The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-01-12
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
EsPsft ct tAs Mississippi River Commission
Of WOrk Doas Sines Dsssn-
bsf 1852.

RsPsft sf shs Mississippi River Commission
Of Work Dons sines Dsssn-
bsf lSs2.
WASHINGTON, December aS.-
The report of the Mississippi Riv-
er Commission, giving progress OF
surveys and examinations in i'm.
provements on that river since
December /, 1852. MAS submitted
TO the Secretary of War te-iay.
1t says; AT the date of the last
annual report, December of last
year. work had been fairly inaugu-
rated on Plum Point and Lake
Providence reaches; also in the
vicinity Of Memphis and vicks
burg. Throughout December and
January work was pushed with
great vIgor. At Plum Point and
Lake Providence a considerable
amount of mattress work was lost,
and uncompleted pile dykes also
suffered considerably from aceu-
mutation Of drifts and strong cur
rent, due to the rapid rising of
the river. High water prevailed
continuously until the end of July.
During this period work WAS con.
fined to the dykes, which requir.
ed constant watching and repairs.
After the subsidence of the flood,
the construction of mattresses for
bank revetment was resumed, but
the season proved unusually sick
ly aud labor WAS scarce aud inefli-
cient. Nothing, in consequence,
was accomplished until the advent
of cool weather. Since then the
work has progressed rapidly. Ev.
cry en'leavor has been made to
place the work in as safe condi-
tion as possible, but it 10 greatly
to be feared that this will only be
partially accomplished, as the
funds available from the balance
of last years appropriation will
only admit of carrying on opera.
tions til the middle of December,
after which time all work will.
have to cease until Congress
makes further appropriation. An
appropriation of $2,O00,o00 made
Immediately could be advants-
geously used. The experience Of
the past year shows that the prin-
ciples upon which the Commission
based the work are. perfectly
sound, and in this respect no nod.
ifcation seems necessary, though
In regard to l"at
DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION
some changes were called for,
Contraction works, consisting es-
sentially of dykes of piling sus'
tanning curtains of screens and
brush, proved generally too weak
for the work imposed Oh them
The great depth of water which
must he maintained, the enormous
accumulations of floating drift and
the long duration of the high wa
ter period are the main points in
which our experience differs from
any previously noted with similar
structures of ether localities. Thit
necessitated much more substan
tial work than was deemed neces
sary, with proportionate increase
in the cost. 1t should, however
be noted in regard to these works
upon which the main damage ex
perienced has been concentrated
that they are not necessarily per
manent, and are only intended t
effect certain definite results, Al
lifting up certain portions of thu
river bed. When this work is ac
complis'ed, their work as a rul'
is ended, and maintenance NJ
longer required. Reyctment worl
undertaken, whenever completed
has proven entirely successful
and but slight modification of th'
general style and details OH tn
construction is found necessary
Next, the scarcity of labor. Tn
greatest difficulty has been in SC
curing an ample and timely suppl
of materials used in the construC
tion, especially brush aud stone
During the previous waite
seasons Plum Point and LAX
Providence reaches had been fu
| ly as shallow as any points on tn
river, yet during the present ser