Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-01-10
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Report of the Commission for the Past Year
unsatisfactory Results of the Work at All
POints-RecOmmendati sand Estimates
for additional System of Levees-COngress
Asked to Give the Commission Power to
Condemn Material.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %.
The report of the Mississippi River Com
mission, giving the progress of surveys and
examinations in the improvement of that
river since Dec. 1, 1882, was submitted to
the Secretary of War to-day. It says: At
Ghe date of the last annual report, Deem
Der of last year, work had been fairly in
augurated on Plum Point and Lake Provi-
dence reaches; also in the vicinity of Mem
pAis and Vicksburg. Throughout Decem-
Der 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
diIles also suffered considerable from &C
emulation 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
asidence of the flood the construction of
mattresses for bank revetment
sumed, but the season proved unusually
sckly, labor scarce and inefficient. Moth
lng, in consequence, was accomplished I'M
til the advent of cool weather. Since then
wo. k progressed rapidly. Every endeavor
has been made to place the work in
a 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, 5000 made
immediately, could be advantageously
used. Experience the past year has shown
tie principles upon which the Commission
ba ed its work are perfectly sound, and in
this respect no modification seems neces-
sary, though in regard to details OF con-
Struction 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 &C
cumulations of floating drift and long dura-
tioh 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 q 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 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
viii 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
Thu ough the 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-
cOuraging as regards ultimate success of
improvement. The Commission caused
surveys to be made at New Madrid, Mem
PMS, 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
lid allotments aS not expended for plants
was reallotte0 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 I'M
healthy character of the season, which rem
dered it almost impossible to keep a sur
veying party in the field For the same
reason the survey ordered at Natchez har-
Dor was not undertaken.
AT Memphis harbor work in progress at
the date of the last report under special al
lotmentb by tho Commission was completed,
and the same Is true of the revetment at
Delta Point, La, opposite Vicllsburg.
At New Orleans the construction of a
mattress revetment at Carrollton Bend was
b gun 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, a
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 the Com
mission from the appropriation of August
2, 1882, for levees and outlets, was con-
tinued during the year on the leveeS I'M
finished before the flood of 1882. 1t is ex-
perted 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-
stucting 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
walls 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-
lieve, is practicable or even possible. These
facts suggest obviously the idea of coop
GRAFTON between the general Government
ami the communities interested in the pre-
vention of overflow in the maintenance OF
n levee system which shall serve at the
time the purpose of Improvement OF
the channel and protection from overflow.
And as preliminary to the consideration
OF such suggestion, the probable cost OF
sucl system should be considered. For
about half the distance below Cairo only
one side of the river requires levees. For