The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-07
divide the great river Into several lesser

which OOStruet navigation, ny DullQlnS wall
across the bed of the river at it's mouth, suf1i-
GENTLY high to shut out the action Of the Gull
waves, and yet leave over it's top sufficient
depth Of navigation and a free outlet of the
river current. 1t is claimed that this will
tend to prevent the formation Of bars, and
will tend to deepen the channel Of the river
above.
Fourth-Another plan contemplates the
construction OF an entirely new line of levees
a mile back from the present ones, 1t seeks
simply the reclamation Of alluvlal lands,
system, close all the outlets. and when the
curves of the river bring the banks into an
angle with the current from above, and there
by subject them TO infringement and caving
to build revetments or wing dams to turn
aside the current. 1t is claimed for this plan
that it will not only protect the alluvial lands
but will operate similarly to ietties In deep
ening and permanently locating the channel
of the river and improving navigation.
Whatever these theories have taught we
find as many advocates of the one as
of the others. But there are certain facts
which are so well established by practical OBJ
servation think it perfectly safe to conclude
that we can convince the opposers of the levee
system that the Improvement Of the naviga-
convert them to be friends and advocates
and when this Is done our chances of an ap-
preparation are bright indeed.
The facts we conceive to be, that outlets OF
| crevasses tend to slacken the current and de-
crease the sediment~bearng capacity of the
stream, and the result the formation of bars
below as well as above these orevasses or
outlets, and to q very great extent thus
injuring the navigation OF the river. This is
shown by surveys above and below Bonnet
Carrie Creyasse, and wherever the river gets
beyond the levees control. The effect IS more
| clearly shown of holding the current within q
| certain limit by the works Of Capt. Eads at
South Pass. There the concentration Of the
current certainly cut out the bottom from
eight to twenty three feet and to my mind
shows that the theory that the bottom be-
comes a polished surface, perfectly impregna-
BILE to current action and that the use of levees
tend to raise the bed Of the river and thereby
| requires a constant heightening Of said levees,
flow from the river, we must admit will re-
duce the flood level by removing the bars
Capts. Aiken and Leathers, in their letters to
Col. Robertson, clearly show this as the result
of their experience and observation Engi-
neers Humphreys and Eads also admitted
the proposition in their testimony before the
levee committee that there was q close rela-
ton existing between the levees for projection
| and the improvement of the Mississippi river.
After hearing all the evidence the chairman
that, believing Capt. Eads to be correct in
his premises attaching to the question OF
sediment and current, also believe his con
clusion to be correct, and that his theory will
tend to deepen the channel of the river, and
thereby improve navigation. But he may
have carried his conclusion to a degree further
than his premises. Justify. / think he has,
and | would supplement the plan by closing
all outlets and putting in good repair the
present line Of levees. X | contend
that the present levee system, If repaired and
all ereyases and outlets closed, will operate
similarly to the ietty plan for it will tend to
keep the channel of uniform width, and
thereby cause it to scour out and improve
navigation. But it is less permanent, for the
reason that the banks are subject to caving at
the bends or curves of the river. where the
current from above strikes them at an angle. .
So. notwithstanding the conflicting thoo-
ries, levees are two-foid In use: they protect
the alluyial land and improve the navigation
Of the river. But levees are not permanent,
and. therefore, the present system must be
improved. Abrading banks will always de-
stroy the levees, as in the past, and some pro-
lection must be afforded by means Of wing
dams or revetments as suggested in the fifth
theory or plan.' Various experiments have
shown that this is practical and when the
system is thus improved we shall have levees
permanent in construction protecting the al
luvial lands, improving the navigation and q
consistent work for the general government,
worthy of the attention of all statesmen, and
worth to the nation at large ten times its
cost.
Now these facts were brought out very fully
as the powers of his committee were extended
this session to cover the Improvement of the
navigation OF the Mississippi river, he has ac-
comDliShed q work worthy OF high common
dation which will have its effect when the bill
presented by the committee comes up for
consideration before the House. Much more
can be said on this subject, suggested by my
intimate acquaintance with what was going
on before the committee on levees and the I'M
provement of the Mississippi river but | only
tni fa1n "a rrin -hf,
wish to go further into details to the report
and speech Of Col. Robertson, which are in
accord with views here expressed, and us to
the effect would have produced. / will only
add on this subject: We should all, as far as
possible unite upon one practical theory and
advocate it, and thus strengthen tho hands of
our friends in Congress. Depend upon it, the
one here suggested is the only one which will
win for us the appropriation needed to re-
build and strengthen our present Ievees. to
protect them from abradng banks, and thus
| repeat, bring our alluvial lands into cultiva-
ton, and improve the navigation Of the Mis-
sissippi up to the great wants of the COM
merce of the whole valley; Can we not unite
the subject. and this you will not wonder at.
may have made that manifest by a confused
attempt to state a theory, but | say to all
let us find some plan upon which, for the
present, we can unite. and which will cover the
exigencies of the case,
10 THE TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD
/ would next call your attention. II we had
never built q trans-cOntinentai railway there
would be less prejudice against the one we SO
much need and is now under consideration.
When we think of the immense amount in
lands and money avished by the government
to the extent of S94,00O,0o0 upon the road to
the Pacific. with Its various branches, and
the many scandals connected with the Credit
Mobilier-the terrible extravaganza in build
ing and the distribution of funds and stock
where it would do the most good'-it is not
to be wondered at that the very mention of
Pacific road excites suspicion and engenders
opposition. But is not the road now contem-
plated along the thirty-second parallel, the
one to which all parties were committed pre-
vious to the late war? Is it not the most prac-
tical line to operate? Can itnot be maintained
at the least expense? What have we to do
with the extravaganza and scandals which
occurred when we were not even represented
while the legislation took place that gave the
chances for such abuse? But above all the ne
cessities of the country at large demand an
other road, Our possessions on the Pacific
are too valuable and too large to be served
along the line now in operation CompetitjOn