Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-06
MOUTH oF MHSSISSlPPI RIVER
IMPROVEMENT.

From the Washington Chronic e
The readers Of the Chronicle have been
kept advised OF movements made from
time 70 time for the Improvement Of the
outlet from this great American river,
which has been we'll denOminated on
account of its commercial Importance,
an arm Of the sea. Its mouth has been
continuously so INSTRUCTED by bars as to
prevent the ready iugress and egTess OF
sea going vessels OF considerable draft,
resulting in great detriment to trade in
ali Of that vast region drained by 1t and
its navigable coutributaries. The inn
provements attempted by the COVER
ment have resulted, to say the most, in
only temporary advantages. Permanent
relief is a national necessity. The cost
would be considerable, bat would be
repaid a hundred fold in the enhance
ment Of the values OF property and the
aus meuted profits OF trade. The
consitutiOnality Of appropriations from
the national treasury for this purpose Is
not disputed. The demand for the
outlay IS urgent, and all admit its inn
mense importance to the people Of this
vast district Of our common country.
The representatives Of the States located
on the borders Of these rivers are unani-
NOUS in urging its prosecution on the
attention OF cOngrtss. The determine
ton OF the best mode of effecting it is
now the principal cause Of delay. And
this question eminent engineers are
striving to solve. During the last session
OF congress two distinct and rival plans
were proposed, one by the engineers of
the army, and the other by Colonel
James 3. Esds, an eminent engineer of
st. Louis. The former recommended
that an artificial channel be cut from the
river to the deep water, with the Tequi-
site locks, so as to admit e a-going ships
Of the largest burden. This was known
as the st. Philips canal ,heme. The
other plan, submitted by Colonel ESds,
proposed the improvement of one Of the
natural outlets Of the river lJy means Of
ietties. The colonel was confident OF its
feasibility, and convinced many of the
leading members Of both branches Of its
practicability, and also of It's cheapness
as compared with the other mode pro-
posed With q view of further dem
onstratiOn he has svsiled himself OF the
recess Of congress 10 visit Europe to col
lect Information in relation to similar im-
pTovemenis in that country which have
already been tested. We understand
that Colonel q. A. KarWiese, another
st. Louis engineer of admitted ability,
is giving his attention to the subject. He
proposes still another mode of improve
ment, which may be regarded as a
modification OF both plans above men
toned, or rather q mode of aiding the
success Of whichever plan congress may
adopt. 1t involves the necessity of
cutting several artificial outlets through
which to carry of the surplus waters
ass.h az gta q d u
the sources of these great rivers, eudan-
geriDg levees, inundsting large districts
of country, destroying crops, and multi
piled millions of dollars worth of other
property. Colonel Ksrwiese is confident
that large part of the waters which
flood the valley OF the Rsd river periOdi-
cally can be carried of to the Gulf before
they reach the channel ofthe Mississippi,
thus ruducing its overflow, and that it
may be further diminished, as he thinks,
at a reasonable cost by means ofartifcal
outlets at other points, connected with
bayOus leading direct to the Gulf. This
plan, il practicable, without too great
cost, would result in incalculabie benefits
to agriculture in the southwest, and
render the construction of additional
expensive levees unnecessary. He hopes
to illustrate the feasibility OF his sugges-
tions by the presentation of incOntro-
vertible facts established by experiments
in the improvement of the rivers Rhine,
Weichsel, and Danube, His suggestions
are certainly worthy Os consideration by
Typographical engineers as well as by
congress. We hone, however, that in
the multiplicity Of counsel the improve
ment of the mouth of this great river
may not fail.