The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-09
The Misaiasinpi Levees.

The question of leveeing the Mississippi
has been agitated at different times and
under various auspices, but nothing ad-
equate to the purpose has ever been un-
dertaken, or has seemed likely to be per-
formed by the adjacent states. The views
herewith given, and taken from the n. I.
Herald, are so fully and fairly expressed
and the relations of the subject to other
topics of national interest and concern so
Justly and nationally presented, that we
give the entire article place in the col
umns of THE ARGUS as being a very fair
and candid exposition of the whole subject
matter, so far as the limited extent of a
newspaper article will permit,
Congress is asked to make a large
appropriation toward a. thorough and per-
manent leveeiug of the Mississippi river;
and we hear that Southern men urge that
the proceeds of the cotton tax levied shortly
after the war, tax which was always felt
BY them to be oppressive, shall be devo-
ted to this purpose. We consider this
proposition only sort of left-handed way
of getting a large appropriation. The
cotton tax yielded about sixty millions;
the money is no longer in the treasury,
it has long ago been expended, and when
anybody now suggests that the proceeds of
the cotton tax shall be given to improve
the Mississippi he. in fact, only says indi-
rectly that he would like to get sixty mil
lions Of dollars, formerly paid into the
treasury by the planters of all the cotton
states, to improve a river which runs by a
few Of them. What he wants is sixty
millions. If the Southern men will take
our advice they willzmoderate their de-
mands in this matter They do not need
sixty millions; the work can be done, ac-
cording to the highest estimates, for
forty FIVE millions, and we believe it can
be effectively done for much less.
We have few suggestions to make to
congress and to the people of the states
especially interested in this question. In
the first place, we hope the present con-
gress will not consent to any small appro.
priation of two or three millions for waste
full patchwork on the levees. Long expe.
rience teaches that this is only to throw
money away. 1t is time to begin to adopt
a thorough, we'll considered, and scientif-
cally correct system, and to work upon that
until the whole is completed. Congress
ought to examine the plans proposed; il
ought ito call to its aid the services o.
expert engineers, and when it makes al
appropri alton this should be to begin the
real work--never yet begun-ot leveeing
the whole river in permanent and effec-
tive manner. We do not believe the
country will object to the expenditure of
large, even very large sum, for this OBJ
ject if it can be satisfied that the work i
to be we'll done and will be effective whe
completed and so far as completed. Blu
it will,look with just dislike and suspicion
upon any attempt to repeat the usui
petty appropriation which has so ofte
formed part of the general river and har
Dor steal.
A thorough and permanent levee sy
TEN must begin, as all authorities admi
above the mouth of the Ohio. 1t mu
probably be extended for some distant
up from their mouths in all the lows
afHuents Of the great stream. It ought
rectity, so far as can be done, the cours
OF the river, and in doing this we suspet
great deal of very rich land could |
redeemed and made susceptible of cultiv
ton. 1t ought to enbank the river
such manner as everywhere to aid it
securing out its bed, for otherwise tt
levees will have to be made higher ever
few years and if the federal governmer
is to do this work, as seems necessary,
ought to undertake it with the UNDERSTAND
ing that when done it shall lay tona;
tax sufficient at least to keep the who
great work in repair.
Fortunately congress does not need
delay for preliminary surveys and invest
cations. 1t has before it the elabora
report of the United States engineers, &c
erals Abbott and Humphreys, which co
tains not only the facts of the great rive
but also matured plau for it's improv
ment. Besides this there is another pla
put forward by Capt. Eads, of jetty fam
who vigorously combats the Theories Of t
United States engineers and holds that
his own theory of the river he can emba
it more cheaply and far more effective
1t ought not to be difficult to deci
between these two plans; indeed, if it we
not that Captain Eads appears to
winning notable success with his ie
system at the mouth of the river, again
the opposition of the United States
gineers, it would probably be thought ne,
less to consider either his ideas or his arr
ments. AS it is, he ought certainly to
heard.
Another piece of advice we have to of
southern men. They want the Mississil
levees, and doubtless this will be a gr
advantage to them and eventually to
country, but it is going to cost a good d
of money. Let them be little careful
to ask too much for other objects. Neitl
congress nor the country is in the hun
for great expenditures, and if a proposit
to appropriate a dozen millions or so
the improvement of the Mississippi sho
turn up in company with hundred mill
4 -.