Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-17
aalIp Qninn &amernan



In the course Of the consultations Of the Advise
~ Board of Agriculture, lately convened ct the
Patent Once the subject Of the inundstions Of the
lower Mississippi vas introduced and discussed ST
some length. Professor Henry, Of the Smithsonian
institution, had previously explained the plan and
objects of the series Of meteorological observations
made in more than three hundred situations IN the
United States, and elsewhere the continent, I'M
der joint direction and expense Of that ms tuition
and the Patent Once in the sericuiisral operations
Of the latter; and Mr. Williamson, Of Memphis,
Tennessee, referred TO these observations as sPph-
cable the purposes in view, stating that ne over
flows Of the Mississippi were Obstructive cheny De-
eause neither the periods Of their occurrence nor
their magnitude could be ceftaInly anticipated
that the extent of the injury they produce is ineaeu
liable. often comprehendiBg millions In the sacri-
fee Of nnharvested crops and plantation improve
menis while the diseases 10 the Inhabitants Of The
adjacent regions occasOned By them we're sill
more deplorable. He believed that, by meais Of
a series Of observa ions throughout The valley OF
the Mississippi, the residents Of the low counties
might always be fOrWarned, and consequently fore
armed.
The subject thus presented is one Of great prac-
al importance. Il is known that from the occur
renee in the northern tributaries of the Mississippi
Of heavy rains sudden thaWs full six weeks eapse
before the consequent rise ia the lower river. II
is therefore obvious that the faculty Of foreknoWl
edge with respect TO such vistaions may be obtain
ed by the prosecution of a series Of observations
and The comparison OF causes and results. Il
would require but brief experience TO enable OBJ
servers at Memphis or New Orleans to calculate the
height of The food at either of these points on
given day when information of the aqueous cond.-
ton Ofthe regions drained by each tributary stream
above at a certain previous point Of time. Thus,
when the river lie at any ordinary stage at Memphis
-on the first of April, let us say-ana the cond~
lions with respect rains melting SHOWS Of the
upper country, and Of the height Of the river it
self well its tributaries st intervening points,
on the day are also sseertained, the state Of
the river at Memphis at q subsequent Uneasy
forty days later-may be determined with great
precision. Now if this knowledge was always OBJ
tsnable forty, thirty, or even twenty days in ad-
vance Of the freshets, immense losses and injuries
might be averted by the construction and repair OF
dykes and levees, by the removal to places OF
rty OF the gsrneied crops and other prop erty, by
the isolation of buildings and grounds of special va
lue, by means Of embankmenls adequate to the oe-
casion and the adoption Of other efficient agencies
for which many days Of diligent labor are always
requisite. In the future, when the telegraph wire
shall pervsde the whole land as the nerves Of sen
sation pervade the human frame, the principle res
commended will be Of universal application and
greater efficiency than ct present; but the means
now within our reach are sufficient for the accom-
plishment Of incaleulable good, and should there
fore be promptly and diligently applied. If in
creased pecuDiary aid is needed for the procure
ment Of rain and river gsgues, for placing them in
the hands Of reliable observers, for the regular
transmission Of reports to q main focus at ell
igible point, and for the due publication of timely
information 70 all interested, il may be confidently
asked Of Congress; for there is to doubt the
application by that body of g scheme SO benifcent
and important Washington Union