The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-30

and thirteen thousand i've nundreu SQUIRE
miles Of habitable country are liable to be
inundated by excessive floods FROM the Mis-
sissippi, Ouachita and Red river.
We do not share in the fears expressed in
some Of the Washington dispatches as to the
strength of the commission appointed. On
the contrary, we regard 1t as q aoorking COM
mission.
Major Suter has been engaged In this work
for the past fourteen years. He IL q gentle
man OF high attachments, and is regarded o.
standard authority upon these subjects. ~ q
In favor of a system OF dykes, causing !. ~
current to make channel and keep n r., -
preliminary work to be largely - 80.
dredges, and he considers 9 depth O. co. lese
al all stages possible. we publish 9 synopsis
Of his interesting report upon 1l'le suO.ooo'
made In 1875.
knowledeed ability, ana, II We are no1 mus
infornned' made the survey and submitted
the plans which nave been adopUed - tne
Improvement Of Charleston harbor.
Major Oomstock is bright, energetic, hard
WORKING officer, well regarded in the profess
,5i,,ll and, we believe, won quite a reputation
Witt i Grants army during the war-par-
N, .iy around Vicksburg. Mr.. Mitchell Is
Of the most prominent scientific officers
. the coast survey equal In reputation with
Mr.. Hilgard, whose experience and ability
In all matters Of computation and office
work, LIS unsurpassed In the corps, and We
believe Mr.. Mitchell a more fortunate seleo
tion because OF more enlarged experience
In field work. Mr.. Eads requires no mention
at cur hands; we regard the present bill as
measurably due to his tndomitable persever-
ance; II it Is an experiment, it Is entitled to
our hopeful, patient and prayerful consider
alton, and we hope 1t will receive the aid OF
bis great ability and experience.
We share In the common regret that Gen.
Beauregard could not accept appointment
upon the commission. but we heartily IN
dorse the selection of B. M. Harrod, Of Lou
isiana.
Mr. Harrod is native Of this city, forty
two years of age, and one Of our most ener-
getic and well qualified civil engineers. Cool,
clear headed, Industrious, and OF irreproach-
able character, we think he will prove one OF
the most valuable members OF the commits
sion. Mr.. Harrod has for two years past
held the position OF chief Of the Board OF
State Engineers, under Gov Nicholls's APP
pointment, and having been engaged Ia the
constant supervision Of the levee work car
ried on by the Nichols government, will
bring to the commission all the additional
experience and practical knowledge gained In
his two years work.
When we mention the fact that there has
been constructed under Major Harrod's super
vision q 1873 ,625 cubic yards OF leyees at total
cost Of $454,4 So, and that heretofore the
same amount Of work has cost the State
S1,60O,0OO our friends In Congress will see
that the President has scored an additional
point In his Louisiana appointment By the
selection OF gentleman whose recent record
Is the very best proof Of efficiency and
economy In expenditures
We do not know Mr.. Harrison, Of Indiana,
and, without wishing to appear at all critical,
cannot but express our regret that the Presi-
dent could not accord that appointment to
Col. F. Il. Claiborne, Of Pointe Coupee, who
| has taken lifetime interest In the work, and
we venture to renew the suggestion of his
name In case Mr.. Harrison should not
accept.
| The vast interest Of Louisiana In this ques-
ton, and the fact that about one-haK our area
Is affected by the floods accounts for the
great earnestness Of our people to secure g
proper representation upon the commission.
The composition Of the commission is such,
however, as to justify the belief that there
will be fair and exhaustive preliminary sur
vey, and an early report upon the merits Of
the plans for deepening the channel of the
river, also for the protection Of the alluyial
lands by levees.
1 A consummation Of any plan that will res
cue our lands from inundation will add over
1 twenty-five millions to Louisiana's produc-
lions, and the benefits to the entire Missis-
sippi valley will be felt and enjoyed by every
industry Of the North and East.