New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-30
MISSISSIPPI INUNDATIONS.

MISSISSIPPI INUNDA1lONS
A PLAN FOR PREVENTING THEM BY THE ERECTION
OF DAMS NEAR THE HEADwATERS OF THE
PRINCIPAL TIIBUTARIEs-THE PROJECT PRO-
NoUNCED FEASIBLE BY CIVIL ENGiNEERs-THE
COST COMPARATIVELY SMALL
To the Editor Of The tribune
SIR: On behalf of the suffering population
Of the low lands adjacent to the Mississippi River In
the States OF siana Mississippi and Arkansas per-
NIT me TO offer suggestion regarding these periodical
inundations. The Mississippi River, below Caro- Il
peeuar In the fact that 1t runs on ridge OF It's own
formation. For the greater part OF the distance Oh
both banks river when full is higher than the oacK
country there IT, therefore, backing OF the waters up
for down. the tributaries which drain the shores only
at low water. In some places tho mouths OF
ANAL streams have been closed by dkes, so rs
to prevent the rushing In Of this backwater III oes
the kes are continued along each side OF the tributary
stream far inland in order to confne the overilo"
within narrow limits. This periodical overflow OF tine
Mississippi is no thing; it has been gong on fOr
ages; he whole lower part Of the valley has been
slowly made from the sediment brought down from the
higher lands and deposited during similar Hoods IL is
going on now, and the banks OF the river are being
slowly carried into the Gulf The watershed OF the
basin is 80 vast that prolonged rainfall or sn0w-net
over large portion of the surface Is certain To be
followed by freshets and foundations. The system OF
eyees which has erected along the banks instead
Of relieving the difficulty has direct tendency TO in
crease it, As fast as woodland is cleared ana bitches
and drains constructed the drainage into the rivers
ia more rapid; and this tendency toward alternate
droufhs ami frcshels Is increasing in frequency
and severity. Instead of affording more numerous
outlets for the swollen streams, the levees limit and
conne it to single channel and to be successful, must
involve continually Tightening and widening these
Structures which will add to their cost in quadrupe
ratio as well as increase the risk. AT their best the
evees are poor security being no stronger than their
weakest spot. They destined 10 be al incesant eX
pense and with the most liberal outlay have to
be guarded and watched since malice or accident may
in hour undo the work OF years ana sacrce worth
OF millions OF money.
There are two other modes OF relief viz a. To pro-
vide more outlets for the food or, t2 to arrest the
Hoods before they have concentrated Having lived on
ia banks and trayersed its stream at all stages, have
given the subject attention. The first method
though practicable is attended with immense dill
cultes and short canal below NewOreans might
somewhat relieve the lower river; but the velocity OF the
current at and for hundred miles above is
very slight. Relief to be effective should be had as
high up tho mouth of Red River. The Atchaiaaya
bayou does estuary for the Mississippi At times
OF food with great effect BY connecting 1t with the
collateral streams entering the Gulf, something more
might be carried off But the present inundations OF
the Ouachta the Red the Tensas and the Black rivers
show that such conjunctons OF Hood all the present
channels TO the sea taken together are insufficient We
are therefore, thrown back upon the other alternative
TO stop floods before they have concentrated in the
lower river. This is feasible, however difficult 1t may
appear at first glance. 1t has been examined by one OF
our greatest civil and reported not only prac
cabe also by far the cheapest most serviceable and
beneacent OF relief possessing the twofod adj
vantage OF diminishing the volume OF water during
seasons freshet and adding to 1t In OF drouh
to the great saving Of property at ono stage, land to
aflnr
Ellet. who devoted much attention to the study
of the Mississippi and its tributaries, years
before his death on the Mississippi Ram Fleet.
made detailed report on the foods OF tho Mississippi
which may be found the Pupc Libraries of Philade
pha IL not also in 1t is full OF interest, and
so far can learn, the only reason why 1t has not
been adopted and carried out by OF hs
IN the profession is that it ahead of the time In
this however, 1t but resembles the building of
wire suspension bridges, OF which he also the
first protector and builder. Mr.. Ellettafer making
a series of Of the volume Of water pass
ing different points the lower river, determined the
excess which had TO be provided against and this he
proposed do by constructing the headwaers OF
the principal tributaries series OF dams mt points where
they will retain large bodies OF water, which again
be released when needed during the necessities Of nav
CATION He says number Of such localities can be
found on the Allegheny Monongahela, Kanawha,
sandy, Green, Kentucky, Cumberland, and Tennessee
Rivers and probably also on the Gasc0nade, White
Arkansas Missouri, and Red Rivers. His estimate If
remember rightly, was that very small number would
suffice but II suppose hundred SUCH that Is not
task for modern engineering to turn away from.
One such spot he himself selected and measured on
the headwaters OF the Gauley River, which had
storage capacity sufficient TO give to the Ohio
River depth Of five feet OF water throughout the dry
est the from the Kanawha to Its mouth
forget the exact sum which this could be built for
but It was rdlculously small in comparison with the
great advantages would confer Other sites he desig
mated OH the New and Greenbrler Rivers. 1t must De
noted that is only the extra inch foot for which
allowance has be made and this to the exen. the
present space within the limits OF the levees 1t would
seem to the non-profe ssional eye as II sufficient
Der OF reservoirs might be constructed and their oper
alton regulated by telegraph to retain this excess AZ
any rate, 1t might be productive OF great
good to have the researches OF this eminent by
drauc engineer dug out and carefully received by
best talent to IL his plan cannot be tried scale
large enough to test It's merits. The two systems
not antagonistc but, whether the levees are main.
tanned not the reservoirs would reinforce them.
II is Of the incidental benefits OF Ees plan that
1t would provide, at the same time, important por
ton OF the muCh-needed ways from the Mssis-
spp and OHIO 10 the seaboard now under consideration
and thereby give greater commercial value TO the
terror rivers cheap transit routes all OF the
year. Trusting that the subject may be thoroughly