The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-01-11
Jhe Bulle:4in.
proving and Leveeing the Miss
fssippi.

proving and Leveeing the Miss
fssippi.
sere il not for the engrossing subjects
nected with national finances which
N occupy the public mind, we should
lbtless hear much more oflhe projected
Broyements on the Mississippi river.
the reclamation OF IFS bottom lands.
mo more important matter. pertaining
be productive wealth, aud commercial
laDtages OF the valley, can be consider
by our people.
he following, from the New Orlean.
xs will be found OF interest in c0n>
ZION with the matter:
One of the first measures III the inter
0i the south anu west 10 De pressed
the reassembling OF congress ie Il
&c bill that can be passed. We say
&C bill, because We Imagine large
.tion OF the country is not yes well
ough informed Oi the grand RESULTS 10
achieved by u vast piau ol rlyer lni-
Dyement 10 support The report OF the
,-c0mmituee recommending an sppro>
alton OF $45 ,0VO,OUO, even lor 90 btne>
INT work. 10 meet the wants OF the
ople most distressed by creyassss and
iangered by oyerhows, all spproprIs-
a OF say S4,00O,0OO would answer and
,uid have u vastly better prospect vi
scesses. That amount Would close
listing creyasses aud restore The ie7ees
something like their condition before
var. That being secured, we could
biz with better heart tor surveys aHd
maturity OF general plan OF Improve
mt. torty.tive millions is not
extrayagaRt sum 10 spend
81 the objects sought. Holland
8 spent vastly more for vastly
ialler results. But the public mind Is
= mood TO be alarmed by large appro-
istions, even where vast profit 10 the
untry is certain TO accrue. By going
out il gradually, and demonstrating
E benefits year BY year, opposition viii
,ss away, and the whole country will
illingly and intelligently approve.
Let US have what We can best obtain,
appropriation to repair damages and
esin operations, cay on the Eads plan
reducing the hood level. protecting
K lands from overflow aud securing
,eper channel. all at once. This plan Il
tracing much attention, and offers, II
erect III principle, which We see no rea-
u 10 doubt, the greatest ARA! OF advan-
yes In return for the outlay. IL ID very
mple, being only modification Of tie
ity principle, which is TO cOniine the
aters and force them 10 sc0ur Out the
,ttom and thus gradually lower the
yer level, so that III II. highest flood
permanent banks Will hold all the
alter without the necessity Of high
wees. Thus, II only the same volume
water passed through the jetties 81
&c south Pass now that passed when
,ey were first built, the level OF the
ream would De about twelve TO four>
en ieet lower than il was and is, Tor
ae width is the same, While the bottom
( twelve 10 fourteen ieet below where IL
as then.
The central idea OF this Idau i, to con-
ne the rlHer 10 It's present bank. ald 70
sre places 10 narrow the channel. Ii
se river cannot enlarge is channel, nor
nd reliei ina such outlets IS Bennett
are creyas-e, il viii .cour out the
ottom BIZ carrying 10 u. swilt food to
be sea the suslended sediment which Is
ow being deposited upon the bottom OF
ne river BIZ the sisckeDed current. 1nus
ne whole river would gralnslly become
eepe. and the hood level would slowly
snk nniiA The present leyecs would alter
while become entirely unnecessary.
The idea tina, the Eads plan would puli
.own the present leyses is erroneous. Ga
be contrary toe preliminary step Of his
Shens would be to perfect our leyees 10y
losing all the crevasse. in order 10 get
III the food 10 scour ont the bottom OF
he river. Then he would proceed ~
,rotect the banks against caying by
mattress work and the present leyees
would thus become permanent. and 80
iemain until the confined and controlled
waters could dig room enough our OF The
bottom 10 hold the highest Hood within
he ordinary banks.
From this explanation it win appear
hat there Is no compromise possible
,etween our levee advocates and the
liver Improvement advocates, headed by
capt. Eads. Let the levees be Slightly
,alsed. and the crevasses closed as ,
preliminary to the execution OF Mr.. Eads
permanent works. This will not only
protect us from immediate as well al
ultimate overflow. but it will give oul
opening grain trade deep water from st
Louis and Cairo, which is Of the utmos
Importance.