The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-13
A TREACHEROUs RIVER.
The Franks Of the Muddy Missouri How it
Changes It's Course, Steals Farms
and Swallows Cities.
[St. Paul Pioneer Press

[St. Paul Pioneer Press.l
ST. LOUIS, May 26e-The Missouri Is q re-
markable river, unlike any other that ever
saw. 70 be appreciated it must be seen and
waters are red and thick with the powdered
soil they have brought from the mountains
and stolen from the farms 10 the valleys.
linen 10 ponrs and swirls and eddies along
and o hall suppressed whisper, that repels
while 1t fascinates the listener. It has made
millions OF acres OF rich black deposits on
Wnlcn y still holds mortgage, the fore
closure Of which no man can foresee Some Of
these fertile acres may sustain forests that
nave been growing for hundred OF years, but
not rod OF the vast level bottom lands which
ne on either side OF the muddy monster, vary
W. u 81 u width A rom two to twenty miles,
Louis, and covered with the finest woods and
richest farm produce that land can bear up
under, Is exempt from the possibility OF some
day being devoured By. It's hungry and tickle
mother. Hundreds OF farmers, after clearing
year after year, on their eighty or more
acres Of deep, inexaustible river bottom.
have seen their entire possessions swept away
~ few days by sudden and unexpected
"rise.5 :. o''''--A'N - IS - AAl1 = June
These changes Of channel have different
causes Sometimes q giant cottonwood tree
that has been uproOted where the river has
raised upon the forest above, is borne down
by the current and lodged in the mud, where
1t will gradually become inbedded In the
yielding bottom, and, perhaps, lie In walt for
months, or even years, without giving any
particular sign OF exjstenee. At last an I'M
usual rise takes place, and this hidden "snag'
which begins to circle round the spot, and
then eliminates in boiling eddy. The eddy
increases In depth and force, gradually d.
verting the water from its former course I'M.
r. In <uv
II the eddy is located near the shore at the
upper edge OF 9 promontory, and the water
ID sufficiently high to overflow the flats,
new channel is sometimes carved straight
across some valuable farm or timber strip,
and O river town, where steamboats, took
freight end passengers last year, may be from
two to six miles distant from navigabIe water
next year. A few years ago Forest City, Mo-,
was kissed day and night by the dirty lips OF
ts Western illrt. Today the river sports
whispering soft things to White Cloud, on the
Kansas side, which has gained river, while
the State has lost several Thousand acres OF
productive cotton wood landIthat now supports
cattle and hogs In Missouri.
When the Missouri river begins to indulge
In It's semi-annual free lunch Il Frequently de-
YOURS strips OF bottom land several rods In
width every tWenty-four hours. AT such
times It is DANGEROUS to drop to sleep near
town In Southeastern Nebraska, q venerable
physician named Thompson. One warm June
day the doctor cast hfs fish-lines into the
river close to the timber, and lying down In
the shade to watch for catfish, dropped off to
sleep and to pleasant dreams. He was
awakened quite abruptly by neighbor, who
told him he was sleeping on the wrong side Of
9 long. narrow crevice that had formed about
d rod from the rivers brink. He did not wait
to save his lines, but instantly 'got up and
got The next instant q strip OF cottonwood
land parted company with the mainland for
eyer; and with Its freight Of trees dissolved
like 80 much sugar Ia COTE cup, leaving the
doctor to thank the river for stealing his fish
lines and the land, and his neighbor for saving
his life Missouri river towns are never safe,
except when located on bluffs or table lands,
like Omaha, White Cloud, st. Joseph and
Kansas City.