Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-04-10

channel. What is the inevitable fate of Lower
Louisiana if the effect of these fastening events
be not by some means averted in time! Inc
levees in all this region are calculated for pro-
lection against the highest of the floods that
come down here, after suffering all the abate.
ments of discharge through natural outlets
over an immense region! This is the inquiry
which Mr.. Ellet undertakes to answer. lie
treats it as4no subject to be put off as one OF
remote concern. These changes may be wit
messed in their operations by the generation
now living, and ought to be considered for all
the purposes of new legislation as 'things Inn
mediate" He says:
sit is for rejecting citizens and wise states
men to Judge what, under these circumstances,
is to be the immediate effect of State legisla-
ton and the national grant on the safety of
Louisiana; or what may be the condition OF
things when a dense population, a scarcity OF
land, and the exclusion of the waters OF over
flow, shall cooperate to give value to all mum
dated region which may be reclaimed by labor,
and pour the waters now retained in the sWamps
of the upper country upon the doomed parishes
below. We must look at these things and
appreciate the progress ofsociety, and its proba-
BILE effects, before attempting to advise plans
to retard or resist the approaching event. The
expedient that will be adequate to mitigate the
present suffering will have no appreciable influ-
ence on the floods that are yet to come"
To resist the policy of extending the leyee-
inp system, and draining the inundated lands,
is neither polite nor practicable. We must ae-
cept as a fact-we must concede that the
swamps of the upper delta shall be closed.
What we have to look for is, that in the execu-
ting of that purpose the lower country shall
not be converted into jungles and swamps.
The frailty of the works above, constructed
against the dangers of the present natural
floods, will perhaps produce occasional relief,
and put off the day when the trouble will come
unchecked; but that is merely a protraction OF
the time within which preparation for defence
must be complete, or the State surrendered to a
de!uge. The question is one of permanent pro-
lection while it can be built up.
Having stated the danger, as Mr.. Ellet pre-
sents it, condensed into a brief summary, the
views which he has presented at length, with
numerous scientific and mathematical calcula-
lions to sustain them, he comes to the plans
which he recommends for the prevention of
these dangers. We have no intention to dis
cuss them-no space to give his discussions in
support of them. We enumerate them, that
they may fix themselves on the attention OF
such as feel the Importance of understanding
the critical condition of the State, and all the
means proposed for relief. The first is, build
higher and stronger levees in lower Louisiana,
and more efficient surveillance, a local measure
required by State legislation and Of prime inn
portance. Secondly, the prevention and pro-
hibition of any additional cutoff on the rivers
measure that may call for national legislation,
or, perhaps, judicial interference to prevent
States or individuals from deluging the coun-
try below.
The third and most Immediately interesting
here, is the proposal of an outlet Of the great
est allowable capacity, from the Mississippi riv-
er about eleven miles below New Orleans to
the head of Lake Borgne. The distance is
about five miles, and the ground has been ex-
amined and a route selected, where, in the opin-
ion of MIR. Ellet, an of-cut can be obtained, by |
which q reduction of four to five feet on the
surface of the Mississippi at high water at New
Orleans can be obtained sufficient to secure
the safety of that city, and the whole coast be-
low, and for some distance above, for a very
long time. Indeed, he examines all the objec-
tons urged, and decides that it may be found
practicable, by cutting boldly through at that
point: that the outlet may be encouraged, until
It becomes one of the best navigable passes of
the river into the Gulf.
Besides the outlet, he recommends the en-
iargement of the Bayou Plaquemine and the
Achafalaya river, two of the original vents of
the Mississippi, which have not been closed for
local purposes. On these subjects great eau.
ton is advised, and the difficulties are fully sta
ted. The outlet into Lake Pontchartrain, at
Bonnet Care, is considered at length, and so
much weight given to the objections, that it is
advised that it should not be undertaken unless
it should be found to be indispensable; and this,
there is every reason to believe, may never oc-
eur.
To these Mr.. Ellet adds his own plan, which
has been already much discussed, but has not
yet found much favor among men of science or
practical men; although from his great reputa-
ton it has been most respectfully received, and
has made some powerful advocates. 1t is the
creation of great artificial reservoirs in the
mountains and near the headwaters of over
flowing streams, and the increasing of the ca
pacity of distant lakes, so as to retain a sufi.
cient portion of the waters, &C., until the foods
below have subsidized. He does not repeat at
length his arguments in favor Of this plan, but
refers to former publications, in which it is con-
sidered at length. But he renews his confident
opinion, that it is not only practicable, but can
be executed at a cost comparatively slight, and
will prove of incalculable advantage. It is a
subject which does not fall within our province
TO discuss, hardly to state so as to give the pro-
jeet a fair position before the public.
The concluding passage of the report con-
tains suggestions Of the political and national
aspects OF this great question, which we submit
to our readers without conment of our own,a as
entitled to their gFavest and most unremitting
study:
ut is impressed upon the mind of the writer
with the force of demonstration, that these sew
eral measures must be adopted, and adopted
promptly, or that causes now in operation will
speedily bring great distress throughout the
delta of the Mississippi, from the mouth ofsthe
Ohio to the Gulf of Mexico"