Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special correspondence Of the Lodsor.l

Special correspondence OF the Ledger.l
WASHINGTON, d. c., March L.
The Mississippi river improvement
commission has made its report to
congress, in accordance with the act
of June %, 1879, to mature plans for
the improvement of this great inland
ocean, so as 20 deepen the channel,
protect the banks, prevent damage
from overfows, and give safety to
commerce. After reference to the
different schemes and scientific work
in progress by the coast survey and
officers Of the commission, the board
discusses at length various systems.
but has not yet prepared itself to sub
nit a detailed and full report upon
any general plan Of river improve
ment. The general plan seems to be
one that would concentrate, instead Of
dispensing the great volume of water,
thereby opposing the outlet system,
which is emphatically condemned.
This outlet system has been, l believe,
advocated by Captain John COwdon.
In fact, the Mississippi is regarded as
any other stream flowing through allu-
vial soil, its waters carrying large
quantities of sediment, but this silt is
believed to be borne along by the cur
rent in such a manner as that a large
part is held in constant suspension,
while a portion is swept along upon
the bottom. 1t is contended that
when on any given reach Of the same.
stream the velocity, as usually meas.
ured, by metres or floats, Is increased.
the vertical motion, and therefore the
silt sustaining and transporting power
of the stream is also increased. 1t is
held that il the normal volume of a
ilt-bearing stream flowing in an allu-
vial bed of its own formation, be in
creased, there will result an increased
velocity, and consequently of erasion.
and cross section. and an ultimate
lowering of the surface slope. The
plan Of Captain John COwdou is not
only recited, but condemned in all its
parts, by the commission. The COM
mission says that levees do exert a
direct action in deepening the channel
and enlargiDg the bed of the river
during those periods of rise when the,
cause the water to go to a higher level
than if dispersed. During the period
when the levees were in their most
perfect condition, from 1850 TO 1858.
the channel of the Mississippi river
vas better for purposes OF nayiga.
ton than it has been since
The commission argue that the imme
date effect of levees would b. to in
crease the volume and accelerate the
velocity Of food waters resulting in an
eraSiOn and deepening Of river beds.
and that a closure of the creyasses
might be expected to hasten the re.
moval of those shoals which have
been produced by them. If their
closure be accompanied by a contrac
ton Of the channel, it will cause a
lowering of surface slopes to such
extent as will render the maintenance
of levees above as Red river, as an aid
to navigation, practically needless
By repairing and maintaining the
extensive lines of levees in existence
will expedite the work of improvint
the channel and promote and facilitate
commerce. The commission propeI
TO maintain a channel through shoal
places and bars, where the width i
excessive, by scanning and dredging
and build new banks, and form new
shore lines so as to establish
requisite conditions Of uniform
velocity for all stages of the river
1t is well to remark here that thi
plan has so far failed in the Cumber
land river improvements which S
far have enriched contractors and &C
complished no beneficial results. Tn
commission believe that this improve
ment can be accomplished belo'
Cairo by contracting the channel wa
20 a uniform width Of 5000 feet, iC
the purpose of securing out a cham,
through the shoals and bars. 1t
urged that this will give a channel
ten feet in depth at extreme low watC
over all the bars from Cairo dow
The commission favor, as a generi
rule, that the channel be fixed in i
presentlocation, and that no atteml
be made TO straighten or shorten Il
river by cut offs. The works of char
mel contractors aud bank protecto
recommended during the fiscal vel
are confined to a length of 200 mile
embracing New Madrid, Plum
Point Memphis, Helena, Charta
Bend and Lake Providence. III
estimates for this r $4,ll3,000, an
for closing gaps in %levees, 81, 0l0,0 90
The sum o. $4,000 is recommend,