Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-01-09
THE MISSISSIPPI,
a Special MessFlge from the Pres iden {
Urging AN Immediate Appropriation
for Continuing Its improvements.

n Special Message from the Prcs tdeHt
Urging AN Immediate Appropriation
for Continuing ATS improvements.
WASHINGTON, January S.-The President
to-day transmitted TO Congress the follow
ing message:
81 transmit herewith communication
from the Secretary OF War submitting
the annual report of The Mississippi
River Commission. l take this occasion
to invite the early attention of Con-
gress to the continuation OF work on the
Mississippi river, which has been car
ried on under the plans of the commission.
My sense of the Importance of the i'm
proyement OF this river, not not only to
the people of the Northwest, but especially
to the inhabitants of the lower Mississippi
river valley, las already been expressed
IN q special communication to the last
Congress. The harvest of grain and cot
ton products in the region bordering on
the Mississippi is so vast rs To be of Ia
tional importance, and the project now be-
ing executed there in the interest of cheap
transportation should be sufficiently pro-
Vided for. The commission report that the
results due to the still uncompleted works
has been remarkable, and give the highest
encouragement tor expecting the ultimate
success of the Improvements. The act of
August >, 1882, appropriated s., ,l2S, 900 for
work on that part OF the river below
Cairo. The est mates of the commission
already transmitted to Congress call for
S3,OOO,000 for the continuation of the
works below Cairo, and it appears from the
report that all of the last appropriation
available for active operations is exhausted,
an immediate appropriation OF $1,000, ,0OO
is urgently needed TO continue the work
without loss OF time, in view OF the ap-
proach of the flood season and its attend
ant dangers. l therefore recommend to
Con,Er the early passage OF a separate
CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
EXECUTIVE MASsIoS. January s, 1884.
THE ItENNEPIK oANAL.
The President, also sent to Congress a
special message in respect to the construc-
ton of the Hennepin canal. Accompany
ing the message were copies Of the act OF
the General Assembly OF Illinois ceding
TO the United States the Illinois ard Mich
iSan canal, the record of the vote OF the
State upon the proposition to cede the ca
nal at the State election succeeding the
act of cession, and letter of the chief OF
engineers transmitting to the Secretary OF
War report of the surveys OF the pro-
posed Hennepin canal. In the message
the President s.Iys
81 submit communication from the
Governor of the State OF Illinois, with
a copy of the act of the General As
sembly of the State, rendering the
United States the ceSsion of the Hi
nois and Michigan canal upon condition
that il be enlarged and maintained as Q
national water way for commercial pur-
poses. The proposed eessiou is subject
Congress had under consideration in di-
recting, by the act of August ., 1882. o
survey for canal from point on the Illi-
nois river al or near the town of Hennepin
by the most practicable route to the Missis-
sippi river at OF. about the city of Rock
Island, the cansl to be not less than seven
ty feet wide at the water line, and not less
than seven feet depth OF water, with a
capacity for vessels OF at least 2So tons,
and also a survey OF the Illinois and
Michigan canal and estimates Of the cost
of enlarging it to the dimension of the
proposed canal between Hennepin and
the Mississippi liver. The surveys ordered
in the above act have been completed and
the report upon them inelosed in tie last
annual report OF the Secretary ai War,
and copy is herewith submitted. 1t sp.
sears from thss, papers that the estimated