Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-31
MISSISSIPPI LBYEES.
Editors Memphis Appeal

Editors Memphis Appeal;
The leveeing the Mississippi river
Is again attracting some attention, Win
n prospect Of final consummauon
tbronob the aid Of the Federal Govern
mept Having devoted several years to
instrumental surveys Of that portion OF
the river. between Memphis and the
mouth of the Yazoo. and much time to
personal examination Of the country
On the east bank, I ask the space in
the APPEAL. TO explain the outlines OF
a plan projected some years ago for
the reclamation Of the Yazoo basin.
This IS the region lying between the
Yazoo. Tallahatchie and Coldwater
rivers on the east, and the Mississippi
ON the west-containing about 100000
acres of alluvial lands, the finest in
Amer.ca. and situated in the very heart
of the cotton zone, between the so and
35th parallels Of latitude. Nearly the
whole of this large area Is subject to
iuandation from the Mississippi. The
soil formed by deposits Of alluyium from
centuries of floods, is Of great depth
and ipexhaustible fertility, producing
hale of cotton to the acre under the
sloyenly system Of cultivation hithereto
practiced, and good doubtless for double
that. under an improved system OF agrl-
culture. Asan evidence Of its PrOduc-
tiyeness, Major Andrew J. Donelson,
plautiDg in Bolivar county, states that
he gathered 1000 bushels Of sweet
potatoes from FIVE acres in 1867. In 1860,
there were in this district 42o,OOO acres
fabout one-tenth Of the whole area) in
cultivation which produced 22O,OOO
bales C40O lbs each) of cotton 2,6V5,yOO
bushels of corn $500 bushels Of wheat
1915 bushels of oats; 33,2UO bushels
of peas and beans; 29SOO bushels OF
Irish potatoes 137, SEQ bushels OF sweet
potatoes; 1920 swine; lO,9SO sheep
69,26O kline; p 300 horses and mules
valued at S4,O02 600. In addition to
these was produced more or less OF wool,
leather hay, barley, rye, rice, bUckwheat,
honey. butter, fruit and garden vege-
tables of various kinds, which grow te
perfection, showing a climate and soh,
adapted to the support of dense popu-
latiDn in great plenty and comfort. The
white population was S,923 and the
slave population 50,2l2 and the esti-
mated cash value Of farms S4l 100000; !;
an average 0f s97 per acre for the cult
waited lands. At that time this district
afforded a precariOus protection by a
frail. sinuOus line Of leyees from Horn
Lake TO Brunswick landing 81 miles
long, which owing 20 local influences
and defects In the administrative system,
was badly located in many places,
close upon caying banks and much cut
by the waves Of very insufficient
dimensions, and altogether inadequate
to the permanent protection OF the dis
trict and the consequence was frequent
.crevasses, and foods that often deyasta-
ted large portions Of the district, de
stroying the growing crops, aEd cattle,
and driving the inhabitants from their
homes. Ii under these difficulties such
progress was made as these statistics
develope, what may We not expect when
the country is guaranteed absolute i'm
muLity from overflow, when Its forests
are cleared away, and its lakes and
swamps are drained, and the whole be-
comes filed with a busy, thrifty popula-
tion, instead Of as It is now. IN great
measure, one vast junglez
No equal area Of the Mississippi
valle2 presents such physical advantages
for easy protection as this does The
hills an n ,,rn Lake at the Tennessee line
form natural buttress from which t0
start the levee. Thence to the mouth
of the Yazoo $50 miles Is not solitary
inlet to break the line Iae entire dis
triet descends eastwardly from the
Mississippi to the Tallahatchi5 nnd
Yazoo at the average rate Of about toUI
inches to the mile, and all the streams
a,,Win a southeasteTly direction into the
T.l 'ahatchie and Nazoo, eventually re
tnrni, = to the Mississippi through th'
Yazoo From the Tennessee line e
Brunswick a levee nv be built, no
excluding my considerable area O.
country and at a perfectly safe distance
from caving banks and not ezeeGdln3
$50 miles. with maxium grades Of one
foot to the mile, all descending one way
with curves of miuinGm radii Of 2,S65
feet. with crown Of IA feet; slopes
to ] and to 6 feet above extrem'
high water, at a cost Of S13,5O0,OOO
For this l would ask an appropriation
from Congress. 1t will reclaim surely
and forever over $500 900 acres Of the
hest cotton lands on the globe, which
reduced to cultivation, will add hundred,
of millions to the wealth of the con
federation. and 90 far towards providing
the means for the extinquishment o
the public debt. The financial credi
of the Government could have no sure
foundation than the vast Commercial
prosperity that will inevitably tollo'
the certain protection, peoplelnS an
cultivation Of large district, possessln
such a soil and climate as this. The ID
creased internal taxes alone would repa
the Government In a few years.
In locating this leyee, l would pursu
the general direction Of the river
taking care to enter none Of the bends
and not to approach within one mile q
their exterior bases. If the same condi
tion we're observed on the Arkansa
shore, it would give a waterway Of thre
miles between levees at the narrowes
point. and avoid the folly so often com
mitted. Of opposing the leyee as a dan
40 the direct flow Of the current l
constructing the leyee, the great mas