Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-30

LEES Way" From the San Antonio
Herald. The almost uniform success of Gen.
Robert d. Lee was due probably to the simpli-
city OF the means he invariably adopted to at
tain even the most gigantic results. AS an evi.
dence of this fact we would call to mind some
thing that our people have never known, and
the people of St. Louis, those most interested,
have likely forgotten.
Many years ago all in St.Louis were terrified
at the prospect of being isolated by the action
of the river current, which up to that timo
had been striking its banks, as it swayed from
side to side, almost in front OF the city. But
by washing away the banks on the Illinois side,
thereby changing the angles of impingement,
the stream commenced to gradually wear away
the soil below st. Louis, making its way to-
wards the American bottoms, an alluvial tract,
and would have finally reached and emptied
into o creek some five miles below the city,
divertlng the river and leaving So Louis an
inland town.
The City Council and the General Govern
ment made large appropriations, hired the
best engineers, built dykes to find them use
less, and were finally obliged to admit that if
there was engineering skill sufficient to avert
the calamity it could not be found Gen. Scott
vas consulted TO know if he could not recon-.
mend somo ono capable Of graphing the prob
one officer, hrevet captain on ny staff. He
is young, but it the work can be done he can
do it"
Capt. Robert +. Lee arrived 10 st. Louis
and went to work. Quietly and uuostenta-
tiously he prepared his plans, drew his charts,
calculated the force and direction OF the cur
renss, examined all the discarded plans and
determined on his course. All this took con-
siderable time, because, as be remarked. too
much is at stake to trust to any uncertain
agencies, or leave anything to fortune" So
noiselessly we're his preparations carried on
that the citizens began to murmur at the ap
parent inactivity of the young officer.
Through all this dissatisfaction Captain Lee
pursued the even tenor of his way, merely re-
marking, when the appropriation was with
drawn by the city, ''They have right to do 's as
they will with their OVID; do not own the city.
The government has sent me here as an Office
of the army to do certain work. | shall do
it."
The careful preparations were at last com
pleted and everything in readiness A num-
ber of fatboats, some partially laden with stones,
others fully, according to the depth Of water in
which they were to sink moorcd with strong
ropes from each, so that they could be cast
loose 10 the current at one time, by one stroke
of on axe, and plug in each so arranged that
at given signal all the plugs could be with
drawn simultaneously. A man stood ready at
each line with Ratchet to cut loose; watch
in his hand. with tho hour, minute and second
indicated when to pull the plug. The signal
to 'cut loose" was the firing of the captains
pistol which being given, as with one accord
every rope was cut, and the boats, exactly as
calculated, swung out toward their proper and
destined places. Curving at first by the greater
force of the current, so accurately had every
ounce OF pressure been ascertained and proVid
ed for, that when the moment arrived and
every plug was withdrawn the boats went
down in a perfect loe, at right angles to the
current, as intended. Buoys we're fixed, and
next day Capt. Lee paid an early visit to see it
all was safe. All was safe, including the city Of
St.. Louis Day alter day brush, stores. etc,
were sunk until the dyke thus formed reached
the surface of the water. To-day cars cross the
same structure, to whose existence proud city
owes it's greatness, silent monument 10 the
genius Of one who, though dead, still lives"
The Republican, we believe, managed to
say, after the work was complete, '',hs talent
ed young engineer has succeeded 10 divcrting
the current of tho river, notwithstanding the
fears entertained that such would not be the
case!'