The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-04-17
fFor the Cairo BULLETIN ]

CAIRO, April 18th, 1871.
Mr.. EprroR Having been short
time engaged in navigating this bend of
the river and taking notes, thought l
would give you the benefit Of my obser.
vations, and ifyou choose the public also
The geographical location OF your city is
evidently portable. and sufficient mum.
Der of high water wheels can change ITS
latitude and longitude, and possibly o..
ITS COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE
Herewith. After q diagnosis, Of course
a remedy is In order, and would pre-.
scribe as follows:
A stock company Of sufficient force to
produce or raise q capital of s25, 900 for
immediate use, and the approval and
good will of the city Of Cairo to add
anothec .S25 900 to the capital stock,
making total of $50, 600 at which limit
the company may rest on their oars, un.
til their success in the enterprise Is dem
onstrated, after which they may com.
mence
10 WAIEk IHE slOCh
II 90 inclined. The modus operandi Is
simply to purchase powerful engine.
with suitable dredging or dirt-lifting ap.
paratus, and another large engine capa.
BILE OF pumping a large stream OF water,
and both to be placed or located outside
of the levee, somewhere near the SOUTH
ern point or terminus of the levee
with the Ohio river. While
these are being placed ready
for use, let sufficient number of fumes
suitable to carry the dirt and water raised
by the engines be constructed and placed
at an incline to give the running water
sufficient carrying force to rapidly move
the dirt, sand or sediment, and directed
on to lots and ground requiring to be
filled up or raised. A suitable planking
Of a portable character must first be
placed around the lot or lots to be filled,
to retain the dirt and sand until the wa
ter should drain away, which,
IN THIS rUKCs SOIL,
Would be almost Immediately. The
enclosure could then be used again
tor another plot Of ground, and
SO on successfully until the city
foundation would be raised to any grade
desired. OF course certain stipulated
price for attaining a certain grade would
have to be established, on account of tn g
city's interest in the stock and the fur.
| ther consideration of the tax payers in
terest in the assessments required.
am inclined to believe that lots near the
leyee could be raised ten feet at no,
over
ONE HUNDRED DoLLIRS COST TO THT
OWNER,
and With fair profit to the com pany
doing the work. Five men could prob
ABLY control the operations OF the
engines and an OCCASIONAL working force
to change the direction OF the fumes and
enclosures would keep the business
going.
Having seen immense bodies of earth
washed away by hydraulic appar atu'
in short time with quite an ordinary
stream of water, in mining operation
in California, and tha., too. in fumes
made OF three common twelve inch pint
boards, makes me confident that this
mode would soon put Cairo above deer
water, and if the citizens chose even w Il
levee grade,
The quicksand nature OF the soil out
side of the levee would probably, move
forward with the water in the soil tc
constantly supply the dredging appara
tus, unless at an unusual low stage o
water in the rivers, or An extended dry
season, SO that question if the engines
would ever require to be moved until
the work would be completed. The
city must be filled toa
GRADE ABOVE sIPE WATER
Before it can start cut on healthy
growth. The permanance OF the leve'
may be secured and strengthened b!
working constantly for a river front a
the southwest portion on a gradual in
cline with broken rock facing
the same as on the Ohio front
A few distractions placed in tn
river at the proper angle above in tn
Mississippi, would throw the curren
with sufficient force, to cut channe
in high water, to run close into the sout
point Of the levee. Not being propert
owner in your city so far as real estate
concerned, perhaps do not select tn
best time to present this subject to ii
taxpayers, but if carried out it woul
repay them hereafter.
, Il, S. b.