Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-26
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Report and Bill of the Congress.
siOnal Excursion Committee.
to the Courier Journal

Special to the Courier-Journal.l
WASHINGTON. May 4.-The sub
committee of the Mississippi Ievee
committee have agreed upon the bill
and report which Mr.. Gibson intro
duced to-day, making the report a
preamble to the bill. The report
begins with a short account of the
committees trip down the river, giving
the size and tonnage of the steamer in
which they sailed, and an inventory of
its cargo Of about $500 tons. The
water was at half stage when the boat
left st. Louis, and should have given
an average depth of twenty feet in the
channel, ample for all demands of the
boat. Notwithstanding, however,
soundings had to be constantly made,
which, in many places, showed a depth
not exceeding twelve or fourteen feet.
1t was necessary to tie up to the bank
at night in the upper part of the river
owing TO the shittings of the channel.
This is characteristic of those parts of
the river which are of excessive width.
and which are divided into separate
channels or chutes, by bars and
islands. The report continues: That
approaching Cairo navigation was bet.
ter owing to the back water from the
Ohio. These conditions, the sub
committee think, exhibit most clearly,
and from different points of view, the
necessity Of correcting and deepening
the channel and protecting the banks
and Of making new shore lines by CON
serving and strengthening the scour-
ing power Of the current. The report
recommends the maintenance of the
levees and the methods recommended
for the treatment of the Mississippi BY
the commission as correct, practical
and economical. The rest of the re-
port is taken up with statistics of the
productions Of the Mississippi valley.
1t holds that the deepening of the
channel Of the river will reduce
freights and insurance of cereals at
least five cents per bushel, which gives
seventy five millions to the present
yield.
The bill. which is accompanied by q
report, appropriates the following
sums to be expended by the secretary
Of war in accordance with recon-
mendations and plans, estimates and
SPECIFICATIONS, and under the advisory
supervision OF the Mississippi river
commission:
New Madrid reach, 40 miles long,
works for contracting the channel and
protecting the banks, $4,000. For
the outfit, superintendent, inspec-
ton, office expenses and local sur.
veys, Sl47, 900. Total for New Madrid
reach, 1923, 600
Plum Point reach, 80 miles long,
works for contracting the channel and
protecting the banks, 1896, 00U. For
the outfits, superintendent inspcc-
ton, Office expenses and local sur
veys, $4,000. Total for Plum Point
reach, S736,000.
Memphis reach, 16 miles long,
works for contracting the channel and
protecting the banks, $4,000. For
the outfit, superintendent, inspec-
ton, Office expenses and local surveys,
800, 600. Total for Memphis reach,
$685., 900,
Helena reach, 30 miles long, works
for contracting the channel and pro-
tecting the banks, $4,000.
For outfit, superintendent, inspec-
ton, Office expenses and local urvev
Sl12, 000.
Total for Helena reach, S627, 900.
Choctaw bend, 30 miles long, works
for contracting the channel and pro-
tecting the banks, S464,000.
For outfit, superintendent, inspec-
ton, office expenses and surveys.
{ $112,0 600,
Total for Choctaw bend, S5f6,00O.
Lake Providence reach, % miles
long, works for contracting the chan
mel and protecting the banks, S507, 00O
For outfit, superintendent, inspec.
ton, Office expenses and local surveys.
! SIP, 900.
Total for Providence reach, $685.
, 900.
Contingencies, S250,00Q.
+, For closing to the former height the
gaps in existing levees between Cairo
and New Orleans, S,065, 200 cubic
yards, Sl,sa5,lll.
Y Contingencies, Sl64,S89.
3 Total for leYees, S2,O2O,O00.
{ For checking the enlargement O.
Atehefalaya, $4,000.
None of this money is to be ex.
pended until the right of way is cedet
hv tbo etotoe 30 A. HnstoI