Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-02-07

carried in suspension by the river to the
sea depends upon the velocity ofthe current.
That il, that the quantity increases and
diminishes with
THE VELOCITY.
Of the current; the ratio Of quantity to
velocity is however, modified by the depth.
That is to SAY, the quantity Of sediment In
creases lets rapidly with an increase Of cur
rentin deep water than it does in shoal
water.
Captain Eads explained more fully why
the current ofthe river was selfregulating
and showed why a uniformity in the width
ofthe river and a uniformity in the slope
of the river bed were necessary for the
attainment Of . deep channel, permanent
and reliable. The river would then keep
in its bed during all seasons Of the year
and there would be no need Of expensive
levees. His plan did not contemplate the
shortening of the river by c%ut-otfs, and the
narrowing ofthe channel would not be done
suddenly and violently, but gradually, the
work If several years. Until the jetty
work was completed the levecs would have
to be kept in repair, but they could be ulti-
mately dispensed with altogether. Said
Captain Eads at this point: The improve
ment Of the river should be commenced at
once. Forty-three bars are shown TO exist
below Cairo by the government survey OF
1875, and some of them with but four and u
half feet Of water on them.
1t will cost probabably $500 900 to
improve the river below Cairo. This
would secure at least twenty feet through
to New Orleans in low water. l will not
attempt 10 speak of what this would be
worth to this nation. No eloquence OF
tongue or pen can picture it.
After giving the St. Louis merchants ex.
CHI mge the credit Of having been the frs,
commercial body to
THE EFT SYSTEM
for opening the mouth Of the Mississippi,
and one Of its members, Hon. L. o. Stanard
the honor of having saved the jetty bill a
one Of the most critical moments Of Its exis
tence in congress, Captain Eads concluded
as follows:
TIT present measure is one of far greater
Importance to The prosperity Of St. Louil
and the whole valley and the entire nation
than the opening Of the mouth Of the river
With twenty feet from hence to the sea all
the year round, grain can be proftably car.
ried to New Orleans for three cents peI
bushel. The north and the west can esti
mate what that would be worth to them or
grain alone but no man is competent t
picture the prosperity of the whole valley
when this improvement shall have beef
once accomplished. l trust, therefore, tina
the exchange will move vigorously in secur
ing so grand a consummation.
Captain Eads was applauded several
times during the course Of his remarks anc
upon the conclusion Of the address the fol
lowing resolution, presented by Mr.. Web
NJ. Samuel, was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the board of directors o
the exchange be requested to take such &C
ton in reference to the plan Of Capt. J
B. Eads for the improvement of the Mi
sissippi river as will bring the subject pre-
m;nentlv before congress and the people o
the Mississippi valley and that the thank
of the merchants and business men of St
Louis are justly due and are hereby tender
ed Captain Eads for the great work perform
ed BY him in opening the mouth of tn,
Mississippi to the of the world
and also Tor the efforts he is now making t,
give the IN of St. Louis and til,
Mississippi valley an unobstructed an,
d%eep-water outlet to the %jetties.