Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-26

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gent in that section of the State.
We have received from Messrs. Lippincott,
Grambo e Co., large and handsome volume
entitled "Ellett the Mississippi and Ohio
rivers" The work embraces two essays, one on
the Mississippi and another on the Ohio, together
with an appendix Bars at the mouth of the
Mississippi, by Chas. Elicit. Jr., civil engineer.
The views contained in these pages were origi-
nally presented in a report to the War Depart
ment, and published in the executive documents
Of the Senate.
The publishers say that part from all the 10.
cal interest which this subject involves along the
Mississippi, they have thought that this work
could not fail to command the attention of profess
sional and scientific readers. They have there
fore reproduced it in style more creditable to the
author and more worthy the importance Of the
subject than the original edition. These gentle
men might have gone farther, for the volume be-
fore us, apart from its value as a work of prac-
teal and scientific engineer, possesses many ut
fractions for the general reader. We have been
| much interested in the book, aud avail ourselves
of the present opportunity to group together some
Of the facts which we find in its pages.
Mr.. Ellett's Memoir on Mississippi treats of
foundations of the Delta-of the causes of the
increasing over flow and the means of preventing
them.
Mr.. Elicit undertook to ascertain oy ac.ua,
measurement, the volume of water discharged by
the Mississippi at the greatest height of the flood OF
April, 1851. His experiment showed that the
discharge short distance below Red River was
| l,l34,500 cubic feet per second; the discharge
short distance below New Orleans, was $4,000
cubic feet per second. These quantities are the
volume which flow down between the banks oil
the river. and exclusive of the waters oil
overflow which enter the swamps. 1t also ap.
pears that more water is discharged by the
actual channel OF the river Immediately above the
mouth of the Ohio than passes by Natchez OF
New Orleans or any intermediate point.
Notwithstanding the vast contributions re-
ceived from the Ohio, the Arkansas, ST. Franc is,
Red, and other rivers, the Mississippi in flood &C
tually conveys less water into the Gulf of Mexico
in unit of time, than it carries past Cape Gil
rardeau, twelve hundred miles above it's mouth -
1t is said that more than forty per cent Of the
volume discharged by the channel near the mouth
of the Ohio passes over into the swamps of Mis-.
souri, and Arkansas. According to Mr. Ellett's
view. it is not the Upper Mississippi, nor even
the Missouri to which the foundations of lower
Louisiana are attributable The water which these
streams send down is generally absorbed by the
swamps. or accommodated by the channel of the
river, but when this channel is full or nearly full
and Red river pours out flood he effect is dis
astrous to all the Country below. In regard to
the width of the Mississippi, Mr.. Ellett's mea
surements show variations of nearly one hundred
and forty per cent in the space ofthree miles, but
there is no general increase in the breadth of the
stream for the last twelve hundred miles of its
course
Near Care dirardeau (Mo.) it is twenty five
hundred feet wide. Eleven miles below New
Orleans it is two thousand four hundred and twen-
ty five feet. Mr.. Elicit assumes eleven hundred
yards as the average width of the river betwee
these two points.
The depth of the Mississippi from the mouth
OF the Missouri to point below the mouth of the
Arkansas, increases with each additional tributa-
ry which is received, but below the Arkansas
there is no general or progressive increase. I he
maximum depths found at high water at nume-
rous points between Cape Girardeau aud New
Orleans range from &c to 1913 feet. From Vicks-
burg down to New Orleans Mr. Elicit assumes
the average depth in mid channel at high water
to be lis feet.
Numerous observations made for the purpose
Of determining the velocity of the Mississippi,
show an average speed of miles per hour iu the
centre OF the river at high water.
Mr.. Elicit attributes the greater frequency and
more alarming character of the floods in the
Mississippi
Firstly, to the extension OF cultivation through
out the Mississippi valley, by which evaporation
is diminished and the drainage increased
Secondly, to the extension of the levees along
the borders of the Mississippi, and its tributaries
and outlets, by means of which the water was
formerly allowed to spread over many thousand
square miles, is now confined to the channel of
the river;
Thirdly, to cut-olfs, natural and artificial
. by which the distance traversed by the stream
Is shortened, and its slope and velocity increas-
ed
Fourthly' to the gradual progress of the delta
t. into the sea, BY which tn ecuurse of the river ut
its embouchre is Strengthened, ts slope and velocity
diminished, and the water consequently thrown
J. back upon the land above It is shown tbo+ aooI