The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-08-26
The River Commission.
[Nex OrIeans Times.Demoerat.l

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and listened to the views present
ed 10y members of three delega-
ti0ns which are in attendance.
One of these delegations appears
in the interest of Louisiana levees,
another for Mississippi leyees, and
the third for the city of vieksburg.
Senator lamar, who is one of
the delegates, spoke of Missis-
sippi's interests in general, and
Vicksburgs interests in particular.
Judge Steele, formerly of New
Orleans, but now of Natchez, Miss,
spoke in the interests of Louisiana
levees, and endeavored to impress
ON the commission that the de-
structive floods to which the banks
of the Mississippi are subjected,
are caused by an accumulation OF
water in what are known as the
YazO0 and Tensas bottoms, from
the mouth of Red river to the
mouth Of the Arkansas. and that
it is within these points also that
the greatest difficulties of naviga-
ton are to be found. He urged,
therefore, that the levees along
this portion of the river should be
closed first.
Colonel Percy, of Mississippi,
and Major Waddill, of Vicksburg,
spoke to the same effect.
The proposition of the Memphis
and New Orleans Railroad and
Levee Company to build between
these cities q road which shall
cross the mouth of the Yazoo
valley upon the top of levee to
be built out of the government
appropriation but maintained by
the railroad company, having been
referred, after introduction into
Congress, to the Secretary of War
was by him referred to the com.
mission. f a
G. P. Huntington, of Greenville
Mississippi, president of the com
pany, was heard in its favor. The
hearing of these gentlemen occu
pied the commission until the af
ternoon of the 10th, and during
the afternoon various questions
were discussed by the members
Among these were the establish
ment of a general supply depot at
st. Louis, the amounts Of allot
ments for various points where
work is required, and various
questions of administration.
No definite action was taken
however, except that it was deci
ded that u sufficient allotmen
should be made to the improve
ments at Plum Point and Lak'
Providence to enafile the work t.
be carried on without interruption
The improvements at these points
consist in the building of screenl
and the sinking of mattresses will
the object of narrowing the bed o
the river and thereby increasing
the velocity of the current.
Judge Wiley and Mr.. Buckne
called on the Secretary of Wa
and General Wright, Chief of En-
gineers, to-day, to urge that th'
work be prosecuted vigorously a
soon as the determination of th'
commission was made known
Both the Secretary and Genera
Wright assured them that the con
tracts would be given out for clio
sing the gaps at the very earlies
moment after the determination 0
the commission was known.
They said not more two week
, would be wasted in advertising
, and that the work would be pros
ecuted vigorously oil along tn
river at the same time that n,
part of the river, so far as the clio
! sing Of the gaps were concerned
would have much advantage of al
! other part. They said contract
would be given only to responsible
! parties who could give good bond
for completing the work within IN
time specified. Both Judge Vile,
and Mr.. Buckner were well salts
fed with the result of their trip t.
New York.
Other parties who were at tn
meeting of the commission, sa.
that the sentiment of the commits
. sion is against permitting the EN-
ployment of convict labor on th
levees. The commission think,
seems, that the poor people of th
overfowed districts should enjo,
whatever benefits may arise fron
the work of repairing the levees
The Mississippi delegation ha'
maps showing every break in thei
levees, and the number of cubi
yards required to close them.
New York, Aug. 19.-The con
clusion was reached that If the es
Inmates of the amount of worl
reauired. as furnished by the loca