Huntsville gazette., 1884-01-05
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Report of the Commission for the Past Year
satisfactory Results of the Work at All
nts-Reeommendations and Estimates
for a National System of Levees-COngress
Asked to Give the Commission Power to
Condemn Material.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 2S.
The report of the Mississippi River Com
mission, giving the progress of surveys and
examinations in the Improvement of chat
river since Dec. 1, 1882, was submitted to
the Secretary of War to-day. 1t says: At
the date of the last annual report, Decem-
ber of last year, work had been fairly in
augurated on Plum Point and Lake Provi-
dence reaches; also in the vicinity of Mem
phis and Vicksburg. Throughout Decem-
ber and January work was pushed with
great vigor at Plum Point and Lake Provi-
dence. A considerable amount of mattress
work was lost; an uncompleted pile of
dikes also suffered considerable from ac
cumulation of drifts and strong current.
High water prevailed continuously until
the end of July. During this period work
was confined to dikes, which required con-
slant watching and repairs. After the sub
sidence of the flood the construction of
mattresses for bank revetment was re-
sumed, but the season proved unusually
sickly, labor scarce and inefficient. Moth
ing, in consequence, was accomplished un-
til the advent of cool weather. Since then
work progressed rapidly. Every endeavor
has been made to place the work in
safe condition if possible, and it
is greatly to be feared this will
only be partially accomplished, as funds
available, the balance of last years
appropriation, only admit Of carrying on
operations till the middle of December,
after which all work will have to cease
until Congress makes further appropria-
ton. An appropriation of 81 900, 900, made
Immediately, could be advantageously
used. Experience the past year has shown
the principles upon which the Commission
based its work are perfectly sound, and in
this respect no modification seems neces-
sary, though in regard to details of con-
structlon some changes are called for. Con-
traction works, consisting essentially of
dikes of piling sustaining curtains or
screens of brush, proved generally too
weak. The great depth of water in which
they must be maintained, the enormous ac-
cumulations of floating drift and long dura-
ton OF high water, are the main points in
which our experience differs from any
previously noted with similar structures
in other localities. This necessitated much
more substantial work than was at first
deemed necessary, with proportionate
increase in cost. 1t should, however, be
noted in regard to these works upon which
the main damage experienced has been
concentrated, that they were not necessar-
lily permanent and only intended to effect
certain definite results, as sitting up GER
tain portions of the river bed. When this
is accomplished their work, as a rule,
ended, and then maintenance was no longer
required. Revetment work undertaken
whenever completed was proven entirely
successful, and but slight notifications of
general style and detail in construction
will be.found necessary.
Next to the scarcity of labor. the great
est difficulty has been in securing ample,
timely supply of material used in the con-
struction, especially brush and stone.
During the previous low water seasons
Plum Point and Lake Providence reaches
have been fully as shallow as any points
on the river, yet during the present season
there was not less than twelve feet all
through these reaches, and at Lake Provi-
dence during the lowest water over fifteen
feet was reported. That such truly remark
able effects have been produced by works
in an unfinished condition is extremely en-
COuTdRluS DIS I6RdIuS ulU1IldlS SuCCtSS vi
improvement. The Commission caused
surveys to be made at New Madrid, Mem
phis, Helena and Choctaw reaches with a
view to preparing detailed plans for their
improvement when funds for the purpose
are available. AllOtments were made for
several reaches, but owing to the non-pas-
sage of the river and harbor bill it was de-
cided inexpedient to undertake work for
the present, and such portion of New Mad
rid allotments as not expended for plants
was reallotted to Plum Point and Lake
Providence.
Surveys ordered at the mouth of Red
River and Lock Bay, Plaquemine, are not
yet completed, owing to the extremely un-
healthy character of the season, which rem
dered-it almost impossible to keep sur
veying party in the field. For the same
reason the survey ordered at NatcheZ har-
hor was not undertaken.
At Memphis harbor work in progress at
the date of the last report under special al
lotment by the Commission was completed,
and the same is true of the revetment at
Delta Point, La, opposite Vicksburg.
At New Orleans the construction Of
mattress revetment at Carrollton Bend was
begun and is now in progress.
On all portions of the river under i'm
provement repeated surveys have been
made, to note any changes that might oc-
cur, especially those due to work con-
structed. AT New Orleans, in addition,
series of discharge measurements covering
nearly year were also made. The Com
mission recommend to Congress that the
next improvement be first undertaken at
New Madrid, and the second at Memphis
reach.
Work under allotment made by tEfe Com
mission from the appropriation of August
., 1892, for levees and outlets, was con-
tinued during the year on the levees un-
finished before the flood Of 1882 1t is ex-
pected all will be finished before the expi-
ration of this year. The Commission rec
ommends continuation of levee work next
season in front of the Texas and YaZoo ba-
sins. The Commission state there are seri-
GUS practical difficulties in the way of con-
structing a system of levees no higher than
is necessary for the confinement of ordi-
nary floods and at the same time protect
them against disastrous injury from great
floods which occur at irregular inter
Yals. 1t is obvious for secure protection of
the valley from overflow there is necessary
a system of levees high and strong enough
to withstand the greatest floods No other
means of protection, the Commission be-
heve, is practicable or even possible. These
facts suggest obviously the idea of coop
Grafton between the general Government