New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-13
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI
HEARING BEFORE THE SENATE COMMERCE CON-
MITTEE on PLANS LOOKING TO 1T.

HEARING BEFORE THE SENATE COMMERCE COM
MITTEE on PLANS LOOKING TO 1T.
Washington May ia series of hearings upon
plans for the improvement OF the Mississippi River was
begun by the Senate Committee on Commerce to-day
senator Frye. chairman Of the committee, asked Gen
era ComstOck. chairman Of the Mississippi River Com
mission 70 make a statement OF the work done and the
results
General Comstock said the Commission had entered
upon a general plan Of contracting the river 70 an
average width of $500 feet in places It's natural
width i, from one 10 two miles The purpose OF
this plan is to deepen the low water channel.
The results NJ this plan have been
satisfactory As to the Lake Borgnc outlet scheme
General Comstock said the outlet should not be CON
strlc ted. 1t would in the opinion Of the Com
mission. result in the shoalng Of the river below
Ncw-Oglcans. Referring t. tho general statement
that the beds Of leveed rivers gradually rise. Gen
eral Comstock instanced the River Pc, where in 400
year, the low water surface AT some points has not
varied all other points, the records show that
the low water surface IN - or 100 wears has
risen xix or eight inches. As to the Mississippi
River. the records which 20 back only few years, do
not in his opinion. indicate any rise whatever In the
bed Of the river. the slight variations being due IN
all probability Ia local causes. General Comstock
thought the Eads ettcs had not raised the bed of the
river one inch
senator Frye asked 10 what extent the Commission
had gone into the building of levceS.
General Comstocl-To the OF about 70 900. =
600. II has been done by the Commission in pur-
suance of the requirement, II the Law under which
it operates. aid to navigation. in a
minority Of the Commission; the majority believe that
the system OF levccs i, aid to navigation. For
that purpose / would not build eyecs.
10 finish the plan Of Improvement for the naviga.
ton Of the river alone would require in General
Comstoch, opinion. 575.O0o.0oo. If the levess
but up the whole length OF the river at the same
time. IT Chit reduce this estimate 5l0,OOO.0oO.
MiIor Charles Il. Suteg. member Of tho Mississippi
River Commission. detailed at length the various
features II the plan followed D. the Commission in the
improv rmcnt Of The channel o. The river. and tho
theories upon which the commission had adopted
them. The outlet system had been condemned in
toto The witness said he differed from General
Coin.tocI in that he would the levee system in
conjunction with the other works con
structed by the Commission for the purpose
Of improving the a,iG,ton of the river. At
the points where the Commission has
>iructcd work, Of any extent, the low water depth
of the river mud been more than doubled There /,
no evidence Major sutcr said, tina; the bed Of the
river had been raised by the levoe> The Lake
Iorgnc outlet. the witness continued would false
tho level Of water above it that was a law Of hydru.
lies.
captain : : Leach. Of the Corp. of Engineers, who
Ia, been connected with The work The Mississippi
River since the summer ~ l0,~. aid that 20 dNlne
tn. channel AT Lake NOrsue VOuld Doe 10 transfer al"
head o the pa->t, 10 Sew orleans. Tie citcct on
tin, Hood height al New Ol!cai, l~ well known That
/, th. first ana principal objection To the outlet
,chcfuc Continuing. on thc ~ul lec OF the assertion
that the bed of thr river is gradually r,!nS ~cau~e
OF the clc, captain Leach rad from the report o!
olonc Ellct made 10 IT,. Var Department IN l-1o
rn- report. the WitncS, aid. had Dcen PuotH bc3l'
thc committee i'm A gArbicd form tolonel E!let
stated that the bed of The river was not rising, ana
that any apparent change Vas not dur 10 tue "Nec
system.
In reply to senator Frc, General 'on''',h aiu
Major ~licr gave IT th'r opinion ilat i' ItH
prIvcmcnt of the Mississippi lad been retarded 10y
r, providing THAI part of the money appropriated
should be eA pcudcd on specific localucs.
Captain Leach. rc,unIng. said that the experience
of mi, year. with all it, disasters. showed tat II was
now safe to start out on scheme of lcNccs that
would be- absolutely imprcsI1l!c All the present
hr,nls rould be repaired Wi;h Al appropriation ~
500 600 there being NO break, on IN" high and
massive lcvcc~. and an imprenahe ieNec y ten !
,,uld be built for slO.OOO0Op fhe entire Msis ,ppi
could be handsomely improved and made all That
rouh Doe expected Oi il Tor SjoOOOOOo.