The New York herald., 1844-07-20

[From the Providence Journal
Descent or the Mississippi-FloOds ON the
Upper Mississippi.
New ORLEANS, June, 1874.
have Just made trip down the Mississippi in
one Of our elegant and spacious steamers on board
OF which each passenger had commodious state
room assigned him. with one door opening on the
guards, and another entering AIRY saloon cabin,
which is elevated above the heat, dirt, and often
sive odors Of the deck and hold. To this COM
Portable apartment, when tired of lounge upon
the promenade, or when the chat of the social hall
langulshes or grows wearisome, the passenger may
retire, and in all the privacy and seclusion OF his
own chamber, sit and contemplate the rapidly pass
ing scene before him, and when that grows mo-
notonous or familiar, with his book or writing ma
terials, he finds agreeable employment for dull
hour. Thus, in the space of five days, at cost OF
$40 only, we were waited, in a floating palace,
furnished with all the comforts and luxuiies OF
hotel, distance of 1000 miles, from the fresh YER
dure and opening flowers OF sprlng-from the new
| ly planted fields. where corn was Just struggling
through the ground in Iowa and Wisconsin, To re-
gions where the maturedtrulis OF summer are being
gathered and are already IN the market
| The weather on shore was sultry and oppressive,
| but borne along III our swift flight upon BOOM
/ ing current, at speed that outstrip the Hight OF
the mosquito, thereby leaving these musical ccm-
panons behind us, we created IN the sluggish at
mosphere brisk, bracing current, almost as re-
i ireshing as the mountain breeze. As we passed
| along the full overnowing banks of The "Falher Of
Waters" on the ridge which this mighty artery OF
a continent has been. through ages building up to
/ itself, from the bottom OF a vast inland sea, and
over which It's current now runs as through an aque
duct, elevated many feet above the adjoining lands
we could look of over the cleared plantations, as
if we were passing along the summit OF gentle
accllyiy, commanding view OF the slopins wales
on either side and cur steamer when viewed
from the Of one OF these plantations. appeared
to the beholder TO be sweeping through vast ca
nal, carried along the ridge OF high land;
All the tributaries flowing from the West, and
having their sources at the base OF the Rocky
| Mountains, having this season brought down
| swollen floods that have overfowed their own
banks and spread devastation through their course,
have filled the banks fthe Mississippi to the brlm;
land from the mouth of the Missouri to the month
OF Red River, the waters. at eyerv low point, are
bursting the banks, and rushing with the rapid
current OF mill tal, back at right angles, to the
river, to the swamps and lakes in the rear, which
are, in places, five, ten, twenty and thirty miles
distant from the river. These are rapidly filling
up, and the back water is gradually approaching
on the back side OF the plantations that do not
overflow in front. And IN many places as we
passed, we saw but narrow strip, Of dry land on
the immediate banks of the rver which still peered
few inches above the wild food in front of it, and
the wide waste of waters spread out in lis rear.
Here upon the highest knoll, were gathered large
herds OF domestic animals, driven by the flood
from the cane brakes and their accustomed ranges,
to seek safety on the little island spot around the
| farm yard, the negro cabins and their owners
dwelling. They stood, watching the accumu-
| lating waters that were surrounding them, with an
aspect that seemed in sympathy with the anxiety
| and sadness of their master.
| The highest banks along the bottoms are now NOT
more than l5 or 20 inches above the level OF the
river, and here and there, where the shores tell be-
low the level OF the waters, and were not protected
by sufficient levees, impeuous sheets of water, a
mile in width, were pouring over them, carrying
ruin and destruction in their course and the plea
snre oil delightful trip was marred and often
turned to sadness by the scenes OF desolatlon and
irreparable loss caused by the overwhelming wa.
ters. From our deck we beheld magnificent COZ 4
and cotton fields, containing hundreds OF acIec
with their long rows extending back from the rlv.
er, and, far as the eye could trace, their dark
verdure and rich luxuriance sadly contrasting with
the turbid waters-which were buried to the depth
of two three feet in the flood And the cabins
of the poor wood d-choppers-who,u under the provis-
| ions OF Mr.. Bentons pre-empten land bill, have
squatted upon nearly every unlmproved quarter
section along the river, more with the view 10 cul
the wood than to secure an eligible spot tor perma
nent settlement. and who consequently have lalc
their claims upon all the lowland as well as othe
were standing In many Instances. amidst foot
OF angry, turbulent waters, and the poor inmates
were still adherng to their desolate dwellings
or padding about them on RATS or in "dug outs,
bniieting the wild, invading current, and striving
to preserve some portion OF the product OF thel
parture for the Delta of the Mississippi they look
ed like community of beavers whose habitatlon
had been rudely invaded by torrent.
in coming to tor wood, we often found ourselves
in the middle OF field, and surrounded by tn,
stumps and decaylDg trees OF recent clearing, td
some one Of which we moored our boat and once
by the unlucky management Of the pilot, the
engineer, we brought away the root and chief por
ton of log cabin, all standing, up on our bow
it was dark, and fearful thunder gust ap
proacbing what other shelter the poor fellows hac
in that lone wilderness spot, surrounded by tur
gid, angry food, amid impenetrable darkness anc
the crash of thunder, and the rage Of pities,
storm-we stopt not to enquire, but went dashlns
on our way.
In two or three instances we passed extensive
estates of thousand acres or more, which
hundred or hundred and fifty handssw EN-
ployed; where the current had undermined the
bank, Of land had fallen in, carrying with il
the levee, and opening breach through which
the waves rushed, and the verdant and highly
cultivated fields, in all their pride Of riches and
beauty, were given up to desolation and ruin
The ranges OF neat white negro cabins were being
swept, one alter another, away, and the noble
mansion Of the proprietor was falling and the la
bor ofyears, and the fruits OF lite of industry, in
| few hours were destroyed
II is to be lamented that matter of such vast
Importance the leveeing the banks o the Missls-
sippi, requiring the thorough knowledge and high
est skill OF the engineer should not have been made
a national work before the lands-whose increased
value would have paid the cost-were sold, or al
least that the work has not been taken in charge OF
the States that bound the river. 1t is affair
of too vital Importance TO all who possess property
within reach of the waters of the river, TO have
their safety and interests dependent on the ability
the foresight and care Of every one who may
chance to gain possession of piece Of land on
the river in front or above them. The neglect oi
one slothiu, improvdent, or poor settler, may en-
danger or destroy the property of hundreds in the
| rear or below him. Louisiana is the only State
| where the construction Of leevees and their man.
agement have been taken in hand by the State
This State has erected evees across waste lands
and swamps on the river and back bayous at her
own expense, and the whole system OF levces are
now placed in charge Of the various parishes, who
are authorised TO impose specific tax for the
construction and repair of them, and they are
managed as public highways are in other States.--
The result is the recovery and preservation OF a
vast body of most valuable land, which i'm Ark an.