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SOUTHWEST PASS - ON THE MISSISSIPPI ,1872 Antique Wood Engraving
SOUTHWEST PASS - ON THE MISSISSIPPI,1872 Antique Wood Engraving Historical Collectible Art Print
Ensuring a navigable river and providing accurate maps to ships has historically been a challenge on the Mississippi River. It is the third largest river in the world, measured by the area of its basin, and at each of its mouths, the Mississippi loses velocity as it meets the Gulf of Mexico. This is where the river drops its burden of silt and the bedload of sand and sediment that it pushed along the bottom (see Figures 2a and 2b). These sediments pile up and form bars that can gradually obstruct the mouth of the river. Before human intervention, the mouth was commonly 8 to 12 feet deep. Several ineffective or temporary efforts to clear the bars date back to 1726. But it wasn't until 1875 that civil engineer James B. Eads began his historically significant channel deepening of the South Pass. Eads' work was steeped in controversy and politics, and remains inextricably intertwined with USACE history in the region. Despite official skepticism, Eads' use of jetties and sill dams proved successful in permanently deepening South Pass. The Eads jetties narrowed South Pass, increased its velocity, and thus forced the river itself to cut a deeper channel. By 1877, the largest oceangoing ships of the time could routinely enter through the pass. Then, in 1901, Eads' contract ended, and the U.S. government assumed responsibility for maintaining the channel at South Pass. By that time, however, the number and size of ships trading with New Orleans had made South Pass obsolete. The following year, the federal government approved the construction of jetties in the much larger Southwest Pass.
| PUBLISHED DATE |
1872 |
| PAGE SIZE: approx |
9 INCHES x 8 INCHES |
| IMAGE SIZE: approx |
7 X 6 INCHES |
| CONDITION |
ENGRAVING with cropped text on the back. Excellent condition. Heavier
paper. Suitable ageing. The image is clean, clear and sharp with beautiful
depth and detail.This beautiful rare item would look great matted and
framed. An art supply store can provide you with a selection of frames
for old art treasures. |
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