Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-29

structed by the Reparation commissioners
and the Owners purpose land reclaim
ations.
The commission submit an estimate of
the number of cubic yards Of earth work
REQUIRED for the leyees of certain grades,
between Commerce, Mo-, and the forts be-
low New Orleans, distance of 1,553
miles. The total cost st twenty-five cents
per cubic yard, is estimated at 81, 49,,
no. In conclusion of this subject, the
commission consider it necessary to call
the attention of congress to the peculiar
condition existing below Red river. This
section of the river is in a state of much
greater stability then found in anY other
part Of its course below tire junction with
the Missouri. at {. short distance below
the Red river it
BECOMES NARROWER AND DEEPER,
It has been leveed there for good many
years. No flood com plications arise here
as above from the return Of overflow wafer
ghich has escaped from the river points
higher up.
In regard to further legislation, the
commission recommend that provisions be
able proceedings of the land and material
ALOO-oo-A4J Ill thtJJ HoAA VI INC ~hhA9SAooA = "a
i'm provements undertaken By the govern
ment. The report says within the past
year some serious inconvenience has been
suffered from the exorbitant demands
made by land owners for brush and poles.
These materials, in most cases, ara worth
little or nothing to the owners and are IN
saleabls to any buyer except thu govern
mont at any price. But at the prices
some of the owners ask, they make
large item of cost. It is not believed
that there win be frequent occasion to
RESORT To CONDENSATION
of private property, If such proceedings
are authorized, IS in most cases the ex-
istence of power will be sufficient to pre-
vent like extertien, although cases may
arise il which the possession and exercise
of power will De highly important. It is
highly desirable also that congress- pre-
scribe by Law the extent to which mater
ial found On islands and bars IN the river
may be used without payment of dam
ages. It is believed the supreme right
of control and improvement of rivers
nayigable for Interstate commerce vest
ed in the United States, carries with it the
right to use in the work of improvement
without consent of any individual owner,
all such materials found within the limits
OF the river itself, and which also ccnsti-
tute part of it. 1t is recommended also,
that provision be made by law for retain
ing control By the government of the land
built up by the deposits induced by the
work OF Improvements placed in the river
bed. This amounts in some instances
TO HUNDREDS OF ACRES
disposed to claim possession, although to
the detriment OF the improvement. It is
expected in most of such cases it will be
found desirable to encourage the growth
of trees upon the newly made
banks and occupy them that
way many years. perhaps permanently. It
is regarded important also that law be
enacted for the punishment of any person
who shall make a cut off at any neck or
point in the Mississippi river. The histo-
~ of the river indicates tendency that
recurring cycles change a cut off, is fol-
lowed by & sudden increase in the velocity
of the current il its vicinity and by rapids
caVing above and below. These will
likely cause other cut offs, one after
another, and then the results may be wide
~ extended, and long continued disturb
ance in that region of the river. During
the continuance of such period the works
OF improvement will be changed, and at
tended with the greatest difficulty.
NO GREAT CUT OFF HAS OCCURRED
since that of Vicksburg in 1876, and the
present conditions of the river in that
respect are regarded as favorable. But
conditions are also existing, for the intro
duction OF cycle change by making q
single cut off injurious. and the conse-
qzences of which it would be impossible
to estimate. Such events have happened
in the past, through the lawless acts of in
dividuals, and against these stringent pen
alties should be provided.
This financial statements accompanying
the repsrt give the estimates of the funds
required for the fac Il year ending June
30, 1884. improvement OF the Mississippi
river below Cairo, $3,e00,0O0. For the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1882, work on
the New Madrid reach, 100000; work on
the Memphis reach, $675,0O0. Salaries
and expenses of the next fiscal year, $780,
600. Of the appropriation for improving
the river By the act of August 2, 1882,
there was balance on hand on Dec. 1,
1882. of sass, coo. Amount expended to
Nov. 1, 1883, including outstanding liabiIi-
ties, estimated to Jan. 1, 1884, 49,, $50,
balance available and unpledged
on Jan. 1, 1884, but which has been re-
quired in the care of the property and the
maintenance OF organization for the re-
mainder of the fiscal year, 500 269.
Balances available of the appropriation of
the New Orleans harbor, Nov l, 1888,
$109,37S. Improving the mouth of the
Red river, $3s,S41. Natchez harbor,
$5,331.
The members of the commission signing
the report are: Major G. B. Suffer, Henry
Mitchell, B. NJ. Hsrrott, Rv5t. S. Taylor
and s. w. Ferguson.
The minority report was submitted by
Gen. c. B. Comstock. He says the appro-
priation of 1,443, 40 mentioned by the
commission is too small for any adequate
system of levees intended to prevent oe-
structive floods Except at intervals OF fif-
teen or twenty years, and TO secure prop
ertJ to the inhabitants behind them from
danger and destruction. Az stated by the
commission, thorough study of the sub
jcot of levees has not yet been made, and
until then an accurate estimate is impos-
siole. The heights reached above the food
Of 1882 of 3 feet at Columbus, 10 feet at
Fulton feet 1T Helena and 10 feet