Chapter 6 Summary

In 1874, in response to widespread flooding of the Mississippi, Congress creates the U.S. Levee Commission to create policy aimed at preventing future floods. The commission is chaired by G. K. Warren, a Humphreys loyalist, and in 1875 it reaches conclusions largely in conformance with Humphreys opinions. It rejects reservoirs, cutoffs and the engineering theory that led Eads to propose jetties.

Below New Orleans, the Mississippi River comes to Head of Passes, where it divides into three main channels, Southwest Pass, South Pass a l'Outre and South Pass. Each extends into the Gulf of Mexico. In 1875 Eads tours the area of the passes, and after three days of study he is prepared to begin construction on the jetties. He quickly raises capital and begins construction.

First, Eads places a miles-long series of piles that define the future course of the pass. Then the jetties...