Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-02-19

| FACTS ABOUT THE Nr>SIsoIprl.-A work
has recently been issued from the press, en-
titled Principles and practices OF En1bank-
ing Lands from River Floods, Is applied to
the Levees of the Mississippi, By William
Hewson, Civil Engincer,' We have not
seen the work, but oyr contemporary OF the
Memphis ~Appeaz, has condensed the follow
ing interesting facts from its pages:
The average fall Of The Mississippi river,
for the whole distance tro:n the Gull Of Mex
leo to the confluence of the Ohio at Cairo,
is very nearly three inches to the mile.
During the flood, the Mississippi rises at
Caro- fifty feet at Fr.ars Point, iorty-two
and a halt feet: at New Orleans. twelve feet.
The average fall per nile is, then, three and
a half inches.
At Cairo, the Mississippi is upwards of a
mile in with at New Orleans It's width is
but halt n mile. This narrowing of the
down stream Is acconpanIed by d correspond
ing rapidity and deepening.
The observations Of engineers has establish
ed the fact that inferior streams, running in
to a main river. neither widen ar laise 1t;
they quicken the current and deepen the
channel. The retention OF tlond water with
in the ordinary channel by ~ievees, will have
similar Hects-the depth Of the river will be
increased, the velocity Of the stream will be
! more rapid. but there will not be as Il direct
consequence, any elevation Of the level.
The Mississippi is shown, by Sir g. Lys}e
10 carry earth below New OrI"ans. to tie
amount. Zach Year OF a aurdred and thirty
seven millions 9; cubic yards.
As consequence of the above, new land Is
continually forming at the mouth OF the Mis-
s%issippi. Mr.. Rogers, in his report on the
geology Of North An1er4ca. SAYS that. as All
example Of the Iate at which TINS torlndtioo
is proceeding, the old baIize, erected at the
mouth Of the river about '71j. was III 1884
two miles above it. There was not at that
time the smallest appearance OF the island
on which Tort two Yeas after, OIloa caused
barracks to be raised for pilots, and now known
as the new BallZe. The rate OF advance has
been ninety-six teet a year. Leveelng Is
known, especially BY the example OF the Pc,
to forward the rate Of thus advance.
Every three inches vi elevation OF the
water at New Orleans. represent an eIevaron
at Cairo Of twelve aud a halt inches. The
; rate OF fall from New Orleans to the sea, IS
about an inca and a half per lie. therefore,
an advance Of the mouth at a quicker rae, in
ttlSEl Ac''Ic III ltEfCE'iiS, "tNii give tAhS-
ing by the facts in relation to the river Pc. ar
advance, in a hundred years. Of the mouth in
to the Cult OF Mexico, OF four a third miles.
This would cause an additional elevation
o: six aid half inches at Friar's Point. and
of twent-$even inches at Caro-.
The elevation Of the surface # the be- Of
the river has been made d great bug: ear, but
when the few facts known in the case are
subject to examination: only such planters as
take a very active interest in their great
grand -children, will be troubled about the
fact, that the work OF retaining the magni-
fcent wastes Of the Mississippi will cause a
rise in the bed OF the river VI less than a
third OF an inch a year.
The evil arising from the extension Of land
at the mouth OF the rivers can he he centralized
by confning the flow Of the terminus Of the
stream to one outlet; BY this the bars at the
mouth would be sroureu out. and the deposit
Of earthly particles made further out at sea
than at present, SO that the Gulf stream you'd
carry them completely away.
A system OF cut offs by which the river
would be greatly strengthened. would be high
~ dangerous by causing Il great accelr.Ation
OF the stream the rapid current would wash
away the banks, and immense spaces ~ofconn-
try would be reduced, by the escap Pc o! the
waters, to swalnps and lagoolls.