The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-06-12


, ilrst, to guide its current and protec
; ITS leVees second, to save its bank
, from undermines third, to max
| Gdttt"e, or alluvial deposits wher
they are needed; fourth, to remov
bars without dredging; and fifth, 81
TO deepen its channel by erosion "a
ultimately to prevent overflows. TIL,
main objects Of the plan, are to Civ,
permanence to its banks, and to pre-
vent the constant shifting of its bed
to preserve its islands and its shore.
with all the property upon them
and at the same time to make it navi
gable at the lowest stage of its water b,
ocean vessels of the largest size. These
plans were elaborated many Years
since by my father, and presented to
the new Orleans Academy of Science
III 1866, and adopted by it on the Sth
day of January, 1868; and sent to the
various academies of sciences both in
America and Europe during that year.
This plan has been very genrally APP
proved, but the most useful principles
OF hydraulic engineering embraced in
1t, especially the proper angulation of
the Jetties with reference to the arti-
ficial current channel intended to be
formed by their guidance of the natu-
raj current, has never, 50 far, been an
piled either in America, Europe or
elsewhere. The plan is based on these
two principles: l. The angie of re-
BecttOn Of aC0tor IN motion is cquuL to
the angie Of mcidence minus the re-
siStence. End. The walls of all jetties
for controlling water, where their foun-
dations are mud, sand, and other fria-
BILE materials, or where they do not
rest upon rock, or other undisintegra-
bic materials, must be made of brush,
laticed, diagOnalized, crib work or
other non-retlecting substances or so
faced with such material as to break
and dissipate the force of the currents
they are intended to control, by hurl-
ing the particles of water which COM
pose them against each other, and .
preventing their downward reflection .
and consequent undermining action.
None of the surface of the materials
should be smooth, but crossed, or cor
rugated, A very simple and compre-
lensive description Of these controll-
ng Or guiding jetties may be given as
iollOWs:
They are properly angulated reflect
ng walls, faced with non-refiecting
materials. And wherever applied
hey should control the bottom current.
The material for their construction
md their forms, may be varied to suit
he localities intended to be improved,
nd the depth Of the water in which
hey are to be uscd-but none must
resent plain or smooth surfaces. ,
The Mississippi is different from all {
he streams upon the globe except the q.
Vile, and to it it bears a close resem-
lance. The Mississippi is more than
300 miles long, and flowing as it does q.
'Om north to south, it climbs toward
le equator up hill, as it were, more
IAN four miles and from Cairo to
le Gulf, it is demonstrated that it. re- \
lives an immense impetus from the
force of the earth on its e
urnal aXis--as it effects all things 0
motion. One Of its sources is fully 81
100 feet above the level of the sea -,
I'd Itasca, the head of the clear Miss
ssippi, west Of Lake Superior is 100 o
ct above the sea level. This alone n
YES it in $500 miles more than halfa
Dt fall to the mile, in addition to the
eat impetus given by the motion of 80
and hurls its titanic tides
ainst the frail, friable shores and U'
melts them like snow in 81
e rays of tropical sun. / have Y,
lied upon its bosom and watched its
ething waters as they rolled in ma or
tic grandeur pfrom st. Louis to the IT
llf of Mexico. And l have seen a,
lOle p'antatiOns-abOdes of wealthy
Inters, the homes of happy chill
en, with all the ties and associa- q,
rs of life attached, sink forever be-
Blu
lth its waves, and disappear never
ain to be seen by mortal eye-with
rec bubble to mark where they Pea
| melted in the vast yeast of waters
It roll above them. And my heart
, bled for those whose anguish | ua m
lc seen as they gazed sadly upon n.
watery grave of all they owned bo
earth. And my brain has been -
sed to act, TO avert such scenes, ~ ~
mature plans to prevent their re- .
renee. And, gentlemen of the
IS, they are before you. You who Da
the voice, the pulse, the greatest .
yer in this great republic. You, of
llt mum llplt Nsill ENsiiltls -.
re you l place them, they are ma :,
ed, perfected, ready forapplication, the
h the workman and all necessary
lphernalia, asking your aid to lay the
m before the treasure vaults of our AZ,
ntry, to make their success COM !"
c. too
v plan for The relief of Nicksburg, -
a the honor of handing you on ,'', -
ler occasion. Yet l hope the ac- sec,
panying diagram will not he out ed
place, as you can refer To it, -,
n exponent Of these plans. And IN
, my friends of the press generally, nj.
X you TO aid me by your support. ask
ing that you may with ali your TIM
ht, | remain nv ~
Very truly yours, '' v
LAMAR FuNTAINE. You
tior
Z acknowledge the receipt, from NJ
ideut g. W. Smith, of an invita- owe
-, a Fra-asn f1.. .T.asar.r frW