Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-20
TaR mIsSIssiPPI RIvEn CON.
MISSION AT vICKsBURG.
one Hundred Thousand Dollars
For the HarbOr.
yicksburE Commercial, Is.

The United OtateS steamer Mlssls-
sippi, having on board the following
persons, arrived at Kleinston at 7:30
last night: General Q. A. Gilmore,
President Of the Mississippi River
Commission; MsjOr c, r. Suter, Pro-
fessor henry Mitchell, Major B. NJ.
Harrod, Judge Robert s. Taylor,
members, and Lieutenant Leach, Sec
rotary; Captain A N. Miller, United
States engineer, in charge OF the
Memphis district; Captain Z. B. Sears,
United States engineer, executive
officer Of the commission, and Cap
tain w. i. Marshall, United States
Engineer, in charge of the Vicksburg
reach, we're also on board. The Miss
issippi is commanded by Captain John
Crane, Mr.. II. ID. Klein, a clerk ofthe
secretary Of the commission, is in
charge Of the Office. Dad Dunam is on
the forecastle making his first trip since
the accident to the Gold Dust The
steamer laid at the wharf boat all night,
the entire party remaining on board.
She went out early this morning
and spent a greater portion of the
day in making a trip around the har
Dor 10 enable the commission to com
plete their examination Of the same,
what have not before had an opportu.
nifty of seeing at so low a stage of the
river. During the down trip the
works at Plumb Point and at Lake
Providence we're examined and pro.
ljects for their continuance during the
coming year have been considered.
Preliminary arrangements have been
made for obtainingthe additional plant
needed for work at New Madrid and
Memphis, where active operations can
be commenced under the present ap-
preparation. An allotment of S25, 900
was made for completing the revet-
ment on the east bank below Wolf
river at Memphis. An allotment OF
100000 was made by the commission
Yesterday for dredging the basin and
canal at this city. This amount to be
available after a detailed plan shall
thave been prepared by the engineers
in charge and approved by the com
mission. Captain Marshall, by an
order of the Secretary OF War, is in
charge of the Vicksburg district. He
is OF che opinion that the basin should
be dredged first, and the canal after
ward. Mr.. George NJ. Klein, chair
man, and Mr.. f. NJ. Andrews, of the
Harbor Committee of the Board Of
Mayor and Aldermen; Captain K. Q.
Carroll and General Il. s.. Butts, Of
the Citizens' Committee, made a shOri
trip this morning on the steamer
Mississippi with the members Of the
commission, going SO far up as the
mouth Of Old river. Returning, they
went around the island to the upper
landing. Soundings were taken al
the upper end of the lake, and nine
|, feet was found in the shallowest place
! General Gilmore, the President of the
commission, stated that the plans fol
: the work would De completed in the
} next two weeks, when the work would
, be advertised and done by contract
The commission asked the gentlemen
} from the city to make an effort to hav,
, reliable bids filed SO that no delal
would be had in going to work. TIL,
plan will be to do sufficient dredginl
at the entrance of.the lake at tn
Z upper end to allow steamers to com
J around, then the work Of dredging tn
. basin would be done FIRST. In CONVEX
! sation with the gentlemen from thi
r city with the members Of the commits
sion to-day, a most friendly interes
was expressed towards the VicksburI
!. harbor. The 500 600 allotted for tn
direct use Of the harbor is all tina
} Captain Marshall thought could b
! used judiciously during the low waite
t this season. The commission statet
that if it was found more could b
used it would be done. There ar
now about $4,000 for the Delta point
aud if it is found that that amour
cannot be used at that particula
place a portion Of the amount could b.
used for dredging. Our citizens SHOULD
feel the reclamation of the harbor i
now no longer a matter of doubt. A
no time has the prospects been NOR
Aaktor,r ebon ro-