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

Improvement.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.-The report Of
the Mississippi river commission, giving
the progress OF the surveys and s1amina-
tions in The improvements OF that river
since Dee. l, 1882, was submitted 20 the
secretary OF war to-day. It says: "At
the data of the last annual report in De-
cember Of last year, the work had been
fairly inaugurated on Plum Point and
Lake Providence reaches, and also in the
vicinity of Memphis and Vicksburg.
Throughout December and January the
work was pushed with great vigor. at
Plum Point and Lake Providence consid-
cradle amount OF mattrass work
was lost on account OF the rise
CT the river. IL February, at
the former place, an 1ncompIeted pile of
dykes also suffered considerable from the
accumulation of drifts and the strong cur
rent due to the rapid rising of the river
and high water prevailed continuously IN
I'll the enc of the July. During this period
the work was confined TO the dykes, which
required constant watching and repairs
After the subsistence of tbs food the coz
struc.ion materials for. the bank revet
ment was resumed, bat the season proved
unusually sickly. Labor was scarce and
inefficient and nothing of conseq was
accom- plishsd until the advent of cool
weather, when the construction work
progressed rapidly.
Every endeaEor mss been made to place
the work in as safe condition as posi-
bic, but it is greatly to be feared that this
will only be partially accom- plished as the
funds available from the balance of Last
years Apr rriation only admit Of carry
ing on operations till the middle of De-
cember, after which all work must cease
until congress makes further appropri-
alton. An appropriation of one million
made Immediately could be advan-
tageouslY used. The experience
OF the past year shows that the
principles upon which the COM
mission based the work was perfectly
sound, and in this respect no modification
seems necessary though in regard to the
details of the construction, some changes
will be called for in the contraction of
works, consisting essentially of dykes of
piltpg, sustaining curtains or screens of
brush which has proven generally too
weak for work imposed upon them. The
great depth OF water IN which they must
be maintained, the enormous accumula-
tions OF floating drift and the long dura-
ton Of the high water period, are the main
points in which oGr experience differs from
any previously noted with similar struc-
lures IN other localities. This has
necessitated much more substantial
work than at first deemed necessary, with
q proportionate increase of cost It
should, however, be noted, with regard to
,xvpi aI, fbov
is experienced, has been concentrated that
they are not necessarily permanent, and
are only intended To effect certain definite
results, Gs setting up certain portions OF
the river bed. When this is accom- piished
their work, as rule, will be ended and
their maintenance no longer required.
The revetment work undertaken, wherever
completed, has proven entirely successful
and but slight notifications in the general
style AID details in the construction will
be found necessary.
Next to the scarcity of labor, the great
est difficulty has been in securing in ample
time supply OF the materials used in
construction, especially brush and stone.
During the previous low water seasons the
Plumpoint and Lake Providence reaches
heve been fully as shallow as any points
on the river, yet during the lowest water
over 10 feet has been reported. That such
truly remarkable effects has bsen pro-
duced by the works in an unfinished con
dition is extremely encouraging as re-
CARDS the ultimate success of the improve
ments.
THE CONFESSION CAUSED SURVEYS
to be made at New Madrid, Memphis. Il ell
ena, and Choctaw reaches with the view to
preparing detailed plans for their i'm
provement when funds for the purpose
are available. Allotments have been made
for several reaches, but owing to the nom
passage of the River and Harbor bill it
was decided inexpedient to undertake the
work for the present, and such portion of
the New Madrid allotmen.s not expended
for plant was reallotted to Plum point and
Lake Providence. The surveys ordered at
the mouth of the Red river and Lock
bayou plasequemine,is not yet mpleted,
owing to the extremely unhealthy charsc-
ter of the season, which rendered 1t al
most impossible TO keep q surveying party
in the field. For tho sans reason
the survey ordered at Natchez
harbor was not undertaken. At Nemph
harbor the work in progress at the date Of
last report under special allotment by the
CVk1ntSSlOA IN COHI ptSIcO- duu tuc SELno 10
true of the revstment at Delta point, Lou
isiana, Opposite Vicksburg. At New Or
leans the construction of the m1ttress re-
vetment at Carrolton bend has begun and
is now IN progress. On all portions of the
river under Improvement, repeated sur
veys have been made to note any changes
which might occur, especially those due to
the works constructed ct New Orleans. In
addition series OF discharge movements,
covering nearly the full year, were also
made. The commission recommend to
congress that the next Improvement 30 be
frat undertaken should be at New Mad
rid, and tbs second at she Msnphis
reach. The work under allotment made
by the commission from appropriation OF
August >, 1882, for levees and outlets
were continued during year on levses, bus
unfinished bsfere the food 1888, arc sx-
pected al to be finished before this years
commission recommends q continuation
of the leyee work next season in the fronts
of tho Texas and Yazoo basiss. The COM
mission states thst there are serious
practical difficulties in tho way construct
ing a system of levses 10 higher than will
be necessary for the csnfinsment of ordin-
AIRY floods, and at the same time protest
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