Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-02-16
Tho Overf]oWs of the Mississippi.

AO W ~ tho Al
In tn" course of the consultations of the Ad-
,isory Board of Agriculture, lately convened at
the Patent Office. the subject of the foundations of
tho lower Mississippi was introduced and discus
scd at some length. Professor HENRY, Of the
Smithsonian Institution. had previously explained
the plan and objects Of tie series of meteorological
observations made in more than three hundred
situations in the United States, and elsewhere ON
the continent, under the joint direction and ex-
pense of that institution and the Patent Office. in
the agricultural operations Of the latter; and Mr..
WILLIAMSON OF. Memphis, Tenn, referred to these
observation IA applicable to the purpose in view.
stating that the overfows Of tho Mississippi were
destructive chiefly because neither tho periods Of
their occurrence nor their magnitude could be
certainly anticipates; that the extent ofthe injury
they produce is incalculablc, often comprehending
millions in the sacrifice of unharyested crops and
plantation Improvements, while the diseases to
the inhabitants of the ad iacent regions occasioncd
by them were still more deplorable. lie believed
that. by means Of a series Of observations thraug-
out the valley Of the Mississippi. the residents Of
the low counties might always be torewarned, and
consequently f5rcarmed,
The subject thus presented is ono of great prac-
teal Importance. 1t is known that from the o,-
curreuce in the northern tributaries Of the Missis-
sippi Of heavy rains or sudden thaws full six weeks
elapse before the consequent rise in the lower river
Ii is therefore obvious that the faculty OF fore
knowledge with respect to such visltations may
be obtained by the prosecution of n series of OBJ
servations and the comparison of causes and re-
suits. 1t would require but q brief experience to
enable observers ut Memphis or New Orleans to
calculate the height Of the flood at either of these
, points ON a given day when informed of the aqur-
| Gus condition ofthc regions drained hv each ,rilr-
utary stream above at n certain previous point Of
time. Thus when the river is at an ordinary stage
at Mcmphis-on theilst of April, let us say-aud
tho conditions with respect to rain or melting
SHOWS of the upper country, and OF the height ct
the river itself rs we'll as its tributaries at inter
vening points. on the same day are also ascertain
ed, the state Of the river at Memphis at the certain
subsequent time--say forty days later-may be
determined with great precision. Now. il this
%kuowledg re were always obtainablc, forty, thirty.
or even twenty days in advance Of the trcshets. IN
mense losses and injuries might be avertcd by
the construction and repair of dykes and
leyees, by the remoyalto places of security of the
garnered crops and other property, by the isols-
ton OF buildings and grounds of special valr :. by
means of cmbankments adequate to the , G . ien,
and the adoption VI other efficient agencies for
which many days ofdiligent labor are always ,e-
qnisi e. In the future. when the telegraph wire
shall pervade the whole land as tho nerves Of SEN
sa'ion pcrvade the human franz, the principle re-
commended will be Of universal application and
greater efficiency than at present ; But the means
nlw within our reach ae sufficient for the accom-.
pllshment OF incalculable good, and should there
tore be promp ly and d~iligentl, applied. If in
creased pecuniary aid is needed for the procure
ment OF rain and river gauges, the regular trans
mission ct reports to a main focus at some eligible
point, and for the due publication of timely infor.
nation to all Interested, it may be confidently