New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-28
MIsCELLANEOUS WASHINGTON NEWS
THE SOUTH PASS IMPROVEMENTS.

| CAPTAIN HENRRs RfPORT-THE CHANNEL IN
| PRoyiD by inner JErTIgs.
WASHINGTON. July 27.-Captain w. Fl Hener
Corps OF Englneers. submitted TO General Wright
his annual report the progress OF the work the i
proyement OF the South Pass Of the Miasssppl River
from which the following extracts have been taken;
Except for five days In july 1882 there has been
annel between the ietics having at least depth OF
thirty feet In it, and the twenty six feet deep
channel 10 the ettes had during the year. except for
nine days In July. 1922. least width Of 200 feet AT
present there depth OF thrtyono feet In the jettic-
and the leaa width OF the thirty feet channel Is ninety
The least width OF the twenty SIX feet channel Is
240 In the pass itecf there Is shsnnol twenty
deep, aud the twentyrI feet channel IN the
pass has least width OF 100 feet. In other words,
there Is channel at least 90 feet wde and having
least depth OF twentysx feet of water In IT, from the
Gulf into main This is the beat channel that
has ever found since the jrties constructed
But eighteen days dredging has been done tho work
during the year. OF which five days In the pass.
Mae days IN the jotiies aud four days on mud lump
outside Of the jetties The thirty feet channel within
the jetes has much improved during the year. For
small portion OF the year the narrowest part Of tins
channel was only fifteen feet In width. This has In
creased until its least width anyw here Is ninety
feet The Improvement Is attributed TO the conStruo-
ton OF an inner jety built parallel to aud about 200
feet inside OF the east etty. The length OF this inner
lefty Is $50 feet While the river Jotty has Improved
the channel the ettes. It has reduced the width OF
the waterway between the ettrs TO $50 feet Before
tho wing dams, cribs and inner Jety were built the
waterway was about 900 feel In width. In september
last cyclone passed the ettes aud worked much
damage to the jetty about oneha mile In length
OF wall this ety being badly broken. and
solid blocks OF concrete Weighing twenty eight tons
being displaced The channel within the Jettlcs, now
ever remained uninJured.
Surveys made during tho year beyond ths ends OF
the jetes extending out 10 100 feet depth OF water
sometimes called the bar On the jettics proper no
work has been done during the year. WITHIN thch
work has been confined 10 building tho inner Jey anu
five wing dams projecting rom the east ietty In ths
pass proper eleven wing dams baye been built Que
at Crane Island three Goat issd and seven near
Bayou Grandc, varying from 70 to 100 iee IA Ienk.h
Al the places the pass wide and nhoaer than III inc
narrower parts OF the pass IN fact tho nepih OF water
III the channel wac hardly an inch more than the twenty
six feet OF depth required. After the dana were upt
tho current rapidly ACQUIRED out tie erests OF so hnVa
until depth OF t6irtytwO feet OF water was obthhcu
-" AT the head Of the South Pass there IA now me
channel 400 feet wide and having cat depth OF thT
Pass POutro also increasing In deptn Dut iho
bars at the mouths OF these passes reported AS Dehs
very shoa That at southx est Pass reported ~ nav
lug only twelve feet channel through IL WINE ass
POItre bar Ia said 10 have but eight feet Bot OF tnee
passes little used that bat little IL dcnnitcV
known about them except where our surveys cut mo
them near their heads During the year ten vesseis
every Instance they OF the channel, when was
wide deep and practicable The appropriation 10,
examinations aud surveys reported 70 be lnshvieb'
10 continue the work beyond December 1, 1851 ~"