The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-04

G ANOTHER REPORT FROM TEE ENGINEER.-A
the last session of the Legislature of this STATE
- a joint resolution was adopted by both house
lnsiructlng the state engineer to report at tn
session: Isl, complete system of internal IN
d proyements for the State: WITH Cd, full plar
: and surveys in support of the system he ma
recommend 81. on the expediency and prat
ticabllity of reducing the Mississippi river will
In its natural banks; and, 4thly, where and
d what manner the work, if pronounced pract
/ cable or expedient, should be commenced.
a The engineer has sent in his response to thi
comprehensive call, stating what might eas'l
have been understood that it would occupy a
least year 10 reply properly TO either OF thes
four inquiries, and that none of them could b
, answered without a correct and complete topo
, graphical and photographed survey of tn
State, which does not exist, and which he ha
not the means or the authority TO make. Il
legal language, internal improvements, in thi
State, means the Improvement of the waite
courses and the draining of overlooked lands
and the leyeeing Of the rivers.
There is in progress survey Of the delta o
the Mississippi, by typographical engineers o
the United States. When completed, it will be
extremely valuable for the purposes included
in the scope of these resolutions But observ-
ing it ught to be made to include the whole
State, and that all the information within the
reach OF the engineer is partial and local, hav-
ing reference to single improvements proposed,
and therefore of but little use to be made the
basis for reporting general system, until such
full survey is obtained, the engineer thinks
that the proper and real improvements requlr-
ed by the Stale of Louisiana, will not be com
menced. 1t will be the first, and the necessary
step taken in right direction. The system of
administration of the Improvement OF the State,
the engineer pronounces to be wrong
There are two departments; that Of the swamp
land commissioners, who have under their con-
troll for the purpose of retaining the swamp
and overlooked lands of the State, the proceeds
of the land grants made by congress for that
object and the state engineer who has charge
of the water courses and public roads, with snag
boats and slaves belonging to the State, aided
by annual appropriations.
Besides these, the constitution contemplates
another organisation, in tie establishment of a
board Of public works, consisting of four com
missioners to be elected in districts. The board
has never yet been established, and the const !
tuition permits it to be abolished in a certain /
way. The argument of the state engineer goes
20 the extent OF urging that the proposed board
as we'll as The existing methods of administra-
ion are inefficient, and will never work we'll
He is opposed to the elective feature and in
lists that an internal improvement department
should have one responsible executive head; that
should be single, consisting of one engineer
or The State, appointed by the governor and
enate, with the sole control of all the improve
nents undertaken by the State, with the selec
ion OF his own assistants. subordinates and
gents. This is an expansion and modification
+ the present plan-ylving it unity, power, re-
possibility and means. Then, with com i
Iete survey of the State, Louisiana will be in,s
roved and beautted. Any other course" {
avs the state engineer, "wiIl prove failure" t
On the great question of the expediencv and $
racucablIlty of reducing the Mississippi within :
S natural banks in time Of food. Mr.. Hebert f
llarges at some length, giving his views Of the t
.oIoglcal formation of the delta, and the effect
BON The stream of the Mississippi, of the var- 7
IS attempts to restrain its overhowings and re- :
aim the overhowed lands. y
The theory which he expounds is that build .
OF jevees and the closing Of outlets, the cuI b
'atlon and drainage OF lands, and the improve
ent OF streams for drainage and navigation.
d the making Of cut-otfs between the bends Il
the river, have lnterfered with its natural regi- W
IN, by pcrcipitating on TO Louisiana immense il
lounls OF water, formerly carried off, or held d
reserve IN the swamps; that this creates the is
ccsslty for higher levees and increased ex- h
nses, and that the process of draining and le- F
Gin al 7 Al.
sIppI, Arkansas and Missouri, and that ulti- II
tteIy all the waters which eli up these natural OF
servoirs will be constrained into one channel VI
d thrown down upon louisiana His con fo
ls!ons, as to the prospects of the future, are
mined up thus: G.
We See, therefore, that lower Louisiana tn
'st not on be prepared for the increased rise a
the river due to her own levees, but for that 10
to the works along the entire valley. Her fr
''uon offers certainly no cheering prospects, an
rather threatens complete destruction. An
. Ihe question is: What is to be done?" Tn
he answers, that the solution is evident tic
nts must be'tound for the surplus waters, so t.,
10 reduce the surface of the Mississippi to se
rec that we may be able to control the re- RE
ming floods. no
NiN wv lhi utiiiiltS ana tlle Al F.
faaya must be made TO take off more waters in
cleaning out and strai ghtening their chan bo
s. and we must go to works and make new
lets We must choose what lands we are ho
ing TO sacrifice and make outlets through the
m' and to do this Understandings the sur am
OF the State, previousy recommended in the a s
ort, Is urged AS of primary necessity. He as
cudes this branch of the subject with these ms
ming words: n,
Because the Mississippi has left us in quiet ito
some years now, We must not forget that
OF It's floods may injure US suddenly to the ire
'unt of millions, and we should keep con- loo
tiy IN mind that when that flood comes it ne3
De greater than ever wa
he report concludes with summary of these
VS., and recommendation that the State M,
J., exert all her power in congress to have 70
Mississippi recognised as an Finland sea- par
Inch the improvement belongs to the gen out
government. no.
he engineer advances a somewhat singular for
position to come from a democratic Office he
er' VIZ: that he is opposed to allowing the
lie the right to choose public officers.
49,, ~~~-> -l~~-~r~- in
AT lsLAND.-We had hoped never again to fill
required as Journalists to write the word dev
claw