The Nevada Democrat., 1862-02-04
The Protection of Farming Lands From
OyerflONvs.

The Stockton Independent, after making
some practical suggestions in regard to pro-
tecting farming lands from future over.
flows, adds:
AS for the valleys of the San Joaquin and
Sacramento, we think this deuge has de-
mOnstrated the fuiiity of all levee systems
to prevent our rivers from overflow, what
ever science or analogcal reasoning may
have assumed to the contrary. The fact
that dykes offer comparative protection to
Holland from the tides and currents of tho
North Sea and the river Schelde, is not
conclusive argument in favor of levee
system for our protection against the mighty
floods that occasionally come upon as from
our two great rivers aud their tributaries
The dy kes Of Holland are not secure pro-
lection. as has been several times proved in
the last century, by The destruction of hun
dreds of lives aud millions of property. Tho
dykes do break 10 spite of even Dutch vig-
ilauce aud energy and the stoTks. But
neither the Schelde nor the North Sea are
subject TO such extraordinary and resstless
rises as our rivers; aud it they were, it must
be remembered that Holland is a small
country Of about 10000 square miles, and
more wealthy and densely populated than
any country of equal extent on the globe.
SO that il their $500, 900 cannot defend two
sides of 10000 square miles against inun-
dation, our 100000 will have but poor
chance to raise a similar system of defenses
against water lines that world require thou
sands of miles of levees, attacked by the
most resistless currents, in streams that. ac-
cordng 10 positive proof, rise from 80 to 90
feet above lOw-water mark, and even in our
valleys as much as Is and 20 feet above
their natural banks. The levee system, as
means of general protection, must be
abandoned. 1t may do we'll enough as a
defense Of cities.
What, then, shall be done? We can do
nothing but shape OUT labors to circumstan-
stances, aud for an occasional gain 10 soil
submit to an occasional loss in movable ef.
fects. We do not believe that all the injury
done to stock aud fences in these valleys
has been more than compensated by the
benefits accruing to the soil by the alluvlal
deposits made upon its surface. The annual
overflow of the Nile has kept Egypt to ths
day what it was in the days of ScipiO and
Hannibal-the granary of the Bast. The
irregular overflows of the Ohio and Missis-
sippi give to the bottoms of those rivers the
same rank in the West Onr own eXtraor-
dinary foods have like effect in recuper-
ating our worn lands. But we think If far
mers will change their methods of fencing
and of building they may secure the en-
joymentof all the advantages of an overflow
without suffering more than a small fraction
of its disasters for the present year. AT Los
Angeles they have willow fences, which are
better in every way than rail fence. We
see no cause why they may not generally
be grown 10 our lowest lauds. They would
not wash away or burn up, or need renewal
every ten years If houses and barns we're
erected on graded ground and raised foun.
dations, even at the highest point attained
by this food there would he 10 incOnye-
nience. and stock would be kept dry, secure
and comfortable.