St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-31
HE Mississippi River Commission.

WASHINGTON, December 15
Inc senate today received from the Score
tafl OF War the annual report of the Missis.
supp hNtf Commission. 1t covers the prog
lesS iliaoe III surveys and examinations from
'le uatto the last report, January $ ISL, up
To October 10, ISL. During this period the
trlahgulatl"n Of the river has been conplcted
nom Arkansas City. Ark to GrctnvilIc. Miss.
where 1t joins the Coast Survey River. now
trlangulatcd from kcokuk Iowa. to the
Gulf of Mexico. The lines of precise levels
are complete between kcoluk and New Or
ic"i'S Win the remainder of the present APP
! preparation 1t Is hoped during the coming
'"' 10 complete the final Topography and
! hIdfograp'y from st. Louis to Vicisburc, and
complete the work Of aSccrtainine the lines
OF levels across the alluyial bottoms Of the
Mississippi
inc commission report they have expended
| sl44 900 for surveys from December II. 1880.
TO November 10, 1851, and have a balance Of
lll,ooo, which it is thought will be expended
curing the remainder Of the current wear end
ing June 30 1882. The estimates of the NEXT
nseal year lor surveys, etc, call for 100000 |
Inc WORKS OF improvement contemplated I'M /
uer iHe eAlstlng appropriation include channel |
improvements upon two reaches the first living /
between Cairo and Memphis a distance Of las I
illies, and the second between Skipwith's
Landing, La, and Island No. 45, distance Of /
twenty-five miles
II Is The unanimous opinion Of the Commits
sion that the improvement and navigation of
Tue -hlSsissippl below Cairo, upon the general
pan recommended III their report of February
H. 1871 IS entirely practicable. and that the
complexion OF the work for which partial esti-
mates were then submitted will establish a
continuous loW-rver channel not less than ten
leeI deep over all shoals and bars between
caro- ana the head Of the passes, with uossi-
oIity OF attaining practicable depths consid-
arabv beyond that limit.
Inc commission estimates the total coct of
he improvements needed in the Mississinni
II s>o,0o',o"p. OF the 81, 100000 appropriated :
y the act Of March 9, 1881. S25O. 900 had been (
APPENDED up to Nov. p, ISL, and the remain /
'er' s'V'Hn, WILL it is thought be expended q
'ullhS the present fiscal year For the next
scaI year -, 10000 is asked To contract the
lahnel and protect caving banks on six
eaci1eS OF the river. Isl miles in length. and
100000 for closing existing gaps in the t
.yecs. 4
The Commission renew accommodation q
ohtalned III the former report that provisions
e made ny law for appropriations of land or
latcf1al Wien needed in the Improvement of
ne river anu not otherwise nbt ainiIla It i
-coh1nen0ed that authority be given the
ohlhieslon IN charge Of the work to apply to
nc United States Courts for condemnation Of
ma or material and assessment Of damage to VI
"her. In addition to such legislation il is
commended that Congress declare to what ~,
Went 1he river shall be under the control of -
lie Commission during the ureoress nf Tho
DIRK. and under what circumstances and 10 d.
NAT extent the material found on bars or
lands within the banks may be used without :,
to OWNERS Ji