RECLAMATION OF THE ALLUVIAL BASIN OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

REPORTS

UPON. THE

SPECIMENS OBTAINED FROM BORINGS MADE IN 1874 BETWEEN
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND LAKE BORGNE, AT THE SITE
PROPOSED FOR AN OUTLET FOR FLOOD WATERS,

BY

PROF. EUGENE W. HILGARD

AND

DR. F. V. HOPKINS.

WITH A

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FROM BVT. MAJ. GENERAL G. K. WARREN,
MAJOR OF ENGINEERS, PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION.

BEING A

SUPPLEMENT TO THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF ENGINEERS
OF JANUARY 16, 1875.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, D. C., February 21, 1878.

SIR: Maj. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers, president of the board of commissioners appointed to investigate and report a permanent plan for the reclamation of the alluvial basin of the Mississippi River subject to inundation, has transmitted to this office a report by Prof. Eugene W. Hilgard and Dr. F. V. Hopkins upon the specimens obtained from borings made in 1874, by direction of the commission, between the Mississippi River and Lake Borgne.

The report was intended to accompany my annual report for 1877, but the illustrations were not ready in time.

The report is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the formation of the delta of the Mississippi, and the description and classification of the specimens obtained have a scientific value making it desirable that it should be printed without delay.

I would therefore recommend that it be printed at the Government Printing Office, and that 1,500 copies be obtained on the usual department requisition.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. GEO. W. MCCRARY,

A. A. HUMPHREYS, Brigadier-General and Chief of Engineers.

Secretary of War.