New-York tribune., 1900-12-07
RIVER ANDHARBOR WORKS
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT PLANNED
AT THE NIsSIssIPPrs MOUTH
AND ARKANSAS PASS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO The rRrE,-NE.l

Washington, Dec. 6-Two important protects are
now under consideration in the River and Harbor
Committee which promise to effect important
changes IN the shipping facilities along the Gulf
coast One OF these Is the improvement OF the
channel OF the Southwest Pass OF the Mississippi
River. and the other the completion Of the work OF
Aransas Pass, on the Texas coast
The committee has practically decided TO recon-
mend appropriation OF 100000 TO secure twenty
foot channel from the Gulf into Aransas Harbor
Contrary 10 the usual custom. no specific plan of
improvement viii be recommended. but the entire
matter viii be placed in the hands OF the Secretary
OF War except that the work will be done under an
engineer OF the Coast and Geodetic Survey II the
accommodation Of the committee is followed 1t is
usual for all harbor improvements 10 be made under
the direction OF the Army engineers but there
which have led the committee specifically recon-
mend other supervision OF this proposed work Five
OF six years ago the Improvement of Aransas Chan
nel was undertaken by private enterprise. backed
by Alexander Brown Sons, the well known bank
ing firm Of Baltimore The Government had previ-
ously spent some money al this point but nothing
beneficial hsd been accomplished. a big bonus OF
land subscribed by the people OF Southern
Texas. and other inducements offered 10
secure the cooperation OF capital The plan for the
Improvement Of the harbor was devised by Profess
sor I. II HauPt, now member Of the Isthmian
Canal Commission and consisted Of q single reverse
jetty built on the theory OF securing the
outred depth OF the channel by accsntuating the
force Of the natural currents. Part OF the jetty
]
was built. and the depth OF water on the bar was
increased from about seven 10 between twelve and
fourteen feet The Baltimore people became dis
couraged. however. and save # up. They have
since been attempting 10 dispose OF their investment
70 the Government, hut the purchase has been re-
ported upon adversely by the Government engl-
neers
The Government engineers are decidedly in favor
q the parallel jetty system for the improvement OF
al har5ors, and have anita goniZed in every possible
way the building a. any place OF the single jetty
system The purpose OF the committee report in
the present River and Harbor bill viii be 70 allow
/ the Secretary OF War 10 make q contract With
Professor EaUpt and his associates for the compl-
non of his Jetry, and The purpose OF putting the
supervision OF the work under the Coast Survey,
instead Of The Engineer Coros. is 10 prevent its
hindrance hy TIE antagonisus which have arisen
ever the discussion OF the merits Of the two sys-
1 tens.
The purpose of deep water channel into q natu-
rally dae harbor which already exists at Aransas
= SIN further 70 shorten the land haul between
I the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. II has been
predicted that # deep water secured al Aran-
sas Pass that point would become great termi-
nal for much Mexican well American export
and import trade
At THE SOUTHWEST PASS
An appropriation OF s6oOOOOo will probably be rec
o-nmended for the opening Of the Southwest Pass
Of the Mississippi The South Pass, through which
/ nearly AL vessels II come out. is prov
ing inadequate for the commerce Of the Mississippi
valley The South Pass was improved by Captain
Eads by means OF parallel Jetties- The necessary
depth of water was secured for vessels OF a
draught which then prevailed but in these days Of
deeper csrgoes Il is found that the channel is too
shallow Il is also found that the South Pass is
snoallng 10 such extent 10 bring serious loss
70 shipping Interests by The occasional grounding
OF heaNliy laden vessels. No specific plan Of i'm
profefnelt VIII be recommended, leaving the mat
Ter open Tor competition later The army engi-
neers propose the system Of parallel jetties the
work 70 cost IN the end So 10000 or more.
PROFESSOR t1aupt has also presented a scheme o
s-nge reverse curve Je-tes for this outlet. which
he thinks viii produce the desired result within
The amount which VIII be recommended in the
present appropriation bill Professor Haupt has
/ been before the committee and has used as srFu-
nerts N favor q his plan the results Of the Eads
Work II the South Pass and the effect of The great
s-oLlL on me chaEDe4 between the parallel ierries
/ AZ Galveston The Eads jerties the South Pass
NsIS DIoOsft ciose together increase the force
- me current mis- was accomplished AT the eX-
eLLl-lenl surveys have shown is becoming shoaler
oNlhg 20 the choking OF the mouth OF the river by
| sediment flow. ~F "a ~
Al Galveston the channel has been moved by the
"a 70 slch an extent that the navigation buoys
1Ie a.! belng changed and the recent survey shows
t--al me ehannel has shane correspond-
Ing exactly 70 the outline OF a reverse cr,-a ferfv
as pIoposed by Professor Haupt
mere VII oe considerable discussion over the
manner OF bringing about these Texas and Iouisi-
- VeIiletts 10 navigation, though the Gov
at SILi.tht pan VIII probably be followed al the
.Cul- OF me mississippi owing TO the dsinclina-
any llI1s OF an alleged experimental nature.