92 WISCONSIN ACADEMY SCIENCES, AKTS, AND LETTERS. 



and maliciously retarded my work, and damaged and destroyed its 

 fruits/' 



This monopoly really forced the dredges from the Southwest 

 Pass to Pass al'Outre, in Aj^ril of 1873, according to the engineer's 

 report. Science may overcome the natural difficulties, but those 

 just mentioned can only be overcome by prompt and positive legis- 

 lation. 



From what we know of this matter, it appears that the nation 

 is prepared to do the work; the only question has been as to the 

 plan which would, with the greatest certainty of success, and at a 

 warrantable cost, satisfy the wants of commerce, and which could 

 be maintained with a reasonable expense. 



A board of engineers was appointed in compliance with an act 

 of Congress of June, 1874, to examine and report a plan with esti- 

 mates for obtaining and maintaining sufficient depth of water to 

 tne Mississippi for purposes of commerce. The plan to be either a 

 canal, or the improvement of one or more natural outlets. 



The board has completed its labors and has reported in favor of 

 the Jetty-system, according to the idea of Captain Eads, (of St. 

 Loais bridge fame,) with this difference, that they reccommend the 

 South instead of the Southwest Pass. In this connection I agree 

 with the committee, as the South Pass is several miles the shortest 

 and debouches, into deeper water than the others, although some 

 work will he required at the head of the passes to make a sufficient 

 depth to the entry of the pass. The committee discussed several 

 canal plans, the Fort St. Philip plan receiving the preference, but 

 on account of the greater cost was rejected, and the improvement 

 of the south pass by means of Jettees and dredging was finally 

 recommended. 



The estimated cost of construction and maintenance of this plan 

 is $7,942,110, and the estimate for the Southwest Pass is S?16,053,124, 

 and that of the Ft. St. Philip Canal $11,514,200. Now as to the 

 relative merits of the different plans without regard to cost of con- 

 struction or maintenance, the improvement of the South Pass would 

 open the Delta in the middle and vessels going either way would 

 not be obliged to make a detour, while at the same time it is the 

 shortest and most direct route to the river; on the other hand Capt. 

 Bads may have counted on the more stable bottom of the South- 

 west Pass to support the Jettees. In either case it would require a 



