The Evening critic., 1884-02-05
RIVER CONVENTION so-oALLEp.
Its Composition and Facts for Its
Consideration - Analysis of the
Work of tho River Commissi0u-
mI.1 Nlnnr.Nu.s. IMnrIo.

HIS GOfupOShtbOn fanu ENctb lOT Ith
Consideration - Analysis of the
work of tho River Commission
The vicksburg Horbor.
Below THE CRITIC presents n few facts for
the consideration OF all who are Interested In
the improvement OF the MissiBsippi
In the first report OF the River Commission
they said, 'Bonnet Cairo outlet had caused tho
river to shoal below the outlet, and the same
would occur below the Lake Borgne outlet
when made"
This was not only proven to DO untrue by
tho report OF General Humphreys and a board
of engineers Of 1875, who made special re-
port on that matter, but when asked by n
member OF Congressional committee for
proof they replied "they had no data"
In the same report they charge that 0owdon
was trying TO make water run up o hill 60 feet
high In diverting the floods OF Red River to the
Gulf via Calcasieu, and when questioned by a
member OF q Congressional committee as to
the route he proposed 20 conduct tho water
from Red River TO the Gulf, they replied, "they
had no data" They charged that the Jump
outlet, seine twenty miles above the head OF
the passes, had caused tho river to shoal be-
low, when tho United States Coast Surveys
show that tho river is deeper below than above
that outlet.
the difficulties OF improving the Mississippi
below Cairo were 30 great that only moderate
amelioration could be expected there until at
ter the tributaries were frat improved.
Let US ask what use Is IL to improve tho
tributaries unless tho lower river is first
made accessible from tho Gulfof Mexico? This
kind of twaddle Is Just what pleases the East
and West lines OF railways, hut is not >ry
cheering TO the planter who is overlooked, ana
the steamboatman whose boat ia aground on
the sand-bare. The same Mr.. Suter signed a
report, stating that to improve the lower river
It might require $70,OO0,O0O, and when be-
fore tho Burrows committee showed what he
knew about the Mississippi River, when he
said that the channel deepened In high water
and nlled up In low water, when the facts are
the channel nils up in high water and deepons
In low water.
General Comstock, the acting head OF this
commission, said before Congressional com
mittee that he did not think the U. $. Treasury
was adequate to tho work OF improving tho
| Mississippi on tho plans of the commission
ers; that 1t might cost $500, 900, 900 or ,000,
100000, and that he did not know when the
| new.fangled celebrated scour would take
place, that II might be fifteen years.
Dr.. Taylor, member from the interior OF
| Indiana, said at the st. Louis convention that
he knew nothing about the river, but now
| guesses that anywhere from $30,00O,000 to
| S60,000,000 will be required TO improve the
| Mississippi below Cairo.
Since they have commenced protecting the
| delta point opposite Vicksburg the river has
washed on that point fully three.fourths OF a
| mile and gone that much farther from vicks-
| burg.
| The dredging OF the basin In front OF vicks
| burg was commenced at the wrong end, at the
upper instead of the lower. They have spent
| 100000 dredging and done no good aud &c
| with their whole plan and theory OF i'm
| proving the Mississippi.
| just above Natchsz they spent $4,000, and
| there 10 nothingl , snow for 1t.
Tho mouth OF L liver, where they have
| spent 100000, q ing the past low.water
season, was impossible, and steamboatmor
| had TO haul freight two and one-half mile
from the Mississippi River, twenty miles
above the mouth OF Red River, to a bayou
whore boats could enter from the Rcd and
| Ouachita rivers. As regards the work OF Plum
Point and Lake Providence, the testimony O
river men shows that the river has gone where
| 1t pleased In spite OF the commissions work.
At other places above Cairo the results have
l heon the came.