The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-04

MuD.-[From the New Orleans I.6uitet'n:
If the Mississippi was LOCO yards wide and
forty Yards in average depth, Slowing past
this sity at the rate Of four miles an hour,
there would pass by Us about 190jO0O, 700 OF
cubic Yards OF water each hour. IL only
one twentieth part OF this water was muddy
solution, the earthly, solid substance carried
down by our great river each hour would be
10000, 900 OF cubic yards, or enough to build
m embau kment five yards deep, forty yards
wide, and $4,000 yards long. intwenty-four
hours this floating real estate would be sufi-
cient to cover to the depth Of five yards an
area OF 100000 superticial yards.
We leave 1t TO our enterprising young
arithmeticians to calculate how long it would
require to raise the level Of thissettyids cen
fert If all the sediment carried down by the
Mississippi could be arrested anddeposited
within the boundaries of the parish OF Or.
leans. Or, II they choose, let tbem.cllcu'a'e
the apmber Of acres OF lar d nownuavsilable
because overt owed, or sutjeet to annual ovrr
flow, which could be raised beyond the pr g.
sibIlity OF oyei How by the deposit Of the sedi-
meut borne by the Mississippi in the course
OF single year IL 1t could be arrested, sepa.
rated, ,aad diffused. Or let them consider
what the effect would be IL the Fatber OF
Waters should cease from the tssk Of filling
up tbe,eGplf of Mexico to the extent of
many square miles Of surface and Of great
depth each year, and leave he's burden ef
sediment on strips Of land on each bank
twenty miles in width for the periodof five
years. Or let them calculate the products o
the 10000 alluviaI square miles OF themes.
fertile lands which would thus be raised
above he.danger OF foods.
The time viii come when the earthly bur
~. mi Ao a,,rp aH
to come good use. The great inventor Is yet
to appear who will utilize the vast Eeigbt Of
fertile s al that now goes on its Idle errandto
the Gulf She fierce to be employed for this
purpose Ia the. stupendeus momentum Of the,
greatest current that flows from any eenei-
nent to the seq. There Is strength easagh
IN the mighty riger to propel all the engines
now used on earth. The problem to lie
solved 10 to prescribe the method by which
the force OF the current OF the Mississippi
can be applied, 40 as.to raise its own watezs
above the land, where, being held Ia tranquil
Suspension. they will, deposit their sediment.
aud then a,w OF to give place to new flood |
freighted With neW deposit.
The power exists IN the greatest plentitude
OF wealthy abundance. The problem is |
simply to make the Sosce Of the mighty cur. |
rent elevate small fraction Of It's volume |
few feet above its nataral level. The result
o. n successHl solution OF this problem Will
be the arrest. deposit. and mitigation Of The
soii NOW carried useiesslv Away TO the blue
wafer OF the Gulf. ,s
The great engineer and inventor who
huds out and applies this mighty fiuyial
power viii be able 70 do saaaost anything bel
pieases. 10 was the boast Of Michael Az
cello ,BRpn arroti that be could barS the
great tapal cathedral, the aEchitectnrai
cride OF Rene, In mid-air. A nan With
genius, OF eeusl boldness and sigsr, In con-
nand Of The sitanic power which Gess by na
Ia client. msjesty, would compel T
be Ms4issippito buiid its own leRees, to.
aise Up millions OF acres OF rich lsnds. ele.
ate Our city above all fear Of foods. snd
ven 10 set QUE city aupon hill," just as
be eminent and snterpSising engineer Of ths ,
titles has declared thss DO could do With
afro,
For tws hundred yesss the Mississippi