Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-01-16
THE MERITS OF THE SYSTEM


can be better judged by the results OBJ
OF the results of the work Just below
st. Louis is given in the report, which also
reviews the legislation creating the Mis-
s:ssippi River Conirtission and the work
done by II. The legislation relative to the
work upon the jetties is also summarized
and accompanied by brief review of the
work already performed. OF the results
of the jetty work the committee says
According to the Interpretation now
put upon the law there must be
maintained { channel of twenty-six
feet Vide, having a central depth
of thirty feet, without regard to width,
through the jetties and into the gulf; q
channel of twenty-six feet in depth and OF
navigable width mHst be maintained
through the pass from the jetties into the
river proper. Channels must be main
tanned at twenty feet from July s, 1879, al
which tine these depths are first OBJ
tanned. 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 commission was informed by the
government inspecting officer whose duty
it is to
REPORT ALL DEFICIENCIES
in that quarter yearly and make certifi-
Gates defining the locality and length of
time that they existed" The report states
that soundings made by the commit
tee on passing twice through the entire
length of the canal, indicated a depth Oi
twenty-f feet four inches, and consid-
erable part showed little less than thirty
| feet, while in many instances the depths
! were as great as fifty feet and more. The
engineer in charge states that reasonably
accurate soundings were frequently made,
proving the required channel does exist.
The report adds that the water has by no
means the uniform depth Of an ordinary
canal. Here and there are found deep
pockets and intervening ridges. Securing
and filling is going on in differ
ent localities, and where such securing
occurs on ridges some material drops into
the pockets, while some is carried out
through the jetties into the gulf. The
committee states that while it was in the
passed out bound for foreign ports, all
heavily laden, one of them carrying the
heaviest load of cotton ever sent to sea at
one time. The cargo consisted of 10000
| bales of cotton and other freight equal in
| bulk TO 5000 Eales more. The report SAYS
the committee united with the commission
in the recommendation made in the late
report to the Secretary of War that provis-
ion be made by law for
APPROPRIATION BY SUITABLE PROCEEDINGS
of land and material necessary for any
work of Mississippi river improvement
undertaken by the government; that the
right of the government to the free use
for channel improvement of material
found in islands and on the river bank be
distinctly declared and defined, that pro-
vision be made by the government for re-
tanning the control over areas of land re-
claimed and built up from the river; also,
that provision be made for the punish
ment of persons making or assisting any
cutoff of any neck or point in the river or
in any way interfering without authority OF
law with its channel or banks or any work
of improvement projected by the govern
ment. In conclusion the report says
"Your committee has not deemed it with
in the province of their mission to pass
upon the merit of the engineering plans
now in process OF execution on the Mis-
sissippi river. In view, however, of the
good work already done, and the manifest
results achieved and reasonable hopes of
further benefits to be derived from them
by general navigation, commerce and
trade, it is recommended that 81,
100000 be appropriated for the i'm
provement of the river between Cairo and
the mouth of the Illinois, and 81 900, ,000
between the mouth OF the Illinois and
st. Paul, and for the improvement OF the
river between Cairo and the head of the
passes such sum OF money has been named
by the Mississippi River Commission in its
report to the Secretary OF War, and which
is now before the Senate, as being neces-
sary for the further protection of the
work going on in that district under their
supervision. 1t is further recommended
that these, as well as all future appropria-
tioDs for the improvement eff the Missis,
sippi be made the subject of bill separate
and distinct from the one embodying ths
general appropriations for rivers and har-
bors."