The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-18

Special Dispatch to tho Intelllseneer.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 1.-THE
rivers and harbors committee will hold
u meeting on Tuesday for the consid-
Grafton Of number OF questions, prom
inent among them being the PROPOSE
ton from the city OF New Orleans for
an official inspection of the crevasse in
the southeast pass near the gulfwhieh
In the estimation of those interested, Is
a menace 20 the commercial interests OF
the lower Mississippi valley. 1t Is
practically determined that there shall
be an investigation, and It Is expect
ed that at the meeting on Tuesday.
subcommittee win be appointed to
take II up. In the event of the ap-
poIntment of committee. representa-
five DoVener will be one of the number
selected, This matter Is a familiar one
10 all river men. II was deemed 10 DC
OF so much general consequence that
commission representing cities from
Pittsburgh to New Orleans came on
here month ago 10 discuss II, With the
rivers and harbocs committee, and at
that time the suggestion was made and
enphasiZed that the government
should at once take steps 20 provide
against what Is believed TO be inpend-
ing disaster to the main, or south, pass
upon which so much money has been
expended under the Ends contract
ii Is Insisted by the New Orleans
chamber of commerce and otherwise
onIciallU. that the crevasse Is not only
uoy cndaugeriug the channel upon
which they descend, but is liable at
any ,ime TO get beyond control. 1t is
estimated by the city's spokesman
that u will cost S27j,O00 TO close IT, and
10 SHOW their confidence I'm their own
Judgment concerning its condition they
nuer 10 bear all the expenses of the
sub-comml;tee's inspection.
The Eads contract OF eighteen years
ago expires IN two years. Under 1t the
channel in The south 9dss was to be
maintained at depth Of twenty-slN
fa5e for twenty years The break in one
OF the OlheG two passes has not inter
fe"ed materially go FAR IN the carrying
out Of that contract, but the Louisi1n-
ans contend that !; Is causing eco
heavy draia ON the volume of water
from the Mississippi. and that while
the Elds people NAV be able to man
age Il during the He Of the contract,
the present rate Of progression Is be-
heyrd TO he such that when che gov
eminent Siqu have TO take bold the
damages VIII b6 20 Isareased that u
win cost very much more than Il VIII
nov 10 vepai. the break, ~, indeed, le
can then be done at All. The represen-
iatlye Of the Eads CONTRACT IS under
stood to have assured the committee Of
his ability 70 maintain thr required
volume OF wafer in the south pass. II
IS therefore, problem whether or not.
the government shall step In at this
iuncture In one aspect OF the case 1t
Is aiding the Eads people TO maintain
contract. which it Is claimed they are
amply able TO maintain without aid,
and even if failure should result, It
may be charged by the contractor that
conditions over which no one had con-
troll. were the cause.
Should The government undertake
the work. It IS also suggested, and the
crcvasse should be beyond repair. the
contractor would De abEolvcl. The
river men are anxious for the inspec-
ton to be made in the belief that thc
governments interests uTe al stake
and that It's duty to so important an
interest requires immediate action.