The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-27

Costly Government improvements "cn-
AGED by the South Pnss Currents.


aced by the south Pass Currents.
WASHINGTON. Dec. I.rhe chief OF
army engineers is awaiting Will much
interest a report from Major Quinn, OF
the corps. who has been on tour Of In
syeuion at the mouth OF the Miss sslppi
river. Informally. the War Department.
has heard that a great deal OF the work
accomplished for the relief OF IA .ieation
in South Pass has been undone 10y the
contrary action of the currents. Tho
work was begun and carried on under
.rchn y. Eads, who Sc cured lucrative
contract from the Government and whose
heirs still draw annual allOtments ior
m tintaining channels originally enlafe.l
by the Eads project. IL VIII be a cosuq
air for the Government and a sericuo
matter for river commerce II the eAisuh5
channels are not maintained. The wosk
has cost the public treasury many mu-
lions, and from unofficial reports, II Ap-
pears that little OF permanent value has
been accomplished
The officials IN the department Will say
nothing until Major Quinns report is re-
ceivcd. and IT can be learned fuzzy ana
authoritatiyoly the extent OF the alleged
deterioration. IL II be necessary 10
strengthen the structures which CONNIE
the river banks and deepen the channei
OF the South Pass. the project VIII DC
one OF the most important and expensive
undertaken by the War Department III
the way Of river improvement. IL Is
questioned whether any known methods
will assure q permanence OF the I'M
provement IL Is doubtful If the Govern
ment ever entered into an arrangeitht
with a private individual such as existed
between the War Department and kads'
and the company which he formed. lnere
has been in times past some criticism OF
the manner I'm which Eads and his assoc
ciates performed the work I'm the MISS
issppi. and even now there Is diner-
ence Of opinion among experts regard
ing the merit Of the method II APP
pears from the reports so far mace-and
the department is advised regularly or
the condition OF affairs I'm that section
that the desired channel has been gener-
ally maintained since the completion or
the project. There have been periods
when this was not accomplished. ana
Major Qunn's expected report may show
that the further attempt to keep chan
mel will be futile
The history Of the Eads contract is
an interesting one. Eads, who was
81. Louis engineer. proposed 10 Congress
that permission be given him TO build
permanent jettles so as TO create a chan
mel thirty feet deep and $50 feet wide be-
tween the South Pass and the gulf wa
| ters. For this work Eads was 20 receive
$4,000. payments 70 be made az the rate
| OF $4,000 as certain stipulated widths and
! depths Of channel were obtained, the first
payment to be made when channel OF
twenty feet depth and 200 feet width was
attaired OF the total amount 100000
was to be retained at per cent. interest
I and paid out az a certain rate yearly
provided the Eads Company kept the
channel thirty feet deep and $50 feet wide.
| The work commenced IN June. 1870, ana
was completed In July. 1879. The period
which the Eads Company must maintain
a channel al a yearly compensation VIII
expire in three years. Congress makes
an appropriation yearly to cover tho esti-
mated expense which still attaches TO the
old contract with Eads. and II may be
necessary 10 increahe this allotment, ca
peciaiiv If the reports be true regarding
the action Of the river currents and the
worthlessness OF the jetty system.-Phl-
adelphia Press.