Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1892 — TO IMPROVE THE MISSISSIPPI. [ARTICLE]

TO IMPROVE THE MISSISSIPPI.

A Bill Appropriating 813,000,000 Approved by a Senate Committee. After hearing from engineers, officers of the government, and delegations appointed to lay the matter before Congress, the Senate Committee on Commerce has decided to recommend the adoption of a most liberal policy for the improvement of the great internal waterway furnished by the Mississippi River. It was decided that the bill recently introduced by Senator Gibson, of Louisiana, was better adapted to secure satisfactory results than any other. As it will be x-eported to the Senate, the bill makes an appropriation of $15,000,000 for the improvement of tho Mississippi River, whereof $10,000,000 shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of War, in accordance with such plan of tho Mississippi River Commission as may be approved by the chief of engineers, to build, repair and extend the levees, dykes, and other works on the river from the passes to the mouth of the Ohio and for the payment of the salaries and expenses of the commissiofl. There is a proviso that not more than $2,000,001) of this appropriation shall be expended in any one year; that it shall not be expended longer than the State and local authorities continue their present contributions for levee improvements; and that hone of the money shall be used for the purchase of .sites for levees or damages for their construction. The second section of the bill provides that $5,000,000 of the appropriation shall be expended by the Secretary of War on the same section of the river, in accordance with the plans of the chief of engineers, the yearly allotments not to exceed $1,000,000. The bill commits Congress to the levee system of river improvements. It was reported to the Senate by Senator Gibson, its author.