Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1884-01-16

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tion, therefore, seems to be not simply
whether the present navigation will be Im
proved, but whether such as
NOW EXISTS CAN BE PRESERVED.
OF the works now in progress, it says
The chief plan of improvement adopted
by the engineer department, is to protec
the banks from erosion, and confine all the
water in the bed of the river to 6
single waterway of moderate width
The plan involves tvc
classes of works,viz: those REQUIRED to con
tract the width of the river where it is now
Inordinately great, and those required to
close secondary arms or chutes. The OBJ
Ject OF the first class is to prevent further
damage,and the second to deepen the pres
ent channel. The programme adopted for
carrying out the plan Is, to first improve
that part of the river lying below st. Louis
The reasons given being that this part
carries the
GREATEST AMOUNT OF COMMERCE
and that the channel depth above st. Louis
compares favorabIy with that now found
IN the Missouri or Illinois and upper Mis-
sissippi rivers. 1t is designed to
make the improvement continuous.
1t being alleged that the greatest
economy in the use of plant end in the
administration can thus be obtained, and
that the improvement of one section facil-
ltates the improvement of the rest. Also.
1t Is better that such obstacles as remain
be confined to one portion of the river,
than distributed over all portions. 1t is
better to
WORK DOwN STpv.M
because in this manner the channel be-
comes fixed as the improvement advances,
and its approach to the works below being
fixed, they can be properly designed to re-
ceiye 1t, whereas, to work up stream
leaves the channel free to an approach in
some way entirely different and unforeseen.
further reason why we designed to
make st. Louis an initial point, is because
1t Is the base of supplies, and because the
river beyond it is permanently fixed. In
laying out new banks the following rules
are observed: First, the natural regimen
of tbs river will be disturbed es little as
practicable, and there is no shortening
and lengthening of the natural char1el.
Second the location of the channel,
AS FOUND IN NATURE,
is generally preserved by tie waste water
Of the river being thrown into it, but no
effort is being made to move it from one
place to another, unless some great advan-
tage will result, either to town site or
to navigation. Third-The sharp changes
OF the direction in the lines OF the banks
will be avoided. Fourth-The rocky bluff
can be retained as one bank of the i'm
proved river whenever it can be done with
violating more important rules" The
report alludes to the attempts at reclaim
ing the
BANKS BY PLACING HURDLES
so as to make the river build up dikes for
contraction of its width, and speaks ia
vorably of the work, but adds that the
merits of the system will be better Judged
by the results obtained at later stages. A
brief summary of the results of the work
just below st. Louis is given in the
report, which also reviews the
legislation creating the Mississippi
river commission, and the work done by
it. The legislature in relation to the
work upon the jetties is summarized, and
accompanied by brief review of the
work already performed. OF the results
of the jetty work, the committee says:
According to interpretation now put upon
the law, there must be maintained
channel twenty-six feet wide, having a
central depth of thirty feet without re-
gard to the width through the jetties and
into the gulf, and the channel.
TWENTY SIX FEET IN DEPTH,
and of navigable width, must be main
tanned through and pass from the jetties
into the river proper. The channels must
be maintained at twenty feet from July 8,
1879, at which time these depths were first
obtained. The depths thus required have
been maintained except for about seventy
days in all, since July s, 1879. There has
BEEN NO DEFICIENCY
since September, 1882, as your committee
was informed by the government inspect
ing officer, whose duty it is to report all
deficiencies in each quarter, and yearly
certificates, defining the locality ard
length of time they existed.
The report states that soundings were
made by the committee in passing twice
through its entire length, and the canal
indicated depth of twenty-five feet four
ircaes and considerable part showed lit
tie less than thirty feet, while in many in
stances depths as great as sixty feet and
more were found. Also, ths engineer in
charge states that reasonable accurate
sounding was recently made proving that
the required channel does exist" The re-
port adds: The water has by no means q
uniform depth as an ordinary canal. Here
and there are found deep pockets with in.
terVening ridges, securing and
FILLING IS GOING
on in different localities, and where such
securing occurs on the ridges some of the
material drops into the pockets, while
some are carried out through the jetties
into the gulf"
The committee states, that while it was
in ths vicinity of the jetties three large
steamers passed out bound for foreign
ports All were heavily laden, one OF
them carrying the
HEAVIEST LOAD OF COTTON
that ever was sent to sea at one time, the
cargo consisting of 10.500 bales of cotton,
and other freight, equal in bulk to 5000
bales more.
The recommendations of the committee
are brief, and the report says, the commit
tee unites with the commission in the
recommendations made in the late report
to the secretary of war and that provis-
ion be made by law for an appropriation