74 HAUPT — THE MISSISSIPPI RIVEK PROBLEM. [Feb. 19, 



Commission in 1869, for the purpose of permanently improving 

 the stream from the head of the Passes to the headwaters. 



The duties of the Commission as set forth in the law of June 28, 

 1879, read as follows: 



" Section 4. It shall be the duty of said Commission to take into 

 consideration and mature such plan or plans and estimates as will 

 correct, permanently locate and deepen the channel and protect 

 the banks of the Mississippi river ; improve and give safety and 

 ease to the navigation thereof; prevent destructive floods; pro- 

 mote and facilitate commerce, trade and the postal service ; and 

 when so prepared and matured to submit to the Secretary of War a 

 full and detailed report of their proceedings and actions, and of 

 such plans with the estimates of the cost thereof, for the purposes 

 aforesaid, to be by him transmitted to Congress ; provided, that the 

 Commission shall report in full upon the practicability, feasibility 

 and probable cost of the various plans known as the jetty system, 

 the levee system and the outlet system, as well as upon such others 

 as they deem necessary.'' 



This was the authority for the subsequent systematic improve- 

 ment of the river, which has proven to be an impressive object les- 

 son as to the greatness of the problem and the difficulties to be 

 overcome. 



After so many years of experience, with a large amount of reli- 

 able data at hand, and with the voluminous discussions, more or less 

 acrimonious, between the advocates of various systems, it may be 

 profitable to weigh dispassionately some of the evidence and note 

 where we are trending. 



This may be done best by quoting the language of the Commis- 

 sion itself in the Report of 1903, just published : 



"Systematic work, which has for its object to permanently locate 

 and deepen the channel, has not been practicable under existing 

 conditions. In the limited extension and repair of bank protection 

 and contraction work the Commission has, however, kept in mind 

 that the permanent improvement of the river is contemplated by 

 the organic act, and experiments are continually being made look- 

 ing to the best use of available material and the development of ap- 

 pliances and methods which may be economically and effectively 

 employed when Congress shall provide for such a systematic im- 

 provement." 



From which it appears that the permanent and systematic plan 



