fields with their growing crops disappear,
| and make place for unDhsbited prairie and dank
marsh. A solitary house is seen at intervals Of
miles engaged in vain struggle to give life TO
the prospect. Until Eadsport and the ietties APP
pear in the distance. with the open gulf beyond,
the view ID sufficiently dismal, and neither pen Of
scholar nor pencil Of artist could relieve its mo-
notonous sameness and dull and dreary aspect.
| Eadsport, ~ future great oty-~a dream Of it's
| nhabitants-is yet in embryo. by actual count
it contains fourteen buildings, including custom
house, lighthouse and two lighthouses. A very
respectable hotel 10 among the number. The
resident population consists OF few Of the en-
ia,
The floating population, consisting also Of EN-.
ployes of the company, Is much larger. Alto
gether there are about 800 souls in and about the
place. The future great city is not yet rival
| OF this metropolis. and our business men need
not yet make their arrangements for removing to
Underwater. The street consists Of plank walk
about four feet wide laid in bridge form above
the marsh on which the place is built.
How the gallants of Eadsport manage when two
OF them, coming from opposite directions, with
fair friends, meet on the "streets," is beyond
the imagination Of this reporter III one OF them,
with his charmer, does not step in the mud, there
| is necessarily deadlock or an ignominious re-
| treat Really, the authorities should make ar.
rangements to supply coming generations with
more advantages in respect to promenades than
the present enjoys. In estimating the popula-
ton, no account is taken OF the myrads of mos-
auitoee, gnsts and sandfes-twhy sandfies,
| where sand is unknown2) (which furnish the
most indolont with lively occupation.
But the town Ia mere incident. The works
are the objects Of interest. To tho credit OF their
protector, Capt James ID. Eads, and to the enur-
ing ard prospective advantage OF New Orleans,
be it said that they are success. The long uu-
slightly lines OF willows and stone will not strike
the vision OF the average beholder with satisfac-
ton, or stir his emotional soul with delight; but,
what ia Of far greater Importance, they do the
wo.k for which they were designed, and do it
well. From the mouth Of the pass to
the end Of the jetties is two miles and
q quarter. Along this passage the mighty
| stream rushes with the speed OF q mill
race, and 30 thoroughly has it secured the bot
tom that the lead-line shows mo bottom" in
| many places and deep water in all. When the
| works began, the depth OF water on the bar at
| the mouth Of the pass was only eight Feet
few days ago the ship Andean went to sea with
draft Of twenty-ene and half feet. This depth
was secured some time ago, and Capt. Eads him
| self is authority for the statement that it will
| be maintained until the works are carried still
further into the gulf. when IT will be materially
| increased. The Contemplated extension OF the
| jstties will be shortly commenced, and there can
be little doubt that the expectations OF their pro-
jecsor will be fully realized. Success has fol-
lowed his undertaking thus far, and the DEMO-
| Graf can see no reason why he should MOI secure
a permanent triumph over the obstacles yet to be
combated.
The value Of the jettes to the commerce of
New Orleans cannot be lightly estimated. Dur
| ing period extending over eight months there
has been an average OF twenty vessels month,
drawing sixteen feet Of water and upwards, that
have come in over the bar at South Pass. Smaller
vessels are not estimated. 1t IL true that for
three months since deep water has been attained
at the mouth OF the pass the water shoaled at it's
head, and the channel became practically value
less for all craft of than fourteen feet draft.
As soon, however, as the necessary works were
erected at that point the water rapidly deepened.
and at present there is thirty feet Of water where
this bar Was formed.
We're it not for the jettes New Orleans would
now be effectually blockaded. The ship Re-
volving Light, drawing 1871 feet, has been
aground for several days on the bar in Southwest
/ Dc .xa .taaanla can nass neither In ont Of