EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 8, 1884_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_
I transmit herewith to the House of Representatives a communication from
the Secretary of War, submitting the annual report of the Mississippi
River Commission.
I take this occasion to invite the early attention of Congress to the
continuation of the work on the Mississippi River which is being carried
on under the plans of the commission. My sense of the importance of the
improvement of this river, not only to the people of the Northwest, but
especially to the inhabitants of the Lower Mississippi Valley, has
already been expressed in a special communication to the last Congress.
The harvests of grain and cotton produced in the region bordering upon
the Mississippi are so vast as to be of national importance, and the
project now being executed for their cheap transportation should be
sufficiently provided for.
The commission report that the results due to the still uncompleted
works have been remarkable, and give the highest encouragement for
expecting the ultimate success of the improvement.
The act of August 2, 1882, appropriated $4,123,000 for the work on that
part of the river below Cairo. The estimates of the commission already
transmitted to Congress call for $3,000,000 for the continuation of the
work below Cairo, and it appears from their report that all of the last
appropriation available for active operations has been exhausted and
that there is urgently needed an immediate appropriation of $1,000,000
to continue the work without loss of time, in view of the approach of
the flood season, with its attendant dangers.
I therefore recommend to Congress the early passage of a separate bill
on this subject.