The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-05-11
Cverhows.

The large number of crevasses which have &C.
Cured during the present spring, must lead the
people of the river parishes and of the city of New
Orleans to reflect whether some means may not De
devised for more effectually protecting them from
the yearly inroads of the Mississippi. Hitherto the
principal means of protection has been levees. but
levees are in themselves rude instruments for con-
trolling water; and during an extraordinary rise OF
the river are but weak agents for keeping 1t within
its banks. The levying plan was very we'll for the
colonial state of Louisiana when the population was
scattered the property of the inhabitants nconsid
cradle, and the engineering science of the country
small and limited. But it behooves us to consider
whether at the present day, our scientific know
ledge and social advancement do not furnish with
more effectual means than levees for controlling
the course and movements of the Mississippi.
1t seems to US that the Mississippi is Sampson
that must be shorn Of its locks before you can take
away its power to iDjure. 1t must be overcome
by cunning and skill rather than by force and vio
lence. 1t is not by throwing up barriers and at
tempting to resist the river that you most eec
tualIy restrain its power. A better plan would be
to divert its energies into many channels-weaken
it by division, and then permanently deprive it of
its fearful and destroying qualities. Able engineers
have at various times suggested plans to the Legs-
ature for turning part of the waters of the Misss
sippi into artificial canals running from the river
TO the sea. And this seems to be the course pointed
out by nature as we'll as by common sense for re-
lieving the pressure on the levees during high
water. The bayous which carry off portion OF
the waters of the Mississippi, hints to man for
using similar artificial contr;vances for effecting
the same end. The State, then, instead of closing
up the various outlets and bayous, should open and
enlarge these natural channels for conducting the
superabundant waters of the Mississippi to the
ocean. In the same way that you relieve an apo
plectc man by opening vein and letting off the
blood which presses on his brain, so by opening
communications from the river to the lake, you take
off the water which would otherwise burst through
the banks that tremblingly attempt to hold it, and
relieve the country from the continual fear of over
flow and inundation.
Nor would the work be difficult or expensive
The river being several feet higher than the lane
between it and the lake. it would only be necessary
to raise embankments, and tap the levee in orde
to take off the the water The only danger in sucl
an operation would be that of taking too mucl
water from the main channel. Hence it would bt
necessary to have the work superintendent by mel
thoroughly scientific and practical. 1t will not d.
to trust so important matter to scolists - thos'
who have cleaned from books few of the leading
principles of engineering, and fancy themselves 81
possessed with genius as to be able TO apply thos
principles without long and extensive experience
The canals, as well as the river, would require tn
constant care and attention of the State Engineer
and it would be necessary for him to have YER
accurate ideas, not only of the amount of waite
| which might in given time be carried away b.
the canals but also the most extensive hydrograph
| ical information as to the bed and currents of til
Mississippi. With such canals and such an En-
gineer, we might go to bed at night without an
apprehension of finding ourselves surrounded wit
water, or may be floating down toward the Gu
| of Mexico, when we awoke in the morning.
| Means for protecting the city itself have bee
for several years past pressed on the attention
| the Municipal Councils; but hitherto no actio
have been very profuse of promises, and yer
bustlingly busy as long as an overflow was rhrea,
ened but, as soon as the danger has passed, the
have reapsed into their usual negative do-nothing
but-tax sort of habits, and the people have not ye
thought proper to take the matter into their ow
hands. 1t is high time, however, that somethin
should be done for protecting the property of Ne,
| Orleans from the river; and we hope that tn
voters of the city will, during the next fall, let the
would-be representatives know that they will Gel
tainly expect some protection at the hands of tn
| Legislature of 1850.