The New Orleans crescent., 1868-03-29

| them against river foods Mortgages upon them
are offered to raise funds for immediate use In re-
suming cultivation. Many plantations have been
Northern capital. In fine, there Is every indica.
ton that, as soon as the tedious business OF re-
construction is settled. this district, the richest
and most attractive portion Of the broad domain
Of the United States, will receive an influx of
wealth and labor amply sufficient to place il
where it properly belongs among the growing
communities of the great West The present Il
therefore, an epoch when 1t is important both 10
examine past history and to wisely plan for the
future, in combating the terrible friend that has
made these lands what they are-the Mississippi
nver.
The writer, without having any pecunary in
terest to subserys, has enjoyed unusual opportu-
mites OF traversing and of studying this region.
both before and since the war. The following
pages are written win view TO correct certain
erroneous ideas prevalent, even among those who
suppose themselves TO be well informed, respect
ing the lowlands Of the Mississippi river
A vast aliuvial plain averaging fifty miles ia
width, extends from the mouth of the Ohio TO the
gull-a distance of 100 miles, The Mississip mi
river pursues its devious course through this re-
glon, occasionally-as at Columbus, Memphis
Vicksburg, Natchez and Baton Rouge-fouchin0
the eastern bluffs but usually flowing through
iowlands, where Its own food leyeli is higher than
any ground for many miles. Hence, before the
settlement Of the valley the whole region ia ques
ton was shallow. densely- wooded lake at high
stages OF the river. AS the food subsided the
water was drained by many swamp rivers and
bayous back into the parent stream, and thus
ultimately reached the gulf; but not before 1t had
deposited its burden of sedimentary matter upon
the surface OF the soil, and thus laid the founda
ton for its iDexhaustbe fertility.
There is certain sublimiiy connected with the
Mississippi which no rejecting person can fail to
appreciate, after becoming acquainted with the
mysterious and terrible development of force of
which 1t is the visible representative. II Il
often believed by residents upon its banks to be
subject to 10 law, and to be beyond control The
mystery OF its character, however, has been
peDetrated and the following facts and figures
correctly represent the river in its passage
through the lowlsnds
The nights and corresponding distances of its
food surface, respecting the gulf, are as follows:
AT the mouth of the Ohio, S22 feet, 1897 miles:
at the month Of the Arkansas 65 feet 600 miles
ct the mouth of Red river, so feet 3I6 miles at
New Orleans, Is feet, 100 miles. Hence, the fall
OF the water surface from the mouth of the Ohio
to that OF Red river is aboat four inches to the
mile then TO the gulf il gradually lessons. Until
II becomes zero. The range between hirh and
low water level varies between 40 and so feet be-
tween the months Of the Ohio and Red rivers be-
low the latter it gradually lessons to IL feet
which is the mean tidal oscillation OF the Gulf of
Mexico In this vicinity. II may be added, that no
tidal current ever flows up the Mississippi: bat
so delicate Is the adjustment of forces in this
moving sea, that sensible tidal oscillation (abont
hOule.
miles from the gulf, at the lowest stage of the
river.
The width of the Mississippi gradually dinin-
shes as the gulf is approached. Thus. between
me ONO and the Arkansas, the high water width
between bsnksis $500 feet; between the Arkansas
and the Red it is AGO feet; below Red river it i.
,bout 2600 feet, gradually becoming less even
han this quantity. The mid.channel depth in
sreases proportioDately, being at high water 81 |
eet, 96 feet and 100 feet, respectively. in these
sections. The high water area of cross section is
'esrly constant throughout being about 200 900 |
quare feet. The low water area of cross section |
iifiers materially. being in these sections. 600
A GOO and l30 900 square feet, respectively. |
The annual drainage of the Mississippi is about |
- trlilions of cubic feet, varying between III
rillions and 27 trlons. The Hood discharge is
-reater at the mouth of the Ohio than at New Or
eans being l,4O0 600 and 1000 600 cubic feet per
econd. respectively, at these stations This seem
az paradox is explained by the more rapid oscil-
alton OF the upper river, through which the food
noves like great wave; while in the lower
iver. the channel resembles vast lake. filing
nd dlscharRing gradually. The maximum food
elocify Is likewise greater in the upper river
eing eleven feet per second at the mouth of the
)hio, and seven feet at New Orleans.
The annual downfall of rain throurhont the
asin OF the Mississippi varies proportionately
nth the snnual discharge. It's mean value
lrougno1t the entire valley is 81 inches. In the
asiDs of the. principal tributaries it is as fol.
'ws: In that of the upper Mississippi, above
ie mouth of the Missouri J IS inches: in mat of
he Missouri, Il inches; in that Of the Ohio. az
lches; IN that OF the Arkansas, 80 0inches ia that
the Red, 80 inches; while, in the immediate |
lcinity Of the main riser, it gradually io-
reases as the gulf il approached, being Al inches
ear the Ohio. and 81 inches near the gulf. Abonr
senty five per cent. of the entire downfall in the
reat yailey-of which the area Is 900 square
iles-thus ultimately reaches the gulf; butin the
wlands this proportion is much greater, being /
bout nine tenths. |
The mean amount of the sedimentsry matter
I'D IN suspension by the water is the IL 5OOth
srt by weight, and the IL 90Oth part by volume:
1t this quantity varies materially, dependine
liefy upon the tributary from which il proceeds
ID upon the stage. Thus In floods, the Missouri ,
9 Arkansas and the Red rivers are highly |
arged win sediment while the upper Missis- I
Dpi, the Ohio, the White, the Black. the Yazoo | !
d the 81. Francis are comparatively clear. A 1
lie computation with the figures already given !
III show that the total annual contributions of | 4
river to the alluvial formation and to the gulf
e equal 10 prism having base of one sonsre I
lie and q height of 29O feet. Including the ma. !
rial pushed along the bottom, this hight is d
out 3l5 feet.
The mean annual temperature of Miss;ssinn; q
tier is, at Memphis, about 81 degrees Fahren- r
u, and at Few Orleans, GA degrees Fahrenheit | 3
e changes of temperature in the water are more | \
adnai and Uniform than in the air; and the | A
ange OF season is shown later. The water IA 4
irmest az New Orleans in the latter part Of | 4
gust, anu Couest III tue iatIer part OF January. Il
difference between these extremes being about Il
degrees Fahrenheit. The corresponding diC- a
ence in mean weekly air temperature il onlvA0 n
grees Fahrenheit; the water reaching greater II
tremes both of heat and of cold than this n
an. a
The annual succession of stages of the Nissis. q
pi varies considerably from year to wear. but r.
periods OF several years it is quite uniform | a
E river is lowest In the latter part of Octoher n
beginning of November. 1t soon rises rapjdIv II
m the autumn rains, until checked bv the frsez In
OF The upper Enthusiastically 10 Januarv. | "
Ter the spring tbaw, it again rises and attainsi is
hest point early In April. 1t then subsidies q a,
ie, ~ be again swelied in June by the Rocky n,
untain rise and the early summer rains. After ar
supply has ceased, it falls rapidly and remains n,
until October. In the lower river near New cr
cans, tie oscillations are later than those hf
ueds being Influenced by the filing and draining m
the great channel reservoir above. The rive n,
generally above mid-stsge from the latter mart sb
December to the latter part of july. and belovv en-
stage for the rest Of the year. AZ
It quite irregular intervals, bat upon an aver. 10
about once in four years, occurs wbati ia tb
ned great flood" The nights of the III
ees are so accurately adjusted to the usual Sc
water mark that rise of a foot above that ou
FL entails widespread disaster. This usually
urs through the agency Of what are termed ! IN
Either from natural wealxness- or 60
burrowiDg Of craw-fsh or the urfortuuate fail N,
tree across the levee, or malicious desiga on | -
part OF some party interested in flooding the m,
nps or N protecting his own lsnd on fba 49, | -