Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-08-14
River Surveys.

Is @Ht~Ir r. ~NTS 1880
ii its banks, all the way down from the head
to the mouth. The late check in The rate
lcaused blythe l:-rouring Of the rain floods
from the valley Of the Ohio, has been over
leone, and the river is falling again. The de-
! cline has been fuIIy ten feet, at some dis
tance beioW btle mouth of the Ohio, is meas
~nred by feet not far above US, but by inches.
only here. An immense body Of water has
escaped, literally, Covering the country,
through the revasses, or by evaporation, yet
the Quantity that passes the city has been
little diminished, While the river is falling
| rapidly, but nneq''ally, above, the velocity III
the oveiIs,wed places, and below the nunler-
ons crevassess is senslbly lsssened. Sediment
| ary deposits increase with the retardation Of
the currents, over the inundated fields and
swannps in the b. mls of the + eers, and at the
bfeaks in the ~sevees; but#tE1ere is no known
rule for locating the deposlte, Or calculating
the amount. -
When The river veccdes, the overfiowed
grounds will show heavy accretions OF soil
Of irregular thickness, according to position,
tfae#thickest being maseSln eddies, Or where
the water has been stagaaIlt. # many
planters this VIII be q rich compensation for
the loss Of crops by overflow. In several
cases we have heard Of large additions to The
cultivatable soil BY the fl ling mp Of swamp
lands In one case we hear tLabtha retiring
OF the waters has assured to one planter a
rise Of three. to FIVE feet from this ~as!avial
sediment, upon his back LANDS, aiding fifteen
ha'ld red acres Of the best soil to his pEarta-
ton. Two, three and five hundred acres are
mentioned as common accretlonss from this
source. In the river itself the retiring food
will develop other effects Of more general
consequence Along the river banks vast
Ia. + 1850. s.,iG H. t;.i --a,l lz,. ,--.ft .Ln,a 4..-U
formed IiSthe river bed, new chutes will be
found. and The whole channel Of the river re-
quire a new exploration by the pilots. One
such great flood will thus change the profile
Of the whole river, altering lis depth, lbs length,
its channel, and fedIstil batA.lg its veloclties
and its retariatmns.
These make Important studies for these
whose fortunes are cast On the banks of this
mighty and capticlous stream. Dwelling
where they are constantly IN danger Of being
submerged by these periodical floods, the
history Of the river, in its changes, It's forces
and IT'S deposits, from year TO year, is Of inf
mite interest, as furnishing the data for a study
81 those laws which must govern all cur at
temEts at SELF projection. a-.5u
The present time is q very suspicious enc
tor such studies. With tt1e fall OF the river,
phenomena develop themselves gradually,
and the processes which affect them can be
examined through the whole course OF their
operation. We trust the opportunity will BIZ
improved by those who have official conuee-
ton with such subjects.andtile Inrn etsciencs
AMONG us who have h~etotoie occupied them /
selves with the dynamics Of the liver. The
observations of unseientli!c. observers, the !
practical men who navigate the stream OF
who live upon Its banks, are also OF vefy
great value, and offer contributions Of fact, of
which science can make very profitable use.
It is a subject well Wuithy OF the attention |
of the Federal Government. as connected
with the improvement Of The great river
which floods down the commerce OF six orr
seven States, and is beyond the Jurisdiction of |
any or all combined. We are not asfare of
the means within reach OF the Secretary OIL
War for making surveys, blythe Us. Gorpssot
Engineers or what appropriation exists APP
plieable to the purpose. But Il he have the I
power or the means, it would BIZ a Wise aps
pilcatlon OF them to institute d series at re
examinations Of the results attained by thei
Commissions Instituted III 1855, after the cre-
vases Of 1919 and 1850, oil " tIictl the re ports
then shed a flood Of Light On the subject Of
and the regulation o! the ieNee.-
The same season the Leg islatuFe Of our Oval
State appointed a scientific commission to
survey the river ami report On the subject
of issees and the laws for protection against
Hoods, and they FURNISHED d large mass ofdafa
furnish to observers at tiiis day adj
dltaonal material for very important conipari-
sons and deductions. Ihefez is the Slate tin-
AMI # he have not2lrseatts ofantiioG1fy
enough Il ='to all that is desirable, be s4iay do
what ii w;shiiri his reach, and the legislature
will without doubt Fay MIN for any .speusa
incurred. and extra Tabor. aud give III ra4ptther
facilities The attention ef that body mtistl
necessarily be dra IA to the whole legee SYST
tetas and every fact and Suggestion coming
from reliable sources will begot use.
There are some facts iEIthe condition Of the
river opposite to this city which need special
Investigation. and we hope they will gsbit.-1
The effect Of the Bel ~sreYasse Oh the current
Of the river below Il. and consequently on
The amount Of. Observation-Disclosures, and tie
consequent feet on the bed aud channel OIL
The river. eltherin the 1aakLns out Of battuFe,
already recognizable as one-etiect,I
or eievatilg the bed Itself at the expense OF q
wider area OF surface, aud. numerous questions :
,t d similar cast, and Of avery serious i'm
port, deserve the most minute investigation
rom day TO day. With the placing OF the
'esults III an authenticated shape los t1tate
Uses, cannot cur City Engill=ersor our city Z
provide fur this, as our contribl-
ion To a matter OF generailntere rest in which
He are also deeply concerned on our owAac-
'oun5 ?-Pieayaae, ~ -
E CURIOUS RBVoLpllnHA.Y TEHsxs.-
he fp|ltwirg ingenious cu,lrositioa az
'e,sFed:' in a P1'i!ale|IAiia newspaper many
'eafR ngo Wlsn tie author was, we
ire unable to ascertain. lis peculiarly +
IN the manner IN " I,ioh IL may
rer'I viz lin Three different ways-Isa
LET The Whole be- read i'll the order III
winch It Is written 2A, Then thezl,ues :