The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-16
Tho Waterways Convention Com
mittee in Washington,
The Plan to Let Lake Michigan
Water Into the Mississippi.
Depth of the River To Be Raised
Six Inches at Memphis.
How River Steamers win Be Able
to Proceed from New Orleans to
Chicago and Other
Lake Ports.
Special Dispatch to The Appeal.

Special Dispatch 10 The Appeal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.--The House CON-
mittee on railways and canals gave hear
ing this morning to delegation from the
recent Peoria convention in behalf OF Mr..
Springer's bill TO create the lakes and gulf
waterways commission. This bill pro-
vides for the appointment OF a commission
whose duty il shall be to execute such
plans as will be found proper to connect
Lake Michigan at Chicago with the MIS-
sissippi river by way Of the Desplaines and
Illinois rivers, and such. other ways as
will render available that route so as TO af-
ford continuous water route between the
great lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, capa-
bic Of use for the largest river vessels, the
discharge Of water from the lakes to be
100000 cubic feet per minute, and to make
estimates OF the cost thereof. Two men,
bes Of the delegation, Judge Hurd and
Mr.. Shorey, spoke at length. Judge llurd
called attention 10 the report OF the govern
ment commission which recommended q
channel lG0 feet in width and twenty-five
or twenty-iour feet in depth, with
current Of two miles per hour and co.,
600 cubic feet OF water minute. The
Mississippi river was being improved be-
tween Cairo and st. Louis, he said, so as
To give channel OF eight feet upon the
bars, and the government commission
recommended that il be deepened TO ten
feet. The amount OF water which would
be sent nom the lakes, in case the plan he
opposed by the pending bill was car
ried out, would make IL possible TO
have channel OF seventeen feet, which
would add 20 per cent. TO the low water
volume Of the Mississippi at st. Louis, and
an increased depth of one foot from that
city to Cairo. This would give a low
water minimum Of eleven feet in the Mis-
sissippi at Cairo, provided the suggestions
OF the commission were adopted. II
would also add six inches 10 the low water
stage Of the Mississippi at Memphis, and
would result in great benefit TO the entire
commerce Of the Mississippi valley. Mr.
shorey dwelt upon the Importance Of this
water way in case OF war.
Associated Press Report
TO CONNECT THE RIVER AND LAKES.
The House committee on railways and
canals today gave a hearing to delega
ton from Chicago, upon the pending bill
for the opening Of the Illinois and Michigan
canals. The delegation urged the import
ance Of making the canal Of a depth o
twenty-five feet, with view 10 It's nayiga
ton by large river and lake craft II wa
estimated that a canal Of that depth woul,
have a current Of two miles per hour, car
rying over 800, 600 cubic feet Of water cacl
minute from the lakes into the Mississippi
river. The navigation of the Mississippi
would be improved as this volume Of waite
poured into Il, and would add one foot Z
the present depth at the mouth OF the I'LL
nois river and six inches nj Memphis. Tn
depth OF the Illinois river would be In
creased about three feet The delegation
argued that with this depth OF water tn
great Mississippi steamships would be adj
10 run from New Orleans directly 10 Chi
cago and other lake points. In view Q
the benefits 10 the present sewerage syt
TEN expected 10 result from the opening u
OF the canal, the delegation felt that
could assure Congress that the city Of Chi
cago would be willing to bear fair shar
OF the expense Of construction.