The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-05-26
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER,

WASHINGTON, May 24.--Thc sub.com-
mittee OF the Mississippi levee committee
have agreed upon bill and report, which
Mr., Gibson introduced to-day, making the
report a preamble to the bill. The re-
port begins with short sketch of the COM
mittee's trip down the river, giving the size
and tonnage OF the steamer in which they
sailed, and an inventory of the carge, about
2.S0O 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, sound
ings had to be constantly made, which in
many places showed depth not exceeding
twelve or fourteen feet. It was necessary
to tie up at the bank at night, in the upper
part of the river owing to shiftings Of the
channel. This is characteristic Of those
parts of the river which arc of excessive
width and which are divided into separate
channels o. chutes by bars and islands.
The report continues that approach
ing Cairo navigation was better owing to
back-water from the Ohio. THIS condition,
the subcommittee think, exhibits most
clearly and from different points Of the
river the necessity Of correcting aud deep
ening the channel aud protecting the banks
anu OF making new shore lines by conserv-
ing and strengthening the securing power of
the current. The report recommends the
maintenance Of the leyees and the treat
ment OF the Mississippi by the commission
as correct, practica! and economical,
The rest Of the report is taken up with
statistics Of the productions of the Missis.
sppi valley. It holds that deepening the
channel OF the river will reduce freights
and insurance of cereals at least five cents
per bushel, which gives 15OOOOOO to the
present yield.
The bill, which is accompanied by the
report approprates the following sums to
be expended 10y the secretary of war in ac-
cordance with the recommendations and
plans, estimates and specifications and
under the advisory supervision Of the Mis-
sSsippi river commission:
New Madrid Reach Forty miles long
works for contracting the chanue. and pro-
tecting the banks, $4,000; for outfits,
superintendent inspection, office expenses
and local surveys, $4,000; total for New
Madrid reach S923,OO0.
Plum Point Rcach-Thirty.eight miles
works for contracting the channel and pro.
tecting the banks 100000; for outfits Of
superintendent, inspection, office expense.
and local survey $4,000; total for Plum
Point reach $4,000
Memphis Reach Sixteen miles long
works for constructing the channel aud
protecting the banks, S?S9,00O; for outfit,
superintendent, inspection, office expenses,
and Local surveys, 100000; total for Mem.
phs reach, S3S? 900,
Helena Reach Thirty miles ong works |
for contracting the channel aud protecting
the banks, $4,000; for outfit, superin.
tendence, inspection, office expenses and |
local surveys, $4,000; total tor Helena
reach, S0?10O0
Chouteau Bend --Thirty.fve miles long;
works for contracting the channel aud pro-
tectiug the banks, Si64,000 for outfit, su.
perintendence, inspectlon, office expenses
and surveys, $4,000, total for Chouteou
bend, $4,000.
Lake Providence Reach twenty five
miles long; works for contracting the
banks, 100000; for outfit, supernten.
dence, inspection, Office expenses and local
surveys, sll9,00O, total for Providence
reach, 100000.
Contingencies, S95oOO0; for closing to
the former height the gaps in existing
levces between Cairo and New Orleans,
s,065, 700 cubic yards, l,sb5,li1; oon,ln.
gencies, $lCi,ss9; total for cvees, $1,000.
900; for checking enlargement at Atchafa-
laya, $4,000 None of this money is to
be expended until right Of way is coded by
states to the United States. |