The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-07-16

thirty feet depth, and that this colossal un-
dertaking has been consummated by what
arc now so Familiarity known as Capt. Eads'
jettles, and that this fact records the com
plction Of Capt Eads' daring and cxtraor-
binary contract, and solves the greatest
engineering feat ever attempted under pri-
vate auspices and at private risk.
The work is done. But a few hours, and,
wherever the telegraph extends, will be her
aided its triumphant conclusion. Where
but four years ago there was hardly water
sufficient to float an oyster lugger, the
Great Eastern can to-day ride in perfect
safety.
Whereas, four years ago, it was some
times hazardous and always an uncertain
experiment for vessels drawing more than
sixteen feet to attempt to enter our port,
New Orleans is to-day open to the fleets
and the navies of the world.
So far as our prosperity and development
are involved in commercial facilities, they
are henceforward assured. So far as this
city's destiny depended upon her harbor
being made accessible and convenient that
contamination is now within our reach.
The work is done Human patience and
courage and industry, backed by an indom-
liable and untiring will and informed and
directed by human skill, have applied the
forces OF nature to the accomplishment of
an end to vast for merely artificial agen-
cies, and the Tremendous river which, un-
controlled, has been its own oppressor and
imprisoner, has now become its own liberia
tor and savior.
There IS no achievement Of mechanical
genius which compares with it in the splen-
dor Of its economies or in the magnitude Of
its results. There is no parallel instance of
mans employment of the prodigious ener-
gies Of nature in the realization of his
aims. 1t stands alone in these respects as
it does in almost incalculable possibilities
which it has brought within our reach.
1t is at once pathetic and astounding to
look back four short years and recall not
only the formidable, the seemingly hope
less difficulties Of the task assumed by
Capt. Eads, but the sneers, the discourage
inents, the open hostility of an almost I'M
broken front of public opinion.
Never was the advocate of great idea
made the focus Of more Misrepresentation,
detraction, malice, enmity and Official
jealousy. Never was there more deter
mined and systemetric effort to crush a
man with the very magnitude and original
ity Of his conceptions We can afford to
forget, or rather to forgive, all that to-day,
however, in view of the superb victory he
has achieved. Not alone has he crushed
into uttersllence the voice of envy and dis
arrangement, but has subjugated and con-
verted into servitors of man the forces of
the everlasting elements. His triumph is
celebrated in no gllttering and gorgeous
structure beautiful to the eye and impress
sive to the imagination; it is not written in
marble nor perpetuated in stored urn or
sculptured stone, but so long as commerce
swarm into this port and natures unfriend
| ly action is held in check by his masterful
and infexlble veto, so long will New Or
leans and the Mississippi valley in their
power accumulate the majestic tribute of
human progress to the genius, courage and
indomitable energy OF Capt Jas Eads.