National Republican., 1882-12-14
WRIGHT ON TIE RIVER.
Views OF the Chief Engineer the Cost
and Value OF Certain Proposed Improve
ments OH the Mississippi.


and Value OF Certain Proposed Improve
ments Oh the Mississippi.
Gen. Wright, chief of engineers, was ex-
amined by the Mississippi river improvement
committee yesterday as to his observation of
the work in progress on the river. He stated
that ho believed that the works intended for
the construction of tho river are accomplishing
their object so far as they have progressed, as
also the works for the purpose of protecting
the banks of the river. When asked by Mr..
Ellis as to his opinion of the efficacy and sta
bility of the works, he said he had the fullest
faith in them and that he had no reason to
doubt the correctness of the theory upon
which the work was begun. He cited tho
point known as the Horse-tail shoal," below
St Louis. MS one which has been swept away
by system of piles and wattles for contract
ing the river. He stated he had found no
waste of money in the purchases for plants
for the work of the commission. The effect
of outlets, he thought would be to shoal tho
river, and the more outlets the worse it would
be for navigation. .'p If.'
In reply to questions from the chairman he
described the process of protecting the banks
by mattresses, and said the mattresses would
have to be extended to all places where the
banks cave. The new banks, too, would have
to be so protected as to complete the system
and control the river. On being asked rs to
the practicability of confning the river within
bed of $500 feet width from Cairo down,
Gen. Wright stated it was practicable, from
the standpoint of engineering-itw was u matter
of expense; he could not give an estimate of
the cost-the work had not extended far
enough to make this possible. He thought
that by the time the appropriation shall be ex-
pended the experiment would be carried far
enough to make it possible to estimate the cost
and the worth of such work.
In reply to questions by Mr.. Robinson, he
gave as his opinion that changes of the rivers
bed might be prevented: that, so far as navi-
CATION is concerned, the work of confning tho
river is needed only in q lowor-water stage.
He had never considered any project for con-
fining the river within banks $500 feet apart
at high water. He would consider IL an
enormous work, involving very large and
unnecessary outlay of money. He declined
to attempt an estimate As to levecs, he
believed the bottom of the river would be
favorably affected by lcvee systom, and so
would be improved for low water navigation.
Below the mouth of Red river there was never
any trouble to navigation in high or low
water. He thought it an unfair ques-
tion to ask him what possible use the
| levees could be to navigation below that point.
He thought, however, it would decrease the
deposit by increasing the current, though
| UutGC ndu never Dttl any bcloN lndu
point from such deposit. The river there is
from fifty to one hundred feet deep. He
thought n completion of the contemplated
works would not clearly demonstrate the fact
that other points on the river would not have
| to be protected. If Mt Plum point and the
points experimental with, the plans worked
successfully, it would show the feasibility of
expending money for the same works at other
points The last appropriation made was
larger than necessary to make the tests at the
points where they had been contemplated.
The committee will continue the examination
of Gen. Wright to-day.
Col. Parks, of the engineer corps, was pres
ent, but stated, at the close of the session,
that he could say nothing not covered by
what Gen. Wright had said in reply to ques-
tions asked yesterday, and 1t is possible that
the examination of Gen Wright will COM
plete the hearing of expert engineers from
the War department The general was clear
and concise in his replies, and hesitated suf-
fcently to catch tho drift of things before
| going on record.
The Mississippi valley men, it is evident,
are determined to stand by the plans of the
commission and sustain it in the expenditures
made and contemplated in the work begun
for protecting the banks and controlling the
| channel This sentiment was represented
yesterday by Mr.. Ellis, of Louisiana, and Mr.
| Thomas, of Southern Illinois. Mr.. Thomas
served notice that he, though very busy with
other committees, should claim the right to
ask such questions as might occur to him as
the examinations proceeded, which indicates
that he is not satisfied to sit and see the
opponents of tho commissions plan prove
their case out of the testimony of any expert
without trying for something on his side as
the hearings proceed.
Mr.. Ellis indicated his tactics when he
asked Gen. Wright whether it would cost
more than $i5i000,000 to extend the plans
for controlling the current the entire length
of the river. This caused % pricking-up of
ears around the table, and Mr.. Ellis followed
the question with the explanatory remark
that "this is what the government has given
to the railways in one way and another. The
reply was guarded and indirect, but indi
Gated that Gen. Wright thought it would not
cost that amount or anything like it.
| Mr.. Robinson, of Massachusetts,, is the
closest qucstioner of those who sought infor-
nation yesterday 1t was evident that he
had watched the river banks pretty closely
ON his voyage down, and that he has decided
opinions.
Mr. Carlisle, who has been looked upon as a
doubtful quantity in this matter, had little to
say yesterday. A gentleman with whom he
has talked and who has great admiration for
him, remarked that he would not, for reasons
of policy go back upon his former expressions
upon the floor of the house of opposition to the
plans of the commission.
Messrs Hiscock, Hazleton and Butterworth,
of the special committee were not present
1t is intended to sit from day to day, and
from all indications this committee has as long
a job on its hands as the ways and means,
which is working every day on the tariff COM
mission rnport