, 1869-07-03
IMPROVEMENT C The M1SSIs.
SIPPL
Report TO the CAntrn1 An OF tho River
Convention

~ AAS NAAAAtA4ANA44 IA AHG AAAs EI
Convention.
The following report, made by n. A. Dyson.
Esq, TO Cnlonc1 Charles L. Tucker, Chairman Of
ths Exeea,tse & GSttes apgo1a.sa by the ver
Te ft.a.rrl CAart<s l. 14e1<r: .....
The improvements Of The Mississippi. wh,ch vera
iaasgusaled two 1eArs and bali ago we're the
nrst Etepa necessary for the success OF the grain
movement In tact, without these imptore-
MEETS the gran movement would he impossible
Impossible l*eaEse atteodeo with 80 much e1.
Aoe, prominent In these obsaIctops were the
reety barriers o. the upper i've. iro~n a. the
These rapida, IN low water (Which occurs al the
time the mas Of g7a.a seeks the rarket, were In
passaole: For the improvement Of these the
minds cf The people we're trHt directed. BJ 6ur-
se!, made rnde. tho direction OF General James
II. Wilson. alt afrerEnrd submitted to an ahle
Commissioner O! Engineers It VAS decIded to cat
tts, and To tul.d e*s2al around the lower or Des
Nesues
tcnts have been made 70 aoont l,v, ,oal, besides
such a!!otr.cnfs ns the Secretary Of War shall
make from the last tenernl appropriation OF
$1Gut.G1I
must also say here that the work IL being done
At a Gust ltsa than the original estimates
These r.rt:s, We hare sud constituted 1ac Ias4n
there are some y ho belese the baF At the mouth
1t thr riser 10 be GTeater ta.7et than these
eass Ut saipplns shond hnd IL way ioso our r1re,
The decdge!,oa: E>satou-, which WAS construct
ed b! the late General Acalis;e7. from aprrupr.a-
t.ons ustle darinf this Tune has succeeded IN
d.c2entnE the chaunei on Pass l'octre from 1flF-
teen 10 eighteen feet The committee appointed
at the Sew Orleans convention, AFTER CONSULTATION
with IIepteEaGt 1aTDc. ii -crnT7ud. and The e1-
E,seer IL caarlc Of The department, recommended
10 the department. th.t common steamer. pro-
yiGcl vita tste and serapef, should DC tnmed!-
atety detalIed 10 assist the EssAyoE 1Hc take her
p.acc IN e.4ec O. uny 2kserce Tot repairs. Tht En-
G1nees commanding expects to aecurc aaI n.aio-
Tie cpst of these wn.ts Was e.Ena.ed at peas
three .NuEs Of dcltars, This EnoneF must be neo-
y1ted b. the Geuesol Gov etnmeAt- md movements
were at once ser On foot oy cansent.oas Ae 10 Sc
i pEsaao.ts we're secured, and the work waa dSallt
! put under contract IN september, 1867.
II Haa expected, apptoqrtaaona were promptly
! MADE, t1ai Tie woits xoEla oe completed =, tae
atI the completion IL now expected neIf 1ear. II
IS however aot the faatt at the ahe and e..c!eot
officer, General James Il. Wilson, that tits COM
pleuoa il delased The dsst APpsuprlatina vas
Eoust b to1e b. coa.-act-aist1tstns stx Eeeks
fo< bids under se, and to te awarded 70 the low
! est bi1aes. The wnrt OF Constructing the nner
. tank et the caaal ~as placed cn4e: eoatsacS u
IA a dl1atolJ r1aane1. for nesz1! seas, daring
+: which time General wilson did All IN hia power 70
-. hasten them. failed. And 10 Ike EeanoeE
\ two CT three other coottae1oTs have fs1ed.
= Eee.cs the danger OF grrat delay IN this
uaprrr, General Wilson ftcomrae 1deI tnar ali
: other appropriations be msdc without saeh re-
st.lctlous taat found uecessarr, he night en-
;!os men and hasten the work Etthoot The l1tef-
vcatlon ol contzartors- Or promptly cartJ oa the
; WORK when tucJ failed The two APPROPRIATION
since made A1e IN accordance With this sequtst.
On the upper rapids no delays on account Of the
/! failure OF contractors hate occurred and ths
rooney has been used Is tast q appropriated.
AehAnnel amply vide and pf sufficient depth
has z1resdJ cut tntough three Ct the wufSt ca2sol