The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-03-12
Abstract Of the Report u Mississippi
River ComniSal01.
WASHINGTON. b. c., March :.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March
Tho report Of the Mississippi s HN'
unent. Il In. performed its duties
under the act of Juno ., 1879. TO mature pi1ns
for the improvement of the river SO a. 20 10
and give safety to commerce. After reference
to previous scientific lab0rs. and work nov
in progress by the Coast Survey and omcerf
systems of Improvement. They are not pre-
pared to submit full and detailed report
with estimates upon tho final cost of any gem
eral principle kept in view has been the plan
which would concentrate rather than dis
perse the waters Of the river. a.
Improvements in navigation. The famous out.
let system being of diffusion and waste. and
not of contraction" Il examined and con-
sidered as possessing phenomena different
from other turbid streams flowing through
allnvial deposits. Its waters carry large guam:
is borne along BY the current in such Q man
ner that large part Of it Is held in moro or
less constant suspension in the water, while .
SbservatioDs show Seyo o question n" that
when, on any given reach Of the same stream.
Velocity. usually measured by meters or
therefore the sustaining and transporting
power of the stream, 70 also increased. II 70
held that, If tho normal volume Of . silt-b bear
OWN be CT there U % resuis
an increased velocity, and consequently an
erosion and cross. section. and An ultimate
'ower 1S OF the surface T sicps: and conyerse-
there will ensue decrease of velocity of SILT
transporting power and mean sectional area,
and an ultimate raising of the suface slope.
In all It's parts.
In respect to the levees, the Commission say
that they do exert direct action in deepen
ing the channel and enlarging the bed of the
river during the periods of rise when they
cause the water TO rise TO higher level than
II dispersed. During the period when the
from 1850 to 1858, the channel of the river was
better for purposes of navigation than it has
been since. It is argued that the immediate
effect of the levees would be to increase the
volume and accelerate the velocity of
food water, resulting in an erosion and
deepening of the river bed; and that q clos
celerate the removal of the shoals which have
been produced by them, and If their closure
be accompanied by contraction of the chan
such an extent as wiifrender the maintenanee
of levees above Red River as an aid to nayf-
cation practically needless. The repairs and
ready existing illhasten the work of chanel
Improvement and promote and facilitate
commerce. ..-.-----
The Commission propose to work to scour
out and maintain channel through shoals
and bars existing In portions of the river
where the width is excessive, and build up
as to establish the requisite conditions Of q
uniform velocity for all stages of the river.
This improvement can be accomplished below
Cairo by constructing q low. water camel
purpose of securing out channel through
shoals and bars. 1t Is thought that this plan
Will secure channel of ten feet
river, over all bars below Cairo. The
Commission favor the general rule
that the channel should be fixed i'm its pres.
ent location. and that mo attnfnnt l,o m a1o t< o.
straighten the river or shorten by
cut offs. The works Of channel construction
and bank protection recommended during
the fiscal year, and confined to the length OF
200 miles, embrace New Madrid, PLAN Point.
Memphis, Helena, ChOctaw Bend, and Lake
The estimates for this year are
and checking the enlargement of the Atchafa.
lava outlet $1,000.