New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-06
An INTERFERENCE WITH EADS.

A PAMPHLET FROM GENERAL HUMPHREYS HOSTILE
TO EADs And THE SOUTH PASS WORKS, AND
REPLY THERETO.
[FRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
WAsHINGToN June 5.-General Humphreys cir
culated a pamphlet last week. the text for which is
the bill now pending before Congress providing Tor
the appointment Of commission to consider and
take charge Of improvements Of the Mississippi
River This commission, he said in his pamphlet, Is
TO be appointed in the interest of scheme put for
ward by Captain Eads to improve the Mississippi
River by depressing its channel so that Its waters
shall remain within their banks during the highest
floods. After attempting to demonstrate that this
plan of improving the river is lmpracticable on
account of the enormous expenditure which it
would involve General Humphreys proceeds to crit
icise the work done by Captain Eads at the South
Pass Of the Mississippi River, and attempts to show
that the preservation of q permanent channel
through that Pass will require q constant extension
of the jetties into the Gulf of Mexico. General
Humphries, it is well known, has never believed
that the opening of the mouth Of the Mississippi
River by the means of jethes would In the end
provo to be as cheap satisfactory as the con-
struction OF a canal from deep water in the river
to deep water in the Gulf.
Captain Eads has written reply to this pamph-
LEFT. of which the following are the closing par
agraphs:
The Act OF Congress Of March 3. 1875. provided ::
said Eads shall be untrammecd IN the exercise Of his
Judgment and skill in the location. design and eonstruc-
lion OF such etties and auxiliary works." This meant
that having undertaken an important work the risk
OF myself and associates should have no hostile inter
ference on the part of the Government long
In contempt OF this provision OF the law, the Chief
OF I'm gneers. T. $. A., IN the summer or 1873, when
hal iu II egnn the ieties himself assduonsy TO
work to impeach my Judgment and SKIN, and to show
that the enterprise would be failure Not only was
his time gwen this effort 10 defeat the purpose Of
Congress- but the public money was used to print his
memorandum" against the south PaSs yetties Ihese
were pamphlet form for circulation to lessen
the public confidence IN my undertaking; Ihey were
then put IN his annual report for 1872 ana IN 1876 they
were reproduced with added matter ~ the last edition
OF the Physics and Hydraulics OF the Mississippi
This not only 40 injury 10 me- ont was naSraht
disfespeGt Congress, whose act had provided that
should be free IRON such interference Inc TACT tnat
Congress IN passing the Jety Act mad dsregarded the
uns0und views OF General Humphreys would fairly ex-
cuse his loss OF temper but could MOI 9s TINS repro
Although the Jetty Act purposely framed 20 ex-
work becase OF ms hosI,y 10 ~ ~ Pr4plulns snts
inspecting officers should be detailed To report 70
Ger hrs instrictons and the reports were made
during the first year. when his interference and hosy
became 30 pronounced that appealed successfully to
he Secretary OF War open letter May %, 1875 70
have him absolutely excluded from any iurther conec-
iOn with the work. and to have the Inspecting oeer re-
port directly the Secretary Of War, as the law pro-
yIded. - -,
more vigorous prosecution Of the work is reported TO
the Senate from the appropriate committee General
HumDhreys presents the letter / reviewing, evil
deny with the intent TO defeat this measure, aud,
prctext presenting it, asserts that bill has been IN
roduced in Congress give the control OF the further
Improvement Of the Mississippi River, when he must
have known or could easily have ascerained that no
such bill has been reported by committee or any
other And in absolute defiance OF the plaines official
evidence the contrary General Humphreys makes the
Astonishing statement =" that the results actually az
tanned at tue South Pass disprOve the views OF Mr.
Eads and confirm those OF the Engineer Department"
while the safety and with which the heaviest
draught ships already the jetty channel and the
Immense benefits resulting TO commerce, should conn
vince even him Of the wisdom OF the Government IN
rejecting the advice the Chief OF Engineers when de-
cldng the problem or improving the mouth or the
Mississippi Very respectfully, JAMES i. EAD5