The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-24
The River, Etc.

it more account of the importance of the subject
| on which it treats, than because we concur with
the writer in all his IDEAS That the river is higher
below the mouth of Red River than it was in 1874
and that it is not so high at some points above,
| must be attributed to some fact of more potency
than the making of the Raccourci Cutoff. The
first effect of this to was to confne to the dis
lance of half three quarters of mile the fall in
the river that had before extended over twenty
four miles accordingly, when the new channel
was first opened, the water poured through with
the speed of a mill-race, and had the immediate
effect of essening the volume nearest above, and
increasing that nearest below the cutoff But this
effect was of short Duration The nature of the
bed of the Mississppi-it being of soft alluvion-
facilitated the natural tendency of the water to
find its level, and equalize the rate of its descent
towards the ocean and we accordingly find, in
the course of few months, that there was no per-
eepbe difference in the current through the cutoff
and that above below it. The fall had been dis
ubued in both directions, by slight raising of the
surface level for some distance below and slight
depression Of it for some, but no great distance
above. The effect of the cutoff, beyond this, has
been 10 shorten the distance and of course the time
10 which the volume of water would move between
two given points, the one above and the other be-
low it. We think the height of the water at and
New Orleans this is found to be greater
than it was in 1874, when compared with its
height at Vcksburg at the two periods, may be
mainly attributed to the fact that the high wafer in
the summer of 1874 was caused principally by the
swelling Of the Ohio, Missouri and Upper Missis-
sppi the waters of which passed Vicksburg before
they reached the Delta, while the present flood is
caused chiefly by the rise of the Red River and its
branches, the effects of which, of course cannot
extend for any very great distance above. But one
very great reason why the water at New Orleans is
found higher than it has been in former years during
rises equally great in the river above may be found,
imagine, in the gradual filling up of the Passes
at the mouth. The South Pass, which was once
one of the main channels of the river, is now so
closed up that we have grounded in saboat in the
deepest water the bar at its mouth the Northeast
Pass, which few years ago would admit vessels
drawing fourteen feet water, will not now permit
the passage of those drawing nine. Pass-a-rOutre,
has not a depth of over seven feet and the
great Southwest Pass itself is only kept open by the
constant ploughing up of the bar by the keels of
ships, dragged through the mud of it by the tow
boats. These bars act dams at the great outlet
of the waters of the valley, and the best and speed
lcst VI picsciit DSNl
security against their recurrence, would be to remove
those dams and give the river freedom of egress
to the ocean,. This work, practicable, cheap
and effective-ofsuch incalculable advantages, not
only to the agricultural interests of the country in
times of high water, but to the commerce Of the
city at all tmes-should long since have been IN
dertaken and accomplished. There are the strong
est reasons why it should be performed by the
-.
and propriety shall have been fairly stated, Con-
gress should refuse, the State ought, for its. own
interests, to undertake it. This is a matter on
which we intend to say much before the next ses-
sion of Congress, and we hope that by doing so We
may induce our representatives persuade the hon
orabIe members of that body that there is, some
where to the westward, such river as the Missis-
sippi, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico, and
that there is city called New Orleans near its
mouth
We would not undenate the effect produced by
the construction of new levees, which shut the
river out of waste lands and of course increase the
volume in its channel, as stated by correspond
ent nor yet are we insensible TO the relief which
might be obtained by the opening of collateral
drains but we think them of far less importance
than it would be to deepen and keep open the nat
ural outlets at the mouth.
-
THE BALL OF THURSDAY, AT THE ARMoRY.-
The Ball given the evening before last, by our
gallant young men, in commemoration of the An
niversary of the birthday of the Father of his
Country, not only the finest of the season, but
one of the most crowded and pleasant that we have
seen for some years. The evening was rather
warm, but in the excitement of the May dance
few seemed to trouble themselves about the TEN.
perature Of the atmosphere. We were truly glad
to perceive the number and responsibility of the
assembly, they gave TO hope that notwith-
standing the apathy of the past few months, many
years will yet pass over heads before these in
nocent and joyous reunions will be banished from
our city. We regretted to hear that the indefa-
tigable Madame Brooks had concluded to end the
series, with the ball of Tuesday, but feel confident
that the success Of last evenings attempt will en-
holden her to risk giving an occasional ball during
the winter.
The general harmony that prevailed during the
whole evening, much enhanced the gayety of the oc-
casion while it spoke highly for the perfection of the
young gentlemen managers arrangement. There
were many-very many-lovely ladies present so
many indeed that our head turned at the galaxy
of beauty that every where shone full on our eyes
Many of the fair creoles of the French portion of
our town honored the occasion with their presence,
and their laughing bon mots, their bewitching
smiles and soft beaming eyes, must have caused
much restessness to many of the beaur Of the
evening. We will not ourselves relate how our
heart was stormed and taken-nor attempt to de-
scribe the feeling with which we have suffered
since. for description would be useless similar SEN
saons were universally experienced. But we
wiH say this, the heart was of stone that was not
softened and soothed by the influence of such an
assembly.
The alphabet, in all its varied combinations,
would be more than exhausted were to attempt
to iniaitae the of all that deserved the ap-
pellation Of beautiful We did intend it, but
surprised at the number on our list, and the yet
greater number that every where demanded justice,
we in despair gave up the attempt truly hercu-
lean task. On the hearts of those, however, for