The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-12
MORNING MESSENGER SUNDAY APRIL IT, 1874
CreVaSSes.

i SAOv1SoOSs
| AS often happens at this season of tn
year, our people are now thoroughly agi
tated on the subject of overAows. Alread
many plantations have been damaged an
immense losses sustained. The danger |
still imminent in hundreds of other local
ties, and the whole coast is threatened wit
similar disasters. Thus the father Z
waters, ordinarily the best friend of on
whole delta, sometimes becomes q fcrmida
BILE enemy.
For our part, however, We aequit tb
Mississippi Of all blame in the matter, con
sidering it entirely justifable in frettiD
and raging against the tyrapnipAl bond
which the folly of man has tried to impos
upon it. On reflection, we believe tina
the word folly, just employed, ought t,
be changed to stupidity. If ever a civil
lied community was guilty of protractet
and unmitigated stupidity in physica
matters we believe the people of this delta
have certainly filed that role in thei,
treatment of the great river. Instead Of
attempting to confine it's raging torren,
within levees, it ought to be relieved by
copious outlets.
1t is common remark that this alluvial
country was settled several centuries too
soon by which the idea is meant to be
conveyed that it is yet in state of form.
alton, and would eventually have been
raised to a comparatively high and dry
condition by the natural deposits of the
river if it had been left untrammeled.
Now there is no reason why the natural
filling up of the swamps should not be-
permitted to continue. The overflow of
the Nile is counted on as an annual reno
walton of the soil and the greatest blessing
of the seasons. By proper arrangements
our plantations could be overlooked in the
same way, and then drained in time for
any crop but sugar.
Instead of leveeing in the river, greater
facilities for relieving it of it's, swollen
'ides should be provided. Another chan
lei of the same width as itself connecting
t with the Gulf from point near Donald
'onville would carry off as much water az
he main channel and prevent any material
Use in it. The connection of this outlet
With the main river could be 80 arranged
rs not to receive any water at all at
ow stage, nor until it had risen to a GER
ain point, whereby any danger of chang
ng the actual channel would be obviated.
)f course, this outlet would have to be
iept free of trees and other obstruction
long Its whole course, and especially at
Is entrance into the Gulf. 1t would have
be leveed in at certain places, as would !
he river itself at unusually low points. Il
This plan has been suggested often en-.
ugh and its merits are evident. The
'aters of the river could never rigs more
han half as much as.tAey-don now, above
1 !se-lass 5sf az which they would commence to
Train off by the outlet the levee system
would become useless and be allowed to go to |
lecay, while the natural filing up process
would 60 on, to the manifest advantage Of
he whole delta.
In the beginning of settlements on this |
iver, when the few inhabitants had no |
Their means of establishing and keep
,g up a general system of drainage
n the gigantic scale necessary, each plan
er had to protect his own front as best he
night by some kind of a levee. AS clear.
ngs and settlements multiplied the plan
Tas preserved, until the enormous works
which We now recognize in the levee sys-
EN- grew into existence. But in the mean
lime the community has outgrown the
eebleness which was unable to undertake
he outlet system and had to adopt levees
8 temporary and unnatural expedient.
Why than persevere in that expedient 2
The Pastoral.
In this numher of the SrLR I'LL