New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-22
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Judge TalfaferrO's Rejofnder.
HARRIsONBURG, La, June 10, 1917.

Judge Taliaferro's Rejoinder.
| HARRIsONBURG, La, June 10, 1917.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
1t was not until yesterday that had th,
pleasure of seeing Mr.. Kings response t
some views published in the RErUBLICA,
OF the twenty seventh ultimO, before left
the city, in regard to the overflow Of the
Mississippi levees, etc. will ask room fol-
some remarks by way Of rejolnder. by nc
means, however, desiring to continue the
discussion further than to endeavor to give
the reasons upon which my opinions OF
these subjects rest.
! We are widely apart as to facts, or rather
| as to truth OF facts, and if should be
charged with committing sol;cism in the
use Of these words, ] would plead the
| example Of Mr.. Jefferson who in his ncte.
| on Virginia used the term '.talse facts" bu,
! more especially the very high authority OF
Junius. who in his controversy with Sil
! William Draper began one of his letters
| to that nobleman thus: 81 am sorry to say
to you, Sir William. that your first fact is
| faise.' am sorry to say to my friend that
nearly ali his facts are false; not using this
| word in any offensive sense surely. but
simply to mean that in my judgment they
| are erroneous. delusive and unreliable, and
I will be at some pains to give my reasons
for so thinking. The learned iurist ssya:
There have been four great floods within
period sufficiently proximate 70 enable us
to obtain reliable information. The floods
nf A., .
occurred before, it is almost as fabulous as
the flood OF Ducalion. The highest Of these
floods III lower Louisiana was that Of 1867.
1t obliterated all the previous high water
marks. which had been before plainly visi.
BILE on the trees in the swamps Il was.
therefore, the greatest food that has
occurred during this century.
Now, let US examine the testimony ad-
duced by me bearing upon the facts thus
stated by Mr.. King, and see whether they
are sustained by it. We shall see whether
what have said relating to the floods of
1913. 1915 and 1928 is in reality "almost as
fabulous as the food of Ducalion." and
whether what ! have said about extraos-
dinary floods OF the Mississippi are "mere
guesses." There is standing on a email
HarrisOnburg. Oh the Ouachita river, .
large fine OAK. tree on which the
water mark of 1923 is now visible. IT at
tree ia within 100 yards Of where ain now
writing. That water mark I know. and
others know. to be the water mark Of 1928.
No overflow since 1928 has ever reached to
within eighteen inches Of tba, mark. Some
years prior to .hs late war q corps of
United States er gineers was in this section
of country making surveys and examining
the general state Of the swamp country, and
especially as to the oveffiows to which
it is' exposed. For this purpose they
were at pains TO ascertain the actual
depth to which the lands were sub.
merged in 1928. was with them during
a short period. pointed out to them the
tree have just mentioned. In the swamps
miles east OF the Ouachits, they found the
water marks Of 1928 on the trees. They
They ran a line Of levels from these marks
across the river to the " est side. and found
the water marks through the swamps east
Of the river to correspond with the 1928
mark pointed out to chem. and they struck
the level Of the water on the bill sides in
the town, finding that it came to the bot.
tom OF the wall Of the present clerks office.
A hundred men can be found in this parish
at short notice to prove that no rice Of water
within twenty years has ever come near
the 1923 mark have specially referred to
as shown on the oak tree mentioned, and
the height to which the water attained On
the hill side as indicated by the leyeling Of
the engineers.
Next, shall 20 into details to show that
away back in 1918. 1915 and 1873 imy
fabulous Ducalion iimesl made
high waters, water marks and great over
tows speciality, and ! do assure him l
speak by the card-.hat II am not mad,
but speak forth the words Of soberness and
truth" In the low swamps on the margin
Of which was living in the spring of the
year 1915. the high water marks Of the ycar
1913, then the highest water mark known
to the great majority Of our people, were
plainly visible. At the time Of the epring
rise in 1915. and after the water had at.
famed great height, it was q matter Of
interest to me to note whether the water of
1915 would reach the mark Of 1873. l &C.
went out into the oveIdowed |
hammer and nail. and selecting smooth,
straight. white bodied oak, on which the |
water mark Of 1919 was beautifully marked |
" the black line around it, drove the nail |
u this mark. After the fail of the water. |
examined and found, by measuring with |
IN iron square, that the mark left by the
water of 1915 was iust three inches above
he nail. Afterward, by examining this
nd other marks of 1915, I found certainly
hat the great flood of 1923 was about the
ame height as those of 1918 and 1915; and
subsequently,. by accurate observations.
hat the water Of 1928 was from three to
tx inches higher than the floods of 1918,
Sl5 and 1923. declare with the fullest con.
dence that am not mistaken tbasing my
elief upon particular notice and observa'
on) in say ing that in general and at large
aese four great floods were about the same
eight, there being but a few inches differ
pce-tbat of 1928 being highest. but high
1t not exceeding six inches. ] affirm from
ersonal knowledge and observation that
general and at large the Hood OF 1867.
10 greatest. according to my friends
otion, Of the present century. SO far from
bitter ating the water marks OF previous
ears. was not as high by eighteen inches
, either Of the waters have adversed TO
,eciallv VIZ: those Oi 1873. 1915. 1923 and I
,2s. The intervening floods of 1924 and I
,26 also noted, and marked accurately.
hav wers about The same height. but |