New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-24


The marvellous fertility Of the delta Of
the Mississippi, in length extending from
Cape Girardeau, in the State OF Missouri, to
the mouths Of the river, a distance OF up
wards of 500 miles, and having a width
varying from twenty to eighty miles, has
been so much written about that it scarcely
more than necessary to allude to it now. 1t
is impossible to estimate the agricultural
capabilities of this region. The great, and,
indeed the only obstacle in the way of its
complete development is the destructive
foundations to which it is subjected. The
great river. swollen by the melting SHOWS
of the far North and Northwest, and by the
heavy spring rains of the intervening re-
gi0ns, after passing in its course the rock y
bluffs and tough banks that confine its
floods above the Grand Chain, breaks over
it's banks below these solid walls, and sub
merges many millions of acres Of the rich
est lands on the North American continent.
Can the destructive effects of these an
nually- recurring floods be cOunteracted by
human skill: Che abless engineers OF the
country have rendered an opinion in the
affirmative. At present, less than one-sixth
OF the whole area Of the territory has been
conquered for purposes OF cultivation.
What che Salus Of the products Of the
whole country subject Co inundation would
be it cultivated, can be estimated from the
results obtained.
The protection Of this vast and fruitful
country is an object which can not be at
tanned by individual or local effort. It is
not . local matter, but q work of national
Importance Many millions OF dollars have
been expended by the government to assist
in the construction of Sailways 90 open up
the vast elevated plains Of che far West,
and this expenditure was justified on the
ground chat these works were OF national
character, and possessed q national import
ance. How much more important the pro-
lection Of she Inundated Mississippi delta
is 20 the growth and increase in wealth Of
the nation. We need nos stop % inquire ct
present.
Tho strict constructionists Of the old
Democratic element, even, are forced to ad.
init that comprehensive levee system is q
work of the first Importance. and does not
come under the prohibitions OF national aid
20 interDel improvement schemes. Che gen
eminent alone can Inaugurate and carry out
q complete system OF works 60 accomplish
the object. a considerable portion of Mis-.
souri,, IN the southeast, . large area Of Ten
0essee. and the whole eastern border of
Arkansas, and the western margin of Mis-.
sissippi are liable 10 overflow. These States,
individually, can not project and carry out
ssystem Of improvements for the protection
of their territory adequate to the necessities
of the cas", and they are prohibited by the
fundamental law Of the republic from COM
bined action. To project general system,
therefore. win re4nire the Intervention OF
the general government. Louisiana, Q con
siderable part of Arkansss and . goodly
portion of Mississippi are now comparatively
valueless territories, because Of the danger
to be apprehended from the foods Of the
river Ii once permanently protected from
this danger, there ia no estimating che in
n