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76-616: In the absence of man-made channels, the only deep draft route leading to the City of New Orleans is by way of the Mississippi River. Prior to the 1870s, shoaling of sediment at the river delta presented draft restrictions that limited available water depth to between 18 and 20 feet, which was less than the draft of comparable import and export harbors in the United States and Europe. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considered

152-511: A diving bell , using a 40  US gal (33  imp gal ; 150  L ) wine barrel to retrieve goods sunk in riverboat disasters. He also devised special boats for raising the remains of sunken ships from the river bed. Eads did much of the diving himself because the work was so dangerous. His work gave Eads an intimate knowledge of the river, as he explored its depths from the Gulf of Mexico to Iowa. Because of his detailed knowledge of

228-522: A Barataria Ship Canal was superior. In reaction to decades of competing and conflicting directions regarding flood-control and navigation, the U.S. Congress passed the Mississippi River Commission Act in 1879. The commission would have seven members, including three from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and three from civilian life. The Mississippi River Commission (MRC) acted as an executive body reporting directly to

304-664: A bill that provided federal funding for the project, which was authorized in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1958. The deepening and widening of the Barataria Bay Waterway was completed in 1960, representing the second instance of widening and deepening the proposed route of the Jefferson Seaway. In 1933, the Westwego Canal and Company, Inc. presented its "Prospectus of New Orleans Ship Canal, Inc.",

380-699: A concept that was a forerunner to the MR-GO. The third route was the focus of the Prospectus, which was the Westwego–Grand Isle route. In May 1936, Louisiana Senator Jules G. Fisher of Jefferson Parish filed a resolution urging for the digging of a ship canal that would connect Grand Isle with the Intracoastal canal and the Westwego canal. In 1943, two separate deep draft projects were presented by

456-636: A daughter, Juliette, born in 1907. His son, Carl, died early at the age of 35 in 1937. His daughter died in 1965. Fisher’s wife, Sadie, died two years following him in 1945. Though Fisher’s political career and public persona relied heavily upon his residence and focus being in Barataria and Lafitte, which are within Jefferson Parish, he was arguably more a resident of New Orleans . A 1937 publication issued by his own political campaign to tout his political accomplishments claimed that, "Fisher

532-466: A distinguished individual for outstanding achievement in science and technology. Eads is recognized with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame . In 1927, the deans of America's engineering colleges vote Eads one of the top five engineers of all time, an accolade he shared with Leonardo da Vinci , James Watt , Ferdinand de Lesseps , and Thomas A. Edison . Eads' great Mississippi River Bridge at St. Louis

608-455: A document signed by its president, William T. Nolan, and vice president, F. Rivers Richardson. The prospectus specifically resurrected Capt. Cowan's proposal from a half-century before and included a map titled "Location Chart - New Orleans Ship Canal Incorporated", showing a straight path for a ship channel between the Mississippi River at Westwego and Grand Isle. The prospectus referenced attached letters from John Devereaux O'Reilly, "builder of

684-564: A large seafood canning plant.  Manila Village prospered throughout the time that Jules Fisher owned it, which was up to his death in 1943. But a little more than 20 years later, Hurricane Betsy completely destroyed Manila Village in 1965, and it was never redeveloped. Jules Gabriel Fisher died at his home in New Orleans on Octavia Street on May 14, 1943. The funeral was held at Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home at Claiborne Avenue and Milan, and religious services were held at

760-448: A shallow-draft channel to be dredged from Lake Salvador at Bayou Villars to Barataria Pass at Grand Isle. The channel was authorized to be 5 feet deep by 50 feet wide and would combine existing canals and passages with newly dredged canals through marshland. The newly created Barataria Bay Waterway, which parallels Barataria Island and traverses through Barataria Bay, was 37 miles in length when completed in 1925. A portion of this waterway

836-416: A ship canal to be constructed independent of the river along Bayou Barataria. Capt. Cowdon cited cost estimates and freight statistics in support of his plan, which had already been explored by engineers who were in favor of the proposal. Cowdon believed that Eads' jetties was an experiment bringing only a temporary fix and thought the year-to-year costs of maintenance would prove that his permanent solution of

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912-453: A steamboat fire as they landed in St. Louis in 1833. Thomas Eads' business ventures in St. Louis failed, and he abandoned his family and moved upriver. James Eads was largely self-educated ; at the age of 13, he left school to take up work to help support the family. He sold apples on the streets of St. Louis to help support his sisters and mother, who ran a boardinghouse. One of his first jobs

988-485: A woman related to him by marriage. Martha's father was Patrick Dillon, a prominent St. Louis businessman. Patrick did not approve of the couple, as he wanted Martha to marry someone with money and influence. In October 1845, James and Martha wed without her father's consent. Martha moved in with Eads' parents in LeClaire, Iowa while Eads stayed behind in St. Louis to set up a glass works. Although their living arrangement

1064-702: Is called Eads Parkway in his honor. Eads Street is a street running parallel to U.S. Route 1/Richmond Highway in Crystal City, Arlington Virginia. In 1920, Eads was added to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans colonnade, located on the grounds of the Bronx Community College in New York. Eads is memorialized at Washington University in St. Louis by James B. Eads Hall, a 19th-century building long associated with science and technology. Eads Hall

1140-551: Is interred in a Hebrew cemetery associated with the Gates of Prayer temple. According to the temple: "Congregation Gates of Prayer is the oldest ongoing congregation in Greater New Orleans, established on January 6, 1850. The founders of the congregation, some of whose descendants are members of the congregation to this day, were primarily German Jews from the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. They were escaping from

1216-653: Is quoted at length by the newspaper, describing in great detail the shrimp drying operations by "Chinamen" in the Barataria area. By 1909 it is clear that Jules Fisher was the owner of “Fisher Shrimp Company” at the encampment of Manila Village. Shrimp and wildlife were a very big part of the Fisher family. In 1925, Jules Fisher was the President of the Louisiana Fur Industries. At the time of his death in 1926, his brother Isidore owned and operated

1292-511: Is referred to as Dupree Cut. This would represent the first instance of straightening and dredging along the route that was proposed for the Jefferson Seaway. In the 1920s, plans for the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way (GIWW) were underway, which would provide a sheltered coastal route for shallow-draft vessels. In the vicinity of New Orleans, existing infrastructure was incorporated into the route. The western entrance into

1368-495: Is unclear if facts regarding his residence would have jeopardized his eligibility to serve in any of his elected political seats, which were for Jefferson Parish and not Orleans. Certainly, his personal, commercial and political interests were all within the back bayous of Jefferson Parish. Jules Fisher began his political career when he was elected to the Jefferson Parish Police Jury in 1916. Fisher

1444-628: The Franco-Prussian war . Jules Gabriel Fisher had an older brother, Isidore, born in 1872. Once settled, Jules Marks owned and operated a grocery store in the remote fishing community of Lafitte, where the young Fisher boys would grow up. In October, 1900, Jules Gabriel Fisher married Sadie Wachsman at the Temple of Hebrew Union in Greenville, Mississippi . Together, they had two children: a son, Carl Abram Fisher, born in 1902, and

1520-753: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec , which would carry ocean-going ships across the isthmus from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean; this attracted some interest but was never constructed. In 1884 he became the first U.S. citizen awarded the Albert Medal of the Royal Society of the Arts . Although he came from a humble background, Eads' accomplishments throughout his life earned him wealth and renown. He

1596-505: The 1930s, seafood and trapping were its foremost industries. Near this time, the small platform encampment called “Manila Village” was developed by a Filipino man named Jacinto Quintin de la Cruz. It was located along the northern shore of Barataria Bay just west of Bayou Dupont. In 1900, Jules Fisher was living with his brother Isidore and his family, both working as “grocers.”  It is not known when Fisher came to possess Manila Village and its shrimp drying operation, but in 1896 Fisher

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1672-573: The Alexander Seaway project, on paper, presented a more economical option despite its greater overall length and lesser lock capacity and was subsequently chosen. The Louisiana Legislature in 1944 empowered the governor to aid the federal government in completing the tidewater seaway proposed on the east side of the river. That same year, the USACE assumed operational control of the IHNC locks from

1748-486: The Alexander Seaway project, which assumed the name " Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet ", in the River and Harbor Act bill approved on March 29, 1956 (Pub.L. 84–455), at an appropriated cost of US$ 88,000,000. Construction began in 1958 and was completed in 1968, allowing partial use by deep-draft vessels as early as 1963. Though the federal government had obligated funding to the MR-GO, Jefferson continued to pursue its version of

1824-650: The Alexander Seaway project. Another factor noted was that the proposed Algiers Canal and locks were an inferior option to the Westwego locks and Jefferson Seaway. If constructed, the Jefferson Seaway would preclude the construction of the Algiers Canal and locks, further offsetting the overall costs of the seaway. Jefferson also called attention to the Dock Board's control of ownership of all riverfront property in Orleans Parish and, by extension, along

1900-576: The Atlantic and Mississippi Valley Canal and Improvement Company. The following year, in 1877, Capt. Cowdon presented his plan to The Property Holders Association of New Orleans in an address, "The Barataria Ship Canal and its Importance to the Valley of the Mississippi". Capt. Cowdon expressed doubt as to the success of Eads jetties, which were still under construction, and pressed for the concept of

1976-453: The Dock Board of New Orleans. Local Jefferson officials continued to pursue the proposed Jefferson Seaway although the Alexander Seaway appeared to be the optioned favored by the federal government. In 1947 and 1948, prior to Congress taking up the measure, Jefferson Parish continued to proclaim that the Jefferson Seaway was the superior option. In its public plea, Jefferson Parish cited significant cost savings because of flawed estimates for

2052-696: The Eads' Union Marine Works in Carondelet, Missouri . The next three were built under Eads' contract at the Mound City (Illinois) Marine Railway and Shipyard. Eads' vessels were the first United States ironclads to enter combat. On January 11, 1862 the Eads-built ironclads St. Louis and Essex fought the Confederate gunboats CSS General Polk , CSS Ivy , and CSS Jackson at Lucas Bend, on

2128-480: The Gates of Prayer Temple on Napoleon Avenue. Fisher was interred in a plot with his son at the Gates of Prayer Cemetery No. 2 on Joseph Street in New Orleans. Two years later, his wife would also be interred in the same plot. It is apparent that Jules Fisher and his family were Jewish as both his marital and funeral services were held in Hebrew temples, in 1900 and 1943.   Every member of his immediate household

2204-582: The Harvey locks. Oil and gas exploration and production near and below Lafitte, initially by the Texas Company in 1935, prompted the need for greater depths for river barges to access the fields from the GIWW and Gulf of Mexico. Beginning in 1949, Jefferson Parish presented a plan for enlarging the Barataria Bay Waterway channel to 12 feet in depth by 125 feet in width. U.S. Congressman Hale Boggs backed

2280-603: The Industrial Canal and locks," a reference to the IHNC. The prospectus acknowledged the success of Eads jetties but noted that commerce had since outgrown its limitations. Three potential routes were noted. The first referred to the MRC's idea to dredge a channel east from Pilot Town. The second was through the Industrial Canal and then through Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne out into the Mississippi Sound,

2356-649: The Jefferson Seaway as a deep-draft channel never materialized, though the Barataria Bay Waterway continues its role as a federally authorized shallow-draft navigation channel. After operating for 46 years, the MR-GO was eventually decommissioned and formally closed in July 2009. James Buchanan Eads Captain James Buchanan Eads (May 23, 1820 – March 8, 1887) was a world-renowned American civil engineer and inventor, holding more than 50 patents . Eads' great Mississippi River Bridge at St. Louis

Jefferson Seaway - Misplaced Pages Continue

2432-494: The Jefferson Seaway project to be a necessity even with the MR-GO becoming a reality. Jefferson Parish touted the Jefferson Seaway project as late as 1961, envisioning an increase in demand for shipping spurred by the anticipated success of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. Moving forward, Jefferson Parish expected that its seaway would be driven and funded by private industry. However, construction of

2508-487: The Mississippi (the equal of any professional river pilot), his exceptional ability at navigating the most treacherous parts of the river system, and his personal fleet of snag-boats and salvage craft, he was afforded the much prized courtesy title of "Captain" by the rivermen of the Mississippi and was addressed as Captain Eads throughout his life. In 1861, after the outbreak of the American Civil War , Eads

2584-577: The Mississippi River would be via the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal and lock, completed in 1923. The eastern entrance would be via the Harvey Canal. Its original locks were replaced as part of the GIWW project and construction was completed in 1934. An alternate western entrance to the Mississippi River and route was added via the Algiers Canal and lock, completed in 1956, which merged with the existing GIWW route 6 miles from

2660-466: The Mississippi River. These locks were condemned and ultimately closed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1956, coinciding with the opening of the newly completed Algiers canal and locks. Shipping and commerce in the Gulf of Mexico is influenced by the capacity of the nearby Panama Canal, which provides access to the Pacific Ocean. The original Panama Canal Locks, completed in 1914, were 110 feet wide and 1,050 feet long with 41.2 ft of draft above

2736-588: The Mississippi River. Subsequently, on February 6, 1862, Eads' ironclads captured Fort Henry on the Tennessee River . This was over a month before the combat actions of the ironclads CSS Virginia and USS Monitor during the March 8–9, 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads . During the war, Eads wrote a check to the War Department for $ 1,000 to help homeless Confederates and Union sympathizers. After

2812-527: The New Orleans Ship Canal Prospectus issued 10 years prior. The Jefferson Seaway was envisioned as a channel measuring either 500 feet or 600 feet in width, 40 feet in depth and 55 miles in length, compared to the 110-mile distance presented by the Mississippi River as measured from the entrance at the jetties. This route was shorter than the Alexander Seaway project, which measured 76 miles in length. A new four-lane toll highway

2888-514: The Secretary of War. The success of Eads jetties following its completion temporarily quieted cries for a man-made ship channel, but Cowdon's project would not be forgotten. Two navigation projects were completed along the proposed Jefferson Seaway route that provided shallow-draft navigation. The U.S. Federal Government passed the River and Harbors Act of 1919, which authorized the creation of

2964-567: The Ship Channel Committee of the Jefferson Parish Police Jury and by the Dock Board of New Orleans to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The New Orleans proposed route, referred to as the "Alexander Seaway", was east of the Mississippi River, and named for Col. Lester F. Alexander, a marine contractor, member of the Dock Board and chairman of the Tidewater Development Association, serving as one of

3040-872: The Texaco Company Lafitte Field, access to the Freeport Sulphur Grand Ecaille mines, being closer to Central and South America, and less expensive land appropriation costs. In considering the most viable option between the Jefferson Seaway and the Alexander Seaway, the USACE New Orleans District initially preferred the Jefferson project. However, upon its review of the District's findings, the USACE Vicksburg Division returned

3116-473: The ability of water moving through a jetty system to cut out the rock and clay on the river bottom. The development of navigable channels at the mouth of the Mississippi River made Eads famous. In 1982, the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the south pass jetties as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark . Eads designed a gigantic railway system intended for construction at

Jefferson Seaway - Misplaced Pages Continue

3192-464: The architects behind the New Orleans plan. The New Orleans route was an extension of previous plans for the Industrial Canal (IHNC), which included an eventual ship outlet into Lake Borne and the Mississippi sound. Jefferson's proposed route, referred to as the "Arrow to the Americas", was west of the Mississippi River and essentially an evolution of Capt. James Cowdon's plans from 1874 as outlined in

3268-414: The area was rural and extremely remote, Long’s administration did indeed construct a new modern swing bridge for vehicles at this location. In 1936, Fisher actively championed state legislation calling for the creation of a ship channel, referred to as the " Jefferson Seaway ," that would connect Westwego and Grand Isle, the path of which would cross his shrimp drying business at Manila Village. Though

3344-407: The construction of a channel to the east of the Mississippi River but instead accepted an alternative proposed by James Buchanan Eads . Eads proposed the construction of parallel jetties that would concentrate the flow of the river thereby scouring the bottom and maintaining deeper depths. Construction began in 1875 and was completed by 1879. As a result of the newly established jetties, river depth

3420-476: The elections that year, Long was competing in a three-person race with two other candidates.  Fisher was part of a group that coalesced around Long and convinced the remaining candidates to withdraw after the first primary election, handing Long the win for the Governor’s seat. Fisher and Long developed a strong political bond afterwards. In 1929, Huey Long was brought up on impeachment charges. Senator Fisher

3496-597: The end of the war he would build more than 30 river ironclads. The last were so hardy that the Navy sent them into service in the Gulf of Mexico , where they supported the successful Federal attack on the Confederate port city of Mobile. All senior officers in the Western Theater, including Grant and Sherman, agreed that Eads and his vessels had been vital to early victory in the West. The first four gunboats were built at

3572-429: The full length of Inner Harbor Navigation Canal. Therefore, the New Orleans option effectively supported the Dock Board's position as a monopoly property owner. In Jefferson Parish, property along the Mississippi River was privately owned. All considered, Jefferson was convinced that its seaway presented the better choice. In 1956, despite Jefferson's pleas, Congress arrived at a final selection and formally authorized

3648-502: The government agreed to pay him $ 8 million. Eads was successful. The jetty system was installed in 1876 and the channel was cleared in February 1877. Journalist Joseph Pulitzer , who had known Eads for five years, invested $ 20,000 in this project. A flood in 1890 brought calls for a similar system for the entire Mississippi Valley. A jetty system would prevent the floods by deepening the main channel. However, there were concerns about

3724-484: The report with recommendations to utilize the existing Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) locks to connect the Alexander Seaway project to the Mississippi River. Completed in 1926, the IHNC locks measured 75 feet in width by 640 feet in length with 31 feet of draft over the sill, significantly smaller than both the Panama Canal Locks and the proposed Jefferson Seaway locks. Without the need for new locks,

3800-510: The river steamer New Era into the ironclad Essex . The river ironclads were a vital element in the highly successful Federal offensive into Tennessee, Kentucky and upper Mississippi (February–June, 1862). Eads corresponded frequently with Navy officers of the Western Flotilla, and used their "combat lessons learned" to improve vessels during post-combat repairs, and incorporate improvements into succeeding generations of gunboats. By

3876-404: The river unnavigable for a period of time. Eads solved the problem with a wooden jetty system that narrowed the main outlet of the river, causing the river to speed up and cut its channel deeper, allowing year-round navigation. Eads offered to build the jetties first, and charge the government later. If he was successful, and the jetties caused the river to cut a channel 30 feet deep for 20 years,

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3952-618: The seaway. In 1956, the Police Jury considered the sale of bonds that would locally finance the seaway project. 1958, the Jefferson Industrial Seaway Commission met with legal, fiscal and engineering experts in continuing its pursuit of its project, which at that point would have required the sale of local bonds to finance construction. The promotion continued at least into the early 1960s, with continued support by Congressman Hale Boggs, who considered

4028-481: The ship channel was never built, the Barataria Bay Waterway was dredged for barge traffic in 1960 through a federal project, years after Fisher's death. When Jules Fisher was a young boy in the 1880s, his father owned and operated a grocery store in Lafitte. This small area is essentially a narrow strip of high ground surrounded by swamps, marshland, bayous and bays, and prior to the discovery of crude oil deposits in

4104-400: The sill. The locks proposed for the Jefferson Seaway project would have been 80 feet in width by 800 feet in length with 40 feet of draft over the sill. Though smaller, Jefferson's locks would have allowed for comparable ship drafts. The Jefferson Seaway proposal claimed several advantages over the competing project, including a significantly shorter route, direct access to the oil and gas of

4180-579: The south pass of the Mississippi River, which were designated as National Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks in 1982. Eads was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana , and named for his mother's cousin, future President of the United States James Buchanan . Eads' father, Thomas C. Eads, pursued a fortune to no avail and the family moved several times. Eads grew up in St. Louis, Missouri . The family lost all of their possessions in

4256-556: The terrible conditions that existed during the Franco-Prussian Wars." Fisher’s grandfather and grandmother did indeed arrive in New Orleans in 1849 from France at the time of the Franco-Prussian wars when the temple was founded.   Thus, it is likely that the Fisher family immigrated to New Orleans due to these circumstances. The only public high school in the Lafitte area is Fisher Middle-High School, which

4332-401: The war, he held a fair to raise money for the thousands of homeless refugees in St. Louis. Eads designed and built the first road and rail bridge to cross the Mississippi River at St. Louis . The Eads Bridge , constructed from 1867 through 1874, was the first bridge of a significant size with steel as its primary material, and it was the longest arch bridge in the world when completed. Eads

4408-520: Was a Louisiana State Senator from Barataria, Louisiana , serving from 1924 to 1943. Fisher became the owner of a major shrimp processing facility known as " Manila Village ," located in Barataria Bay between Grand Isle and Lafitte and west of Port Sulphur , Louisiana.  For many years, this camp village on stilts served as his part-time residence. Fisher was elected to the Jefferson Parish Police Jury and served as its President,

4484-680: Was a delegate on the Louisiana State Constitution Committee, and was a dean of the State Senate when he died at the age of 69. Jules Gabriel Fisher was born in Barataria (Lafitte), Louisiana to Jules Marks Fisher of Russia and Annie Fisher of Prussia (Germany) in 1874.  Fisher’s grandfather and grandmother, Johan and Therese, immigrated to the United States from Le Havre , France in 1849 with sons Jules Marks Fisher (Jules Gabriel’s father, age 6) and Charles (Jules Mark’s brother, age 2), likely escaping

4560-424: Was appointed President and held his seat and position for eight years. At the time Fisher entered Jefferson Parish government, Louis H. Marrero had been in power for decades, possessing multiple political positions, including Sherriff and Louisiana Senator. As elections approached for 1920, Jules Fisher boldly predicted the pending defeat and demise of Marrero and his political machine at the polls. Surely, Marrero

4636-445: Was associated with the Jefferson Seaway project, which would parallel the full length of the new ship channel between Westwego and Grand Isle. In order to connect to the Mississippi River, the Jefferson Seaway project required the construction of new navigable locks at Westwego. Locks at this location had previously been constructed ca. 1870 by the Texas and Pacific Railroad as part of the Company Canal, which connected Bayou Segnette to

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4712-495: Was at the Williams & Duhring dry-goods store run by Barrett Williams. Williams allowed the young Eads to spend time in his library, located above the store. In Eads's spare time, he read books on physical science , mechanics , machinery , and civil engineering. When Eads became successful later in life and Williams suffered hardship, Eads reciprocated Williams' generosity by providing money for Williams' comfort in his old age. Around 1842, Eads fell in love with Martha Dillon,

4788-401: Was based on representing the needs and interests of the common man. He would be reelected to his seat in the Senate over several elections through the rest of his life, dying while still in office in 1943. Jules Fisher was an outspoken supporter and proponent of Huey P. Long , who was first elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928, as Fisher was into his first term as Louisiana Senator.  In

4864-545: Was born in Lafitte and has been a resident of Jefferson Parish his entire life."  Yet, Fisher is actually recorded as residing in New Orleans much of the time.  U.S. Census records from 1910 and 1920 list Jules G. Fisher as residing at Manila Village, the shrimp processing facility and encampment at Barataria Bay, which he owned and operated. But, in 1910, the Fisher family was recorded at 3450 Magazine Street in New Orleans, listing Jules as “Gabriel Fisher.”   Shortly thereafter, Fisher’s father-in-law, Mendel Wachsman,

4940-426: Was called to Washington at the prompting of his friend, Attorney General Edward Bates , to consult on the defense of the Mississippi River. Soon afterward, he was contracted to construct the City-class ironclads for the United States Navy , and produced seven such ships within five months: St. Louis , Cairo , Carondelet , Cincinnati , Louisville , Mound City , and Pittsburgh . He also converted

5016-411: Was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1964 and on October 21, 1974 was listed as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers . It was also awarded a Special Award of Recognition by the American Institute of Steel Construction in 1974 on the 100th anniversary of its entry into service. Eads also designed the jetties of

5092-455: Was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior in 1964 and on October 21, 1974 was listed as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It was also awarded a Special Award of Recognition by the American Institute of Steel Construction in 1974 on the 100th anniversary of its entry into service. Jules G. Fisher Jules Gabriel Fisher (Apr 15, 1874 – May 14, 1943)

5168-410: Was indeed defeated, opening opportunities for new political leaders to emerge. Fisher was appointed to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1921, bringing with it exposure to affairs of the state.  Then, in 1924, Fisher was elected to the Louisiana Senate as the representative of its 10th District, comprising Jefferson, St. John and St. Charles Parishes.   Fisher’s political platform

5244-401: Was maintained at 30 feet, thereby reducing the problem of shoaling. Competing with Eads jetty concept was the idea of a man-made ship channel as proposed by Capt. John Cowdon. In May 1876, the Daily Picayune reported on Eads construction progress in detail but also reported about Capt. Cowdon's plans for an alternate project to construct a ship channel along the Barataria that he prepared for

5320-521: Was one of 15 men to sign the " Round Robin " letter that declared that they would not vote to impeach, no matter the charges. Ultimately, Long was not impeached. Fisher attributed his strong relationship with Long as being the reason why Jefferson Parish was the recipient of many municipal infrastructure projects completed by the state. In 1930, Lafitte and Barataria was accessible only by ferry except for one very precarious pontoon bridge at Crown Point , referred to as "Wagner’s Ferry Bridge."  Though

5396-411: Was reported to have died at Fisher’s residence on Magazine in 1911. In 1918, Fisher’s registration for the U.S. Military Selective Service again declares, "Manila Village" as his residence.  Yet, in 1920, the U.S. Census recorded Fisher’s family as living at 3707 Danneel Street, New Orleans.  Finally, in 1943, Fisher was reported to have died at his home at 2401 Octavia Street, New Orleans. It

5472-659: Was so revered that Scientific American proposed that he run for president of the United States. Eads died while on vacation in Nassau, Bahamas , aged 66. Eads and his second wife, Eunice, had moved to New York four years before his death. However, his funeral took place in St. Louis and he was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri in the family vault. The towns of Eads, Tennessee ; Eads, Colorado ; and Port Eads, Louisiana are named for him. U.S. Route 50 through Lawrenceburg, his hometown,

5548-507: Was supposed to be temporary, the failure of his glass business made it permanent. Eads had many debts to pay off from the failed business and he went back to working in salvage. Martha died in October 1852 of cholera. She did not live to see Eads become successful. Five years after her death, when Eads retired from working on the river, he had amassed a fortune of $ 500,000. Nine years after Martha's death, in 1861, Eads remarried. When he

5624-454: Was the first bridge builder to employ the cantilever method, which allowed steam boat traffic to continue using the river during construction. The bridge is still in use today, carrying both automobile and light rail traffic over the river. The Mississippi in the 100-mile-plus stretch between the port of New Orleans , Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico frequently suffered from silting up of its outlets, stranding ships or making parts of

5700-527: Was the site of Professor Arthur Holly Compton's Nobel Prize–winning experiments in electromagnetic radiation. Today Eads Hall continues to serve Washington University as the site of a number of facilities including the Arts and Sciences Computing Center. Eads Hall was the gift of Captain Eads's daughter Mrs. James Finney How. Each year the Academy of Science of St. Louis awards the James B. Eads Award recognizing

5776-552: Was twenty-two, Eads designed a salvage boat and showed the drawings to two shipbuilders, Calvin Case and William Nelson. Although Eads had no previous experience and no capital for the project, Case and Nelson were impressed with him and the three became partners. At that time, salvaging wrecks from the Mississippi River was nearly impossible because of strong currents. Eads made his initial fortune in salvage by creating

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