The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-05
DEEP WATER
Inc Committee Indorses Col. Mans.
heid's Rork-An Interesting
Chat with That Gentle
man.


night before last but the session held was of
star'ohamber nature, at which reporters
we're not admitted, Yesterday, however, a
News representave obtained tho following
abstract of the proceedings. There were
present, his honor the mayor, Aldermen
Davis and Mensng, aud Me:srs. j. Ruppe
and S. Htidenheimer. Alderman Richards
and Mr.. Il. Seeligson were absent, but the
latter being out of the state, was excused.
The mayor called the attention of the
committee to the importance of the obio,.
for which they were convened, and general
discussion covering all points on deep water
followed.
Mr. Runge stated that Col. Mansfield had
the greatest confidence in the success Of his
plan, which had been lately approved by the
authorities at Washington, and the board of
engineers in New York; that, with the
money on hand and the appropriation rec.
commended by the chief engineer Of the
department, the work on the bar could Ger.
tsinly progress 80 far within six or eight
months from now as 10 show the value of
Col. Mansileld's plans.
After liberal discussion Of the subject,
the committee expressed its confidence In the
engineers views, and its appreciation of his
valuable services already rendered, particu-
lsrly in obtaining the Recommendation of
the engineer department for an appropriation
Of S500000 by congress.
On motion of Mr.. Heideheimer the COM
mittee then adjourned, subject to the call Of
the chairman.
A representative Of the News during the
forenoon called upon Col. Mansfield and
passed pleasant hour conversng with him
on the subject Of the work which he has be-
fore him. This distinguished gentleman dis.
cusses the subject Of deep water with o
frankness and clearness which goes far to
esta6llsh confident belief that he under
stands the undertaking which he has 20 per.
form. His life Of study in this main direc.
ton and his years OF experience in the labors
Of harbor improvement have served to
thoroughly fit him for the task.
He informed the reporter that after he
arrived here he soon saw that the work al
ready done was Of no value, so he discarded
the old plans entirely and set to work to
carefully study the nature of the problem
with which he had TO contend. This he did
10 Its every phase, and as result he reached
the conclusion that tue pier and dyke system
IN use on the west Of the Netherlands was
the true mode of obtaining deep water.
Having satisfied himself of its prsctica biity,
heset to work to deyelope IT, IN / he has work.
ed consistently to that end ever since. How
well he has succeeded may be recogniz ,d in
an instant. when the fact l3 remembered that
his plans and estimate: were approved with.
out u change, and his Recommendation ior
IA appropriation adopted without demul
by the authorities at the national capital
Of the funds which have heretofore boon
appropriated, the $4,000 given BY congress
last year are as yet untouched. With tina
sum he will be enabled to push his WORK
forward until the estimate furnished by hin
and approved by the authorities of the ergi
neer department can be appropriated. L
what he has asked for is allowed, he is conf
dent that before the ensuing year has closed
he will have succeeded in SO materially deep,
ening the water on the bar MS TO satisfy the
verest doubling Thomas that ultimate sue.
cess in obtaining twenty-five feet of watel
has ceased TO belong TO the class Of myste
rles or impossibilities, bnt can be realized by
means Of the work he proposes to do if con.
gress will but fur4ish the appropriations in
accordance with the estimates he has sub
mtted. The amount has been placed al
$l,750,000, but he says that II the first pier
the one now being laid, works to the success
in driving channel that he thinks il will, the
required depth can be obtained with half ot
that sum. Whom completed it will be three
and half miles in length. While his force.
are at present sinking mattresses steadily,
and have alresdy put down some 1900 feet,
the work so far has been necessarily slow
owing to the continuous succession of hinde-
RANGES and drawbacks which have operated
against him. lie is however gradually over.
coming these, and by the,time he has fnishei
the construction of his wharf on the oppo-
site side Of the channel, ho will have SC
arranged his operations as to be enabled tC
sink four or FIVE mattresses every day. In
answer to the direct question, how long b,
though. it would be before his iotty wal
would be finished, he answered that 1t woulC
depend very largely upon the means afforded
him II the amounts estimated for yearly
application are given him, he can put three
sets of men at work and thus materially
shorten the time. He will abandon the works
at Bolivar point as soon as his wharf, spokel
of above is completed, which will be as soor
as It can possibly be done. Col. Mansfield
expresses the utmost degree of confidence IL
the success Of his plans, and only. asks thai
no h'nderances are placed before him.