JAS B. EADS
Washington, D. C.,
February
1881
I had the pleasure of receiving a telegram from New Orleans
shortly after the completion of the jetties saying that a
loaded steamer, drawing between twenty-seven and twenty-eight
feet of water, had safely passed through them to New Orleans.
The Commission appointed by the Government insisted upon having
the jetties constructed at the south pass of the Mississippi
River. This Captain Eads strenuously resisted and urged the
superiority of the southwest pass for the purpose. The House
when it passed the jetty bill adopted Mr. Eads's plan. But
the Senate insisted on taking the opinion of the Commission,
much to his distress. The Senate was firm, and the House
was obliged to yield. I think everybody now agrees that Eads
was right, and that the scheme would have been perfectly successful,
and would have continued to perform all that was desired of
it, if his counsel had been taken. As it is, the jetties
have been of great value and well worth their cost. But it
will probably be necessary some time to construct a similar
work in the southwest pass.
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