The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-08-31
On Levees--No, 2,


Eds. CrssetWe have Just seen the very able and com.
production of Doctor ]. B. Wilkinson addressed
to the Senate Committee on evees His views show him
possess penetrating mndand however much may diff
fer in the detail the eectua method of protect
ing heagrcuura and other interests affected by the overflow
OF the river we deem his views worthy of deep consideration
We have already heretofore expressed the sentiment that the
bottom OF the river elevaes in proportion 10 the natural de-
post left upon its Shores This proposition think admits
OF demonstration and may hereafter present you the facts
aud aXoms, arranged IN such order they suggest themselves
to our mnd-we deem this proposition fundamental. and that
no project in disregard to such fact promise perpeuty
even fail TO be Of future evil The dsreg ard Of that fact
has already produced places increased dangers
the oldest evees show often feet of deposs their
river de-and that the cultivated fields have lost that much,
by being protected from overflow. We hayeno hestaonto
believe, that there had never been any eYee, the country
to-day, would have been worth more than it now is We
hear nothing than for old experienced cotton
planters, who well acquainted with the cultivation of the
highlands to so much greater is the produce Of the
Owands that they would give them the preferences although
they should lose every fourth crop by OveriOws
But 10 the planter the mere loss of crop, is only
mOiety Of his loss. lie must have certainty of protection
he plant 1t is this nty of protection together
with the certainty that the uncutivated land constantly
being prepared fora cultivation, that desire pro-
pose And think it in the plan 10 let cUerB poH
icUes entirely around the land he desires to catir0
and r0c ont the seepagC toater In artificial
1t may he otherwise han desrabetO have outlet
pontbut practicable, above aud below between
the several We propose trenches to be dug-but
high outlets the natural surface OF the eath
But the portion Of the present cultivated land
| having become low in comparison to what il would
have been, lift had heretofore enjoyed depOsit-hesa
desirable rapliy of The side leveeS may there
outlets, in many instances will be found 10 have
FORE require some small art cal protection
prevent them from being abFaseh lftS system protection
should be wed with any favor, Will be perceived, that
is applicable to the Bayous Atchataaya, Pauuemne, La.
fOurChe and Mancbac, elsewhere-and if such outlets
shall he deemed insufficient to of the surplus water that
|
damage Ordanger he appehended by the plan
tiers the LalOurche elsewhere from larger out lets
through the Lakes Aemands and Washa, the ground
of the ae at Bonnet Care wherever else expert
ence shall find them necessary.
The BayOus AtChafalaya, Plaquemue and Iltourcc we
apprehend, VIII require ddOna enlargement, facility
discharge the duty and eryude required of them
tleman present, Immediately from the Achaiaaya, in
forms that according his Judgment that Bayou dis
charges than the present moment supplied by
Red River But could not the old canal into Lake Neuete,
be made available
| We do not view the plan of MIR. McDOnOgh with the
GOODNESS with which to be regarded by Doctor VIII
kusOnwe Unpepared say, that il would have been
tally Inefficient in particular localities lift had been adopted
es, day. before any loss OF deposit had been sustain.
ed by the front landbut undo, the of facts
tcaF would be found inappcabe to most locations But
might itEn be beneficial in of the sections Of
the BayOus mouths, which the ocean lev.
FL? Would . system of drainage, somewhat analogous.
a. before suggested be Ot great benefit New Oreans-he
bitches 10 communicate with the river but commence
and reach the Lake. mistake
ut least we seem to remember conversation with Mr. Ne
DuIOgh thirty years ago when thought he had
favorable view ofthe plan propose, and which
embodied ih a memorial TO the Legislature OfS4 and hcl
was submitted to joint committee (he Senators from Con
cOlia and Auakapas, and the member from East Baton
Rouge) who made, inst at the heel Of the session. lvOra
bic report We regret that isnOt at present power
cali up in his mind old rem sciences on this subject witt
charts, plates and diagrams But could not Mr.. McDOuogf
be induced at the time, to visit the governing point
Of our Delta from Old Fort Pickering down the
Who better able make the sacrifice? To whose repor
will community yield more lofty reliance? If our Legsa
ture to take action this subject is be presumed thai
they will rest the conclusions Of speculative mndon tn
opinions of men, whose acquaintance with the country
comparatively, of but few weeks, whatever may be lhe
accuracy to the general matters of science?
We give ready with Doctor Wilkinson that nc
perCepbe relief to be expected from forced deepening
the estuary mouths While might be added we con
slider the he gives adverse to such hope sufficient
and conclusive.
But it seems TO be thought by some that the only way tc
insure sufficient depth of the mouth of the Rive
TO the purposes of commerce, conne all the wa
ter that at time be charged upon the River within
artificial embankmen in order to insure current sufficiently
rapid and fOrCefu carry the sediment farther out to sea-
The philosophy of which this is the teaching to be CON
sent must also that the bottom of the River does moi
eeyatethat remains staonaryOr changes from shoal
deep according as the elevation of water makes the
| more or less rapid
But are there not facts extremely unfortunate to this
theory? We believe denies that he current is more
dlu Wllell Lt NlNtI lgll IMAM when OW
pens it, then, that tile bar the mouth the water more
shoa in high water than in low If this be true would
seem should SEEK by outlets lower the water down tc
the low water Standard TO insure the deepest water on thu
bar But, if we diminish the water decrease the apdit,
of the current
As we sometimes have remarkably high water, 20 some
times we have remarkably low. During some years thu
andbars have not been covered We think such was tn
in 1872. But during such years. was there any com
plant account OF unusual deficiency of water on thu
bar at the mouth the River2
Suppose section of the Rver-say from Baton Rouge IL
Paquemmesto be- in all its parts OF equal capacity in
teph when the banks full one hundred fet-is curep
three miles per hour. Now, suppose an additional elevation
Of of two feet confined by embankmeuts to have in
creased tbs current mile hour. If at Manchac W,
insert siphon Of sufficient throw out this increase
of two feet Of flood, that the water is exactly two fee
higher above ManchaC than it below will the rapidjty
the current below be diminished below the three mi les pe
hourhat being the rate Of the whole section previous to The
supposed rise Of feet Why should there be any NOR
deposit Immediately below the supposed sphon than Their
was when the whole section was Just one hundred feet in
DEPTH and the current at three miles hour? # is not liz,
cuto when the current OF section Of the River is OBJ
ruced by the weight OF pressing against the Dpag
nj the lower mouth Of the detached section Our mind doe
| not perceive any ground for such bars to stand on
We therefore INQUIRE whether the bar formed immediate,
below the Bonnet Car6 cvase not have een ndebt
ed to other causes for IFS formation than the mere diminished
mpdy of current occasoned by the outlet of water there