Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-05
fit RlVEA REe0H1
The Commission Reviews rs Work
and Submits Its Conclusions.
Levees Arc Declared TO be a Part
of a Complete System of
Channel improvements.


WASHINGTON, January 2.-The an
nual report Of the Mississippi River
Commission Vas cent TO Congress to-
day. The report is lengthy, but con-
taios little OF interest 10 the general
reader beyond what vas :aid in the
letters of General Gilmore to the on
gressional committee which investi
gate the Mississippi improvements last
November.
The commission says that the meth.
DDS adopted for the improvement OF
the Mississippi are not experimental.
They have passed beyond that stage.
Their success proved their correctness,
Special advices, however, such as per-
meable dykes and revetments are still
matters Of experiment, but not so much
as regards their efficiency as their cost.
1t is certain, however, that no cheaper
methods are known than those now
proposed, aud if they fSil, it is queS-
tionable if the improvement OF the
Mississippi is financially possible, 1t
is too early, however, the commission
say, to draw conclusions as to the cost.
The work thus far has been done
under great difficulties, aud at greater
cost than the work to be done. Blc&
protection will be the main item OF
cost. This kind OF work at Plum
Point reach has cost $l2 per foot; at
Providence reach, Sll 65; at Delta
point, $l4. As regards the construc>
ton of the works, the dykes on Lake
Providence reach have cost complete
with poles, piles aud foot matz So per
running foot.
With respect to tho improvement Of
the New Orleans harbor, the commits
sion say Tat the project for laying
1000 lineal feet of mattress revetment
400 feet wide to prevent further era>
sien in UarrOlltOn bend, has been APP
proved, and only awaits a favorable
season to put it in execution. With
respect to l%evees, the commission say
they are now prepared to recommend
as part of a complete system Of chan
mel improvement levee, of the follow
ing descriptions:
The standard Of elevation for levee.
should be sufficient to confne food;
most frequently recurring, with the
intention Of producing the maximum
effect Of the channel improvement a
minimum cost. The restraint Of thest
great foods, which recur only at lOnl
intervals, would involve a cost disprO
portionate to the injury which wOulC
be inflicted upon the maintenance ant
improvement of the channel by erO.
sive averfows, Occurring at such 10
%terYals, The sys:em should be gen.
orally one Of restriint in the interes
of navigation. The extent to which
it would be carried with this objec
would be deter mined by considera
tons Of economy
, With respect to legislation, tn,
committee say the government ire
quently suffers u unreasonable exaetiOu
in purchasing materials, such as poles
|, piles, brush, etc the value Of Whicl
/, in many instances is nothing, but 70
which extravagant prices are de
handed. The commission suggest tbI
~sdvisRbility Of a law authorizing sucl
condemnation Of property. The com
mission also suggest the ~advlsabilit,
Of q law by VII CD the goyernmen
would retain control Of areas built u
from the river BID BY work Of ohanne
improvement These areas, in som
cases, viii be hundreds Of acres in eK
tent, and il win be important to know
whether this lald will belong to th,
riparian owners, it will be necessar,
for the government 10 retain control a
long as may be Necessary for the execu
ton OF its purposes. The commission
advise q law against making cut-otfs
One member Of the commission, Geo
Comstock. dissents from the views o
the commission on the matter Of levees
He thinks levees of little service il
improving low water navigation.
The amount expended from July |
1882, to Decemb sr Is, 1882, includinJ
estimated liabilities, is S9.622,484
The balance which it is estimated vii
be required during the remainder o
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883
is $9l ,780 50. The estimate for salaries
and expenses Of the commission fol
the next fiscal year is put at 5000. 900
After explaining the delays in th,
work at Plum Point and Lake Proyi
dedce reaches, the report says:
as soon as iL was possible after thu
appropriation last made became avail
able work was resumed and has beer
in progress ever since. Though tn,
results so far accomplished hay,
fallen very much short Of even re
sonable anticipations, the difieulty
has lain in the absolute impossibility
oil obtaining the necessary labor. Thu
local supply Of labor is scant and uu.
reliable and it was not deemed desir
able to import labor from the Nortl
Until the sickly season was over. S,
the work has been carried ON by small
gangs Of 100 or zoo, where it should b,
1000 or 1000. but labor is now comipi
freely and no further difficulty is an
ticipated from this source.
Upon recommendation of the En-.
giDeer Department Of the army, unde,
general supervision Of the commission
the river has been divided into Gou
administrative districts, each 10 charp
|, Of an officer Of engineers. Under ae
OF August 2, 1882, commission wa
charged with prosecution Of the worl
} at the following points, heretofor
carried on by special appropriation.
! Mephis harbor, V~icksburg harbol
Natchez harbor, Red and Atchafalay
rivers, Bayou Plaquemine and Ne,
Orleans harbor. Arguments for chang
ing the plan in view Of some prese5
hardships to navigation, have bee.
S considered, but engineering reason
in favor Of the present policv sr