Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-29
WORK ON THE MISSISSIPPI
THE COMMISSION RENDERS IT'S
ANNUAL REPORT.

Constructed from the Spring Freshets
Reviews and Recommendation.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-The report OF
the Mississippi River Commission giving
the progress of the surveys and examina-
tions in the Improvements of that river
since December 10, 1882, was submitted
to the Secretary of War to-day. 1t SAYS:
CAT the date of the last annual report of
the commission in December of last year
work had been fairly inaugurated on the
Plum Point and Lake Providence
reaches, and also in the vicinity of Mem
| phis and Vicksburg, and throughout
| December and January work
was pushed with great vigor at Plum
Point and Lake Providence. A consid-
/ cradle amount of mattress work was lost
on account of the rise in the river in Feb
ruary at the former place. Incompleted
pile dykes also suffered considerable dam
age from the accumulation of drifts and
the strong current due to the rapid rising
of the river. The high stage of water pre-
vailed continuous until about the end
| of July. During this period
work was confined to dykes
which required constant watching and
repairs. After the subsistence of the flood
the construction of mattresses for bank
revetment was resumed, but the season
proved unusually sickly and labor was
scarce and inefficient. Nothing of conse-
| quence was accomplished until the adj
vent of cool weather in the fall. Since
then work has progressed rapidly. Every
endeavor has been made to place the
work in as safe condition as possible,
but it is greatly to be feared that this can
only be partially accomplished, as the
funds now available from the balance
OF last years appropriation will only
admit of carrying on active operations
till about the middle of December, after
which time all work must cease until
Congress makes a further appropriation
for its prosecution. An appropriation
of 81 100000, made Immediately, could be
advantageOusly used. The experience of
the past year has shown that the princi-
pies upon which the commission have
based their work are perfectly sound,
and in this respect no modification seems
necessary, though in regard to the details
of construction some changes have
scarcity of labor, the greatest
difficulty met with has been
the securing of an ample and timely
supply of materials used in the construc-
tiOn, especially brush and stone. During
the previous low water seasons, when the
low water depths have been reported,
Plum Point and Lake Providence reaches
have been fully as shallow as any point
on the river, yet during the present season
there was not less than y feet depth all
through these two reaches, and at Lake
Providence during the lowest water over
10 feet was reported. That such truly re-
markable effects should have been pro-
duced by the works in their unfinished
condition is extremely encouraging.o
AS regards the ultimate success Of the
improvements, the commission recon-
1s, k<T 90. Al,,GA I.
nent be first undertaken at New Madrid
and the second at Memphis reach. 1t
also recommends the continuation of
levee work during the next season on the
fronts of the Tensas and YaZoo basins.
From observations made it is observable
that the rate OF velocity and discharge
during the rise increases more rapidly
while the river is still within its banks
than during the higher stage, when the
banks are submerged or an escape occurs
through the outlets. The commission
state that there are serious practical diff
culties in the way of constructing
a system of leVees no higher than would
be necessary for the confinement of ordi-
nary floods, and at the same time protect
them against disastrous injury from the
great floods which occur at irregular in
tervals. 1t is obvious that for the secure
protection of the valley from overflow
there is necessary system Of levees high
and strong enough to withstand the
greatest flood. No other means of pro-
lection, the commission believe, is prac-
ticable or even possible. These facts
suggest obviously the idea of cooperation
between the General Government and
communities interested in the pre-
ventiOn of Overtlows in the mainten-
ance of the levee system, which shall
serve at the same time the purpose of i'm
proYement in the channel and protection
from overflow, and as preliminary to the
consideration of such suggestion the
probable cost of such a system is consid-
cred material. For about half the dis
tance below Cairo only one side of the
river requires leYees. For the remainder
on this same side the hills are so near-at
distances ranging from immediate con-
tact to not over six or eight miles-that
the loss of the volume of discharge over
the intervening strip of bottom land is not
considered Of grave Importance, BY far the
greater part of the required work is now
in existence, having been constructed by
riparian communities and owners for the
purpose of land reclamation. The COM
mission submit an estimate of the number
of cubic yards OF earth work required for
the levees at certain grades between Com
merce, Mo-, and the forts below New Or
leans, distance of ,553 miles. The total
cost at % cents per cubic yard is esti-
niated at $11, ,443, no. In regard to future
legislation, the commission recommend
that provision be made by law for the ap-
preparation by suitable proceedings of land
and material necessary in any work Ofthe
Mississippi improvement undertaken by
the government. The reports say that
within the past year some serious incon-
venience has been suffered from the ex-
Orbitant demands made by land owners
for brush and poles. These materials are
in most cases worth little or nothing to
the government at any price, but at the
prices some owners ask for them they
would make large item of cost. 1t is
not believed that there would be frequent
occasion to resort to condemnation of
private property if such proceedings
were authorized, as in most cases
the existence of the power
would be sufficient preventive
of extortion, although cases may
arise in which the possession and exer-
else of the power would be highly impor-
tant. The financial statement accompa-
nylng the report gives estimates of the
funds required, as follows; For the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1884, for the i'm
provement of the Mississippi river below
Cairo, S300,000; for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1885, for work on New Madrid
roach, $l,O00,000; for work on Memphis
reach, $675,OOO; to continue the salaries
next fiscal year, $200,000. OF the appro-
priatiOn for improving the river by the
act of August, 1882, the balance on
hand December 1, 1882, was 81, 2,3SS, 900,
The amount expended to November l.
1888, including outstanding liabilities.
estimated to January 1, 1884, for sundry
things is 50, 1877, ,730. The balance available
unpledged January /, 1884. but which
will be required for the care Of property
anu EssfaevlIUsrISO of the organization
during the remainder of the fiscal voar. is
5000, 1863. The balance available of the
appropriation for New Orleans harbor
November l, 1888, was $109,37S; for i'm
proving the mouth of Red river, S3S.S4
for Natchez harbor, $5,331, The members
OF the commission signing the report are
Maj. G. K. Suter, Henry Mitchell. B. NJ.
Harrod, Robert S. Taylor, S. w
Ferguson. A minority report is sub-
mitted by Gen. G. B. Comstock.
He says that the appropriation of S11 .443.-
40 mentioned by the commission is too
small for any adequate system of levees
intended to prevent destructive floods.
except at intervals of 15 or 20 wears. to
secure the property of inhabitants behind
them from the danger of destruction, AS
stated by the commission, a thorough
study of the subject of levees has not vet
been made. Until then accurate estimates
are impossible, and the heights above the
flood OF 1882 of feet at Columbus and 10
feet at Lake Providence are only
approxlmates. Such as they are
they make it impossible to concur
IN the estimate Of $11, ,443,77O as the cost