New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-25
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMIT

ABSTRACT OF The REPORT OF THE sELECI COMMlI-
TEE OF THE HOUSE.
WAsUIsGTON, Feb. 24.-The report Of the
Select Committee on the Improvement of the Mississippi
River was presented the House OF Representatives
to-day by Chairman Burrows, OF Michigan.
After making preliminary statements Of the work done
nv the committee the report briefly describes the plan
Of Improvement determined upon by " the Mississippi
River Commission" and saws: "Wnic there is great
diversity of opinion among the witnesses a. 10 the
ability TO hold the Mississippi River In defined channel
by the proposed works, the commit,e Is Of
opinion that If the low waters OF the
Mississippi can be brought within space Of $500 feet
and go rel aimed that imprOv ed lOwwater navigation
would probably result The whole question, therefore,
turns upon the feasibility Of sucn Undertaking.
Can the caving OF the banks OF the Mississippi be ar
rested by the proposed works and permanent narrow
ing Of the channel Accomplishment Inc members OF the
Mississippi Commits and many eKpertr, concur
in the opinion that such a result Is within tho
shows that tnls plan of bank protection has
ms aDces are cited In the testimony where sudden
cDange current striking the bank above the works re
sued III cd nI Io sIrea ne cs of nave
been thus destroyed All the witnesses concur
n rG% sufficient nhefe "" to Withstand the assault
Acres OF woodland often drOp out or sight, apparently
without warning. The river mas been known 20 chhiSc
It's channel entirely and cut through several miles away
that where boats were running at QUO uhe
the witnesses agree these OF bank pro
lection cannot stand IN the event OF The stream striking
4
lin the light OF all the evidence obalnable upon this
point the committee il cOn-traincd to conclude that
tnc ultimate cost Of the proposed channel Improve
ments IL largely prOOlenatici and that the amount
necessary to the completion OF the work cannot
bo estimated with any degree Of certainty.
Ina view Of the enormous expenditure required to com
pleie the channel improvements Of fhc Ms7isspi ac
cording to the plan the Commission ana the expert
mental character OF such pan the committee "a ~ the
opuiOn that plan propose should be- applied 10 one
or two points river, brought To stale ~ compile
ton ana subjected TO the STRAIN Of repeated Hoods ana
nonts I'm this view many OF the witnesses concur And
Inc commitre recommends that WORK be CONTINUED at
both Plum Point ana La Providence reaches, ana that
a snnicent sum ought to be appropriated 10 bring INC
WORK Ut these points to state OF ptrcctlo' IN the
mcaotim the committee OF the decided opinion mat
no work of channel Improvement should be unlerlaAeh
any Oncr point, un the WORK az tnehe t"V poIh "a
thoroughly .tes'ed ana tncr eincie"'' '0''P'
taDliEned."
THE LEvEE SYSTEM.
The committee next discusses evec projects OF the
Mississippi River Commission, and says cine advocates
OF this portion OF plan do claim that such works
are necessary the navigation OF the river during It's
high stages. The theory advanced, however That
system evees which will hold the food Of the
| river within fixed boundaries conlormaDle
Is an imporianti not necessary auxiliary TO the i'm.
movement OF the low water navga ion that the flood
waters so restrained will increase veOcI and silt
bearing power Of the current lessen the deposition OF
eediment in tue bed or t1e channel ana Increase tAe
acquiring capacity of the The cOmnec does no
believe that the advantages navigation to be derived
from the construction OF leyees will BE- at all commen
surate with their cost The probable expense
Of system IeVces of sufficient strength TO hold the
flood waters OF the river within cnanne as 10 pro
posed Dy the Conmlsslon OK 5ooo ieet rs Vap,oasy
estimated from $50000000 to SlOO.OOO,OOO
| while many witnesses are not presump-
| tuous enough 70 venture upon an estimate
| OF their ultimate expense. NseehiS W 'no eoln