The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-17
lay
HARBOR PROBLEM
BEFORE EXPERTS
River Commission Promises to
Do All Possible in Effort to
Divert Current to Wash
Away Mud Island.

The troubles of Memphis. insofar as
ner narbor is concerned, were laid be.
lore the Mississippi river commission
Monday morning when a delegation of
business men, representing the Memphis
chamber of Commerce. appeared before
that body seeking their cooperation in
improving the harbor conditions here.
J; Rowlett Paine, mayor-elect, acted as
chairman of the local delegation and
pledged the active support of the Mem
pms city commission in lettering har-
pei conditions in order that Memphis
might grow commercially during the
administration of the Citizens league
candidates who were elected on Nov. 6.
Local conditions in detail during
PERIODS Of low water, when the canal
becomes almost unnavigable. were de-
scribed. The speakers who represented
the hopes and ambitions Of Memphis to
become a great inland river point were
) Rowlett Paine, mayor-elect; Thomas
II. Allen, commissioner elect; James S.
DaVant, commissioner of the Memphis
Irelght bureau c. w. Miller, city COM
missioner; j. P, Norfleet, S. B. Ander-
son, James b. McGinnis, commissioner
Memphis Merchants exchange, and Is.
l.. Mallory. Others members of the
Chamber of Commerce delegation were;
H. II. Hayley, r. w. Bailey, NJ. IL.
hunt II H. Barker, W. ]. Prescott and
W. W. Fisher.
A plea for a harbor open to naviga-
uon the year round and also a request
that dredging be lone in Wolf river to
APPOINT above industries now located on
that river also was asked. The diff
cultles encountered during the recent
low water period by the wharf boats
and packets, owing to the presence of a
deposit of mud on the levee were re-
counted to the members of the Missis-
sippi river commission.
| VIII Rnnair nvLac
The engineering features necessary
to the accomplishment of the things re-
quested for Memphis were not dis
cussed by the delegation, this matter
being left solely to the discretion OF the
commission, with the promise of active
cooperation from Memphis civic bodies
and the city commission.
Inc Mississippi river commission was
not asked to try to wash away Mud
island The question Of elimination of
this deposit, however, seems to be the
task upon which the river commission
is now centering its activities. In a
statement made prior to the meeting
with the local delegation. Col. C. Med.
townsend, chairman of the river com
mission, stated that the lower of the
Two dykes constructed from Robinson
Crusoe island, would be repaired as soon
as 1t was practicable to do so and that
every effort of the engineering forces of
the district would be directed toward
diverting the current to wash against
Mud island.
Col. Townsend expressed confidence
that the dykes would in time accom-
plish the purpose for which they were
intended. He stated that his idea Of
the reason for the recent washout of
the lower dyke was largely due to the
fact that the work had not had suf-
ficient time to settle and properly fill
1 in hnfpro tho piua nf fhA ,s,,c. .-Ls.l,
now is almost to flood stage, caused
the washout. b
Problem Huge One.
The length of time required to wash
away Mud island after the dykes are
constructed and in operation could not
be stated by Col. Townsend, He stated
that 1t might be accomplished In two
or three years and that it might re-
quire a longer time. This phase of the
work, however, will be continued ener-
getically and with the idea in mind
that the dykes win accomplish the pur-
pose for which they were intended.
Following the hearing by the commits
sion of the local delegation the party
on board the government steamer Mis-
sissippi took their departure for points
below Memphis. The commission left
st, Louis Friday and owing to the high
stage of the river were enabled to make
much better time than had been an
ticipated.
The trip now being made is what is
known as the low water inspection trip
and stops will be made all points along
the river where levee or revetment
work Is being done. The entire trip will
require about eight days. The party
includes Maj. ]. N. Hodges, in charge
of the local office of the United States
engineers, and Maj. Montgomery Gard
ner, also OF the Memphis office, who
are making the trip with the commits
sion.
The party reached Memphis Sunday
afternoon after a thorough inspection OF
all work above Memphis.