Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-01-18
The y system.

a very able and interesting description of the
probable causes which operate to produce
crevasses, and also valuable hints as to the
best remedies for future protection against
overlows. He comedies with Capt. Lafareille
and other gentlemen who have written on the
subject. In presenting a few suggestions as
to the evil under which the State suffers, and
the remedy for that evil, he begins by first tr'-
cling the dividing ridges between the sources OF
the waters that flow into the Mississippi and
It's tributaries, and those which flow north into
the lakes, east to'the ocean, sontl to the Gulf
of Mexico, extending west to the Rocky Noun
tains, and finds that the boundaries thus des-
cribed extends from the twenty-ninth to the
forty-ninth degree of north latitude, and aver
age. from the tenth to the twcnty-seventh de-
gree of longitude west from Washington,
which embraces an area of about one million
two hundred and seventy-nine thousand square
miles, which region has been settled with UNI
examplcd rapidity, and it is supposabIe that the
whole country is now more thoroughly and
rapidly drained into the Mississippi than when
in a. state of nature, when no doubt a great
quantity of water was collected in pools and
swamps, Till carried off by gradual evaporation,
| but which are now drained into the river, as its
Only outlet, and thereby adding so great|yt to
its volume as 70 cause its banks to overflow.
Having assigned this as the cause of the over
flows, he then goes on to speculate as TO the
best means of remedying the evil.
His first suggestion in relation to this mat
teris to make such Improvements in the bed
of the river, as will enable it to discharge the
greatest amount ofwater in the least time. He
says this can be done by Strengthening. its1
channels, commencing at the Gulf Of Mexico,
and working upwards IS far as necessary
This would considerably abridge the length
of the stream, increase its velocity, somewhat,
cause tito deepen It's channel, keep it clearer
bf Instructions than itnow is, and have q ten
Tendency to prevent the abrasions Of its banks.
Those abrasions are chiefly found in the bends,
where the water rushing with great force
against the ~alluvial shores continually wash
them away, and ~incsease the evil.from year TO
year.
His nextssuggestion is, by the construction
of Levees at some distance inland from the
margin of the river, of such breadth Of base
and top that they can be used for roads-the
elevation to depend on the necessities Of the
case. By using these Lcvees as roads, they
will be kept constantly hard and compact, and
any injury to them viii at once be noticed and
repairedsAasss
His third suggestion, and that which wenldl
obyiate the necessity Of e~levating those kseesF
above a very moderate height is, to open ssss
aatural outlets on the sides Of the river which
been closedsb by artificial means, and which
before being soclosed, noted as safety valves to ;
larry off tie mass 81. water that now mandates |
he country, or byg opeDing new outlets in the !
of csnaIss at-poinis where formations /
be found Of such character that the banks
will not be subject to wash or abrasion. Those =
annals she1ld be cut to, the swamp, and ifne- |
essary, their sides.shou'd be levied, to pre- y
ent the water drained bythem from spreading !
broad over the country. Trenches or canals !
hould also be cut through the lowest parts of !
he swamps between the streams, and these =
be connected with each other and with c
ne bayouSand slongls that traverse the coun- e
y. As many branches or outlets as may be !.
ecessary to carry off the surplus water of the v
yer could thus be made info The gulf, and the Il
Of the river be controlled and directed. tt
his view Of the matter IS certainly the proper n
fit will not hold good in practice-p
is al least very plausible in thcory-ad !
Notwithstanding this work will be attended by b
1ormous expense, yet the benefits to cnsue to q
le planting Interests ofle State Of LOUISE n
IN will justify the experiment irrespectisctof
e great outlay she will have to make. b:
Division OF the Parish. y
Several Of the citizens Of the parishes Of As ii
nsion and Iberyille, living on the west bank n
the Mississippi, near the division line Of ii
E5e6E& !. = A2fHEN& ~ 70 MsF 9N@f, S@&#E,Y sE%eEs " II.