New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

TIE FLOODS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
The editor Of this journal recently saw fit,
in a letter from the South, to characterize tho
Levee system as a bunder 80 far as it seeks
to cOnfne the waters of the Mississippi within
its main channel. He deems it impossible to
make those Leyees 80 high and broad as to
conine rgidly to that channel the immense
volume of waters poured into it by the upper
Mississippi Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, Red, and
other rivers He believes that the attempt, if
vigorously made, will result in raising the
surface of that river so high, in seasons of
extreme high water that the Levees must and
will give way, and the river, pouring out in
immense volume through the "creyassen thus
formed, will destroy crops, buildings, &c,
over wide extent of the subjacent country.
The Memphis appeal has a letter which re-
CARDS the subject in kindred light. The
writer says:
II half the money spent in turning the Misss-
sippi River into Lake Borgne. at Stewards plantation,
miles below the City OF New Orleans, that they throw
away trying 10 stop and mend broken eyecs
they would have need of levees On the contrary,
NewOrleans would now be Il feet above hgh-water
mark or in other words the river would now he down TO
tde-water Lowell; for the moment the Mississippi dis
charges its water fnto Lake BOrgne then have the
Gulf Of Mexico water-level brought up to the city
which is Il feet below the present high-water. This
would not only NewOrleans and the lower coast,
but, by rapidly drawing the water off, would lower the
river fully five feet at Natchez Then, II they would
open every and all outlets by which water
could be carried from the river to the Gulf the east
side az high Pass Manchac, and the west side
high the mouth OF Red River this would lower the
water in the TyGT on e n CTsr GS at and vck
burg the latter place lessen the volume OF water
four five feet more. Then 1T would not be very e1-
pensve up Red River and turn that stream
and all its tributaries into the Gulf through the Atcha-
falaya and Berwcks Bay BY keeping this vast volume
OF water OF the river, we still make room ana In
crease the current and draw the water of moro rapidly
from that above, that up as high as Green
vile the water will not rise by eight feet
AZ high as it now rises. Thus, by commencing
AZ the bottom first AMI working on up, we
have prepared tho lower section, from Vlcks-
burg down. for cutoff system, by whlch
the river be shortened fully two hundred
miles more, in all three hundred miles to Cairo with
this shortened distance and increased current the river
can never overflow its banks and ill at the bottom as
now, but will continually, like mountain stream, wash
out and get deeper and deeper. This plan will reclaim
every acre OF land without foot OF river leyee. from
overflow. that is not below lowwater mark Treat the
Mississippi River as you would crooked creek which
overows It's banks and you will have the results
This is not the precise plan set forth in
our letter, but is closely akin to it. We insist
that the true course is so to deplete the lower
Mississippi as to bring its surface below the
Levees, instead of vainly trying to raise the
Levees so that the river cannot overflow or
break through them. The law of gravitatiOn
is powerful friend and dangerous enemy.
Better not challenge it to mortal combat unless
you feel rery strong.