Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-03-03
Report of The Cumberland River COMMISSION
to The Tennessee Legislature. EI

Report of The Cumberland River Commission
to The Tennessee L Legislature. E1
The report of the commission for
the improvement of the Cumber-
land river appointed by the act of
the General Assembly of March 18th
1881, was submitted to the House
of Representatives Saturday morn
ing by Representative Mccain.
After giving a brief history OF what
has been done in the past in this di-
rection, the commissioners say:
The chief engineer of the United
States ermy expresses, officially, the
opinion that a permanent and sat
iSfactory low water navigation for
our better class of steamers can only
be obtained by means of system Of
locks and dams, a means of i'm
provement which Congress has not
yet authorized him to undertake,
but under the act of Congress, APP
proved in 1882. survey was prOvi
ded for to determine the cost and
practicability of such locks and of
a system of geneal slackwater navi-
CATION on the river from Nashville
TO Point Burnside, the hea of
steamboat navigation.
This survey, in our opinion, is a
move in the right direction, mas
much as its results if found favorable
will guarantee some definite amount
of Improvement, and its cost can then
be compared with other special
81
comparative cost considered. The
importance of river transportation
available to our citizens all the year
round cannot be Overestimated, and
while we do not wish to be regarded
as criticizing the benefit of the mon
ey already spent, which no doubt has
been judicously applied in carrying
out the present plan of improve
ment, we think no plan in future
should be adopted for the expendi-
ture of any considerable amount of
money unless the plan provides for
and has a reasonable prospect of
furnishing a sufficient depth in the
river for reliable navigation at low
stages of water.
#
Another S4O1, 900 would probably
give slackwater navigation from
Nashville to the mouth of the Cum
berland river, with perhaps three feet
deph at low water. We are not pre-
pared to assert that some other plan of
Improvement might do as much for
less money, but we think the pres
ent plan of improvement which has
not done what was expected of it
should give place TO a plan more In
accordance with the need OF the
country and the demands of COM
merce. ..-... ....
We are well pleased with Major
w. r. King, United States engin-
Ger in charge at Chattanooga, Tenn,
and his able assistant, G. a. Terrill,
stationed here, yet we think the
necessities require a resident en-
gineer for the Cumberland Falls.
With the improvements made as
suggested in our report we conf
IDENTIFY believe the amount OF Dusl-
ness could be doubled, and we fur
Their respectfully ask a reasonable
appropriation from our Legislature
to defray our expenses in the full
discharge of our duties, and the
items are such as stationery, print !
ing, postage, travelling and other |
matters pertaining to accomplish |
the duties assigned to US.
We respectfully request that his
Excellency and our Legislature will
bring the subject fully before our
congressional representatives with |
the solicitude Tor their hearty sup
port as the necessities of this inn
prOvement required.
80. ADAM WO0LF, /
Pres. Cumb. River Commission.
w. G.. DIBRELL,
..... ... Vice. President.
. NJ. NJ. CARRETHY,
.F.-H Secretary.
JAS. w. LOWELL,
FRED MILLER,
j. j. CRUSMAN,
JAMES p. ANDERSON.