The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-29
Estimates of the Mississippi River
Commission for the Fiscal
Year 1901.
COMPLAINS OF LACK OF FUNDS.
Damage to Improvements Has
Been Incurred Because of Need
of Money 10 Carry Out
Existing Projects.

Washington. July 2-The Mississippi
River Commission. having in charge the
work Of Improvement Of the river from the
mouth Of the Ohio to the head OF the pass
eT. has submitted its annual report TO the
Chief Of Engineers. The estimates for the
fiscal year 1901 are as follows:
Continuing work under the commission.
100000: protection Of banks at Caruthers-
vile, 5000; harbor at Memphis. Tenn, So
e0: harbor at GreenviIle. Miss. 5000: pres
eFvation of works At Delta Point. La. S25,-
900; harbor at Natchez, Miss. and Vidalia,
La, 10000; r~ectifcatiun OF Red and Atch-
afalaya rivers. Louisiana. S0.CO0; harbor st
New Orleans. La, $4,000"
Expenditures Of twenty-five Years.
On the first Of the present fiscal year, a
balance OF S539.aa was available for i'm
provemcnts Of the river. \ statement is
made showing that. since the organization
of the commission in 1873 until the present
time, the total amount appropriated Tor
that portion Of the Mississippi River undzr
the commission has been Si3.5726S3.
The report speaks Of the success OF the
dredging fleet and recommends an Increase
in the number and caracity. by which the
present standard depth, nine feet. and 20
wide at low water. can be increased to ad-
vantage.
The report further states that, in conse-
quence OF the failure of any appropria-
lions Of 1890. work has been restricted TO
such repairs Of existing work rs were pos
sible with the balances on hand.
Lack of Funds to Complete Projects.
The report shows that the improvements
heretofore made are generally in a good
condition. but in places damage has oc-
CURED by reason OF lack Of funds to carry
out existing projects. Speaking particularly
Of the leEee. the report saws:
The cubic yardage OF the lcvees lost by
cavinG during the past year has been about
t~hree-qu2rters Of l per cent Of the amount
already in place. The average amount lost
for the past six years. during which time
records have been kept. IS not in excess of
two-thirds Of ! per cent 1t Is probable
that in the near future this rate Of loss
Will be temporarily increased. in conse-
quence Of the proximity Of caving banks in
some localities.
In several cases the question OF a new
location is complicated by the existence OF
old rivers. lakes Of other distractions in the
immediate rear OF the lsvee line"
An Interesting Question.
1t is shown that. in the construction OF
levees along the Mississippi River during
the past year, the United States has built
SSl6I9 cubic yards, and the States by which
the river flows L.43,SS2 cubic yards. In
connection with the surveys OF the river, (
the report SAYS:
"Leveling Of parts of the line along the
lower river has shown discrepancies which
indicate a geological disturbance along the
shore of the Gulf OF Mexico. The interest
ing question thus raised makes it highly
important that the line below the older for
on the river bank. which give rela- |
tive assurance Of the stability of the earth's
surface. should be rerun at proper inter-