The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-07

below.
On he Effect efle Reclamation eas haauaiy Inuadaisd
Lands of hs Mississippi paLy upon ns General Hesih
Jt'e Country and aae RaUigaion y utai river.
BY ANDREW Brown, or sATcHEz.
AT meeting OF this association, held at PhadeIphs,
September, ls4s, your Committee on The Mississippi
RIVER reporting their Investigations OF the and
sediment of that great stream, were by resolution d-
rected 10 continue their observations, with the view of
ascertain The probable effect which the reclamation of
the annually inundated land would have upon the i'm
provemeBt OF lis navigation and the general health of
the county, and any other important facts IN eonnexion
with the subject.
They therefore nov avail themselves Of this oppor-
lunty respectfully TO submit The following as combina
ton OF their observations accordance with the terms
of the resolution viz: That the reclamation OF the bot
tom swamp lands which has been in or less
cessul progress Tor number OF years, and OF late
very generally and rapidly prosecuted by means OF sys
TEN OF artificial embanknents by which It is intended
ultimately 10 restrict the whole waters OF the nver to
their legitimate channels, which object has been in
very considerable degree already effected An improve
nj OF the genera! health OF the country s found TO
have been more than the simple ratio OF the reclaimed
lands aud so decided the character of this salu,ary
change, that is alike evident TO the individual occu
pants Of such lands, and the residents OF cities and
towns in their vicinity.
From long continued observation, supported by con-
current testimony, your committee entertain not the least
doubt but that the occupants OF these low wei lands
may secure perfect immunity from their miasmalc cf
feet BY clearing them OF the forests, and bringing them
into cullvaon when their exposure TO the action OF the
and the free circulation OF the atmosphere will rem
der them heallbiu to the inhabitants and contribute
largely 10 the general salubIy OF the country All ex-
re ence has shown that there is nothing unhealthfu in
these lands, when thus exposed to dissipation OF Their
stagnant humidity. and reclaimed from the unusual mum
daon Health and plenty the rewards OF such
reclamation and cultivation.
Much speculation has been entertained with respect TO
the effect Of restricting within It's proper channel the vast
body OF water that periodically ovespeads many hun
dred square miles of bottom land. Fears have been
iertaned that practical embankments could possibly
confns The accommodating waters as they received their
tributary contributions on their way TO The ocean and
other rivers have been cited proof that, II embank
meDts were thrown to restrict the waters OF The RIVER
TO their proper channel they will the ratio, ele
their own bed and hence that any general system
OF eveeng the waters Of The river within the limits OF
lis channel would be mpractcabe, ana II practicable,
inexpeden as tending 10 inundaie the good lands al
ready reclaimed by the present inconsiderabe embank-
menls that protect them.
Now, however formidable the force OF these argu-
meBts may al first sight they Will be found TO have
little practical application in fact and what experiences
there is seems al least 10 conn Their insufficient found
alton.
When il is contemplated that the whole extent Of
country from which these surplus waters flow is rapid
y undergoing great physical changes by It's settlement
and cultivation, may certainly be inferred that such
must in measure have its effect upon the relative
quantity and condition OF such waters as are dscbargng
from the lands and should that be found equivalent To-
the progressive confinement OF The within banks,
there will certainly be less 10 fear from any undue
cumuation caused by such confinement
In the former report based The best procurable data.
on this subject, your committee deduced the annual
quantity OF water discharged by the Mississippi river 10
be only SOL parts OF The rain water falling in The whole
valley consequently disposition OF S9l parts must be
made by its evapola That report suggested the pro-
OF the evapoI Iang process consequent
from the rapid denudasn OF the primeval forests aud
exposure OF the lands the action ol the
and Winds which so obviously well calculated to
very considerable increase of evaporation OF the
atmosphere of The valley Any such progressive in
in The evaporsing process must necessarily, to
certain extent leave The river less and less water TO
discharge. 4.zEt#
Thee inferences may not seem 10 be well supported
By facts during the several years that have inervebed be-
tween the time OF submitting the last and the present
port for The annual swelling OF the waters in several of
these years would seem TO imply but little d'mnu,ion in
the quantity OF water transported TO the ocean, and but
little reliance The facts and inleences dstaed in
that report.
Bat our subsequent observations have been directed 10
the facts and phases OF another very important element
Ia the tame connexion, which, IN that report was IN
gt overooksd at least received less At
tenuon than its importance demanded, having, and
still continuing 10 have, no nconsd rabe ef c, in both
the physical and commercial relations, as affecting navi-
& gaon, ard Therefore now requiring special notice
This feature, IN thus connexon, consists IN the very
BILE change now IN progress with respect to The
sedmentaIy mauer with which the waters OF the rivers
are charged on their descent 10 the ocean When The
valley OF The Mississippi wac an uncuivsted waste and
lands clothed IN their prneva forests, with the wa
OF the river snnuay overtoNing all It's low lands,
these alters could not have bad the proportional
quantity OF sedimenlary matter in suspension d,ring
foods they now bave because ibis dsnse and unbrokcn
vegetation must have been great protection against the
couodng effects of falling and running waters 20 that
much less must have been washed into the than
the present time and the most OF that must in
time OF high have been deposited on the banks
and IN The woods into which The waters were CONSTANT
ly running their way TO the ocean. Thus, the waters
of The ryer periods OF inundstion, from ts TO
its mouth would lei fall s sand and sedmentary matter
all along in the bottoms and the banks. and would
necessary have that much less 10 urge into the ocean
,ha The bar at the rivers mouth during high water
woud not be subject 10 Inerpose such distractions At
the present impede nav CATION. ls1
But during the las, few years this system OF things has
been undergoing rapid changes nasmuch as the face OF
the country becoming entirely cleared and cultivated,
that the heavy rains and waters act with
iu force thereon and dispace vast quantities. OF The soil
aHd other solid matter, and run The same INTO the
channel by the eveeng process has less opportunity of
deposng OF this solid matter either upon the banks or
in The woods; and the consequence is ~ forced 10
transport all this desl matter 10 the ocean, or permit III
cha nne be filled up; OF which there no fear 90 long
a. it's descending velocity is OF sufficient force to axitaa
and urge forward all such matter obstfncing IT'S passage
having no more specihc gravity than that with which The
waters OF this river is charged The effect however. OF
this great and increasing quantity OF mailer 20 mueh
more able the wafer by which II - Transport
ed having to be carried along the channel OF the river.
must be and is extensive accumuIative dep0aite
yherever The force the insufficient for agi-
,aon and transportation. These depositee, in such To-
eaIties constitute, by the formation OF immense sand
bar. such obstruction 10 the free flow OF the wafer
NAV make the river swell to height equal to that of
former years, while II 's really dscbarsing much less
quantity OF wafer.
led make the main thread OF The channel more sinu
ous, not only obs,ruciieg the waters but by causing
hem to travel greater distance, likewise increasing
their accumala,ons Thsse impedimens 10 the passase
pf the waters being OF very Anciuating character are
sometimes Tonpd TO disturb The relative heights OF the
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