The patron of husbandry., 1882-05-06

form in front of the Jetties, and the ex-
pense of extending and maintaining them
was estimated by the commission at 81 co.
600 a year. This extension and main
tainance was undertaken by Capt. Eads
for $50, 900 year less than the estimate,
and a guarantee that it should not cost
over SIoo.ooo year for 20 years, he con-
sented to allow the Government to retain
ST COOS 900 of the price of the Jetties after
it should be earned. To secure the first
payments, at least half of the whole work
had to be executed; and before p feet
was reached, So per cent. of it was COM
pleted. At this period the terms Of the
act proved SO oppressive that he was
compelled to ask Congress to modify
them. An advance of $I,oooooo was
promptly voted to enable him to prose
cute the work The bill also provided
that commission of five army engineers
should inspect the works and report re-
garding them and their effects, and also
what further measure of relief it would
be proper to extend to Capt. Eads. This
report was very favorable so far as it re-
lated to the permanence of heworks and
of the channel, and of the deepening ofthe
sea bottom in front of the Jetties where
new, bar had been predicted; but it ad
vised against any further payments beyond
those provided in the Jetty act. Con-
gress, however, took a different view of
the matter. Being satisfied from the re-
port that rs or So per cent. of the work
had been executed, and that it was des-
tined to be entirely successful, further
advance of $4,000 was voted. On July
s. 1879, the United States inspecting Off
Ger at the Jetties reported that the maxi
mum depth of 80 feet had been secured
through the Jetty channel, and that the
least width of the 26 foot channel through
the Jetties was 200 feet The remainder
of the $5,2so,ooo was thereupon paid.
Mr.. Eads has written several essays,
and delivered addresses, during the past
years, in favor the application of the Jetty
system of improvement to the Mississippi
river throughout its entire alluvial basin.
This plan is to connect the wide parts of
the river by so contracting the high-water
banks at such places as to create COM
parative uniformity of width throughout
the alluvial district. This, he believes,
will produce uniformity of depth, at least
40 feet of water, from Cairo to the Gulf
In 1879 Congress authorized the creation
of a mixed commission of Civil and Mill
tary engineers, to be called: "Thc Mis-
sissippi River Commission" and to be
composed of seven members, of whom
Capt. Eads was one. 1t was made the
duty of this commission to prepare plan
for the Improvement of the navigation of
the river, and for the prevention of de-
structive floods. In addition to giving the
channela low-water depth of 20 feet to
Cairo, it is asserted by Capt. Eads that
by this method district as large as the
State of Indiana, constituting the alluvial
basin of the river, will be saved from
overflow without the need of Ievees.
Immediately after the publication OF the
proceedings of the er-Oceanic Canal
Congress held at Paris in 1879, Captain
Eads published a letter containing a
project for Ship Railway across the
American isthmus, as a substitute for the
sea-level canal proposed by that conven-
ton. Among other arguments advanced
by him in support of this method are:
I. The railway can be built for one quar-
ter of the cost of the canal: 2. 1t can
be built in one quarter of the time; 3. 1t
can transport the ships more rapidly with
absolute safety; 4. It's actual cost can be
more accurately foretold; S. The expense
of maintenance and operating it will be
less than that of the canal; 6. Its capacity
can be easily increased to meet the re-
quirements of ocean transportation; 7. 1t
can be built at many places on the 18th
mus where a canal is wholly impracti-
cable
Capt. Eads is now in Washington City
awaiting the action of Congress on the
bill in aid of the Ship Railway. The
provisions of that bill are given in the
extracts from the report of the Senate
Commerce Committee, which we print
on our third page, and are so much to the
advantage of our Government and people,
and so different from the subsidies usually
voted to railway and other companies,
that it is scarcely possible that the bill
will fail to pass. Capt. Eads will com
mence operations as soon as Congress
| acts, and it is calculated that the Ship
Railway will be completed within four
years.
In person, Capt Eads is a splendid rep
resentative of American manhood. Near
lv or quite six feet in height, temperate in
his habits and in perfect health, he is ca.
pable of undergoing immense mental and
physical effort. He has been through life
alaborious student, and thoroughly mas
| ters every subject that engages his atten,
ton, and when presenting his views te
the public, either with voice or pen, ht
does so with great ciearness and force
| His manners are extremely pleasant ant
engaging, and all who come in contac
with him are. impressed alike with hi