The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-11-22

oanks, Out W my surprise lOlnu tidt hoho
had been made during the survey then
carefully read again Chapter H., where, in
the words Of the text. "thc results exhibited
in Appendix & are discussed
The elaborate discussion of these results,
in that chapter, by which this imaginary
clay is shown to belong to remote geologic
epoch failed to satisfy me, and determined
to undertake the labor OF Analysing for my
self the record in Appendix G, to learn the
exact truth. There | found that between
Cape Grardeau, Mo-, and Vicksburg, Miss.
only eleven lines Of soundngs had been run
across the river at different places in this
entire distance of $50 miles. The number
of soundings on each line averaged about
fifty. On four of these lines no samples at
all were obtained; and on the other seven
lines total Of only thirty-tive samples was
secured Astonished at this small number,
| turned to the text, and re-rcad the impress
siye statement, under the imposing head of
Geology of the Channel, that "A knowledge
of the riyer-bed is Of the highest practical
Importance, and great
efforts have been made to acquire it. Tn.
consciously contrasted these few sam
pies with these great efforts, and felt
sure had got into the wrong
appendix. Indeed felt morally
certain Oft, when read the corroboratiye
statement on page II, that great pains
were accordingly taken to collect speci-
mems Of the bed wherever soundings were
made Here were at least $50 soundings
and only 30 specimens. When | remcm-
bared that congress had been urged by
these gentlemen 10 spend S46,0OO,00O, be-
cause very numerous soundings" with
| prepared leads had cOnclusively proved
that "ihe ted of the Mississippi cannot
yield was convinced that Appendix {
was not the place 10 look for all Of the
facts. therefore examined all the appen-
diccs from A to VI inclusive, and looked
through the four hundred pages of the
report, for additional results of sOundingS
in this $50 miles; but in vain Pursuing
this interesting investigation, however, |
examined the ''uncomprOmsing facts
| presented by this small array Of specimens
supporting the affirmative side OF this an
cient geologic and marble-like, hard
! blue-clay, question, and was amazed TO
find that Appendix actually shows that
twenty-five OF these samples were nothing
/ but sand. Three OF them were sand mixed
wife clay, leaving but seven solitary speCi-
mems OF clay, taken from the end Of a
/ creased Sounding lead, to establish the GO
ology OF the bed of six hundred and fifty
miles OF the Mississippi. Only seven bits
Of clay TO support these positive assurances
80. .rts ia i'm q
recommendation to expenG $4,000, $780, to
bu.d Icvees eleven feet higher than The
great food Of 1858.
These are the facts developed in my re-
Wow, and You have not the tercmerity to
dispute them.
NV declaration that the rvcr-bcd is
composed of its own deposits, and that the
increased current resulting from the con-
iincmcnt of It's flood volume between leyees
will cause it to eXCavate a deeper channel
and thus prevent any increase in tho hig.,
water mark, is met by the following, on
page IS OF the report OF the Lcyac Com.
mission: This reasoning, il true, would
establish conditions singu.arIy Fortunate tor
the leyee system; but un!ucklly, the wish
has been father to the thought. Uncom-
promising facts show that the premises and
conclusions are both erroneous for the lower
Mississippi. Very numerous soundings
were made by die Mississippi
Delta Survey" etc, etc,
Being thus squarcIy confronted with TN
comprising facts was compelled to go tc
the facts themselves, and my review shows
the result of my investigation in that di-
rcction.
Aside from the insignificant number OF
specimens OF clay which constitutes thcsC
Incorporating facts, moments rcilec-
ton must show the absurdity Of basing the
existence of this marble-ihc clay upon
such testimony as a creased lead coult
bring up from the bottom OF the MisSssip.
pi, even if the samples had been numbered
by thousands. If this supposed clay
yields but slowly to the strong current il
would certainly not yield samples OF il
f substance to the grease on sounding lead
, Nor is there anything in the records Of the
soundings to show that the specimens were
different from the ordinary blue-clay dcpo-
its of the river which are thrown from it.
waters wherever the current is very sluggish
during the lOwwatcr seasons. The only
descriptions Of the specimens in Appendix
Chs the word "clay' or "bluc-clay." Be
sides all this it is plain that the specimen,
adhrcing to the end of Il tallowcd plum
met cannot possibly give any evidence
whatever OF the character of the materia
: one inch below the surface that was in con
tact with the material"