The New York herald., 1879-02-08
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSIS-
SIPPI

NEW YORK, Feb. 5. 1879.
To THE EDIron OF THE HERALD
Some of the most egregious errors concerning the
hydraulics of the Mississippi River. propagated by
engineers and swallowed by statesmen, are:-l. That
'the amount of sediment held and carried away in
suspension is in proportion to the velocity of the
rivers CURRENT this is baseless and absurd in
theory. and requires so much modification as to
amount to nothing for the reason that half mile
current under some conditions will carry
away sediment than current hav-
ing far greater velocity under other condi
tons This may be observed in any part of the Mis-
sissipp River. q That an increased number and
Capacity of outlets will not" reduce the level
of the river and largely prevent overflow g. That the
of bar formation at the mouth of the river
reason of the diffusion of the stream where it
enters the sea-" A. That false banks jeties ever
"havo will" prevent bar formation. 6. That
lttora outside current OF any velocity wilp obviate
bar formation or in any way affect that tendency be-
yond determining the place position of its re-
formation outside 4. That damming up and con-
tracing all the outlets Of the Mississippi River as is
being done and recommended to be further
done by government engineers aud others, ''does
not impede the outfowing current and
accumulation and Hood which in means
reduction of the surface level of the river and when
done simultaneously with the building up of
leve"s, ~ is proposed becomes simply conjunc-
tive means to create the trouble sought to
be obviated. 7. That contracting the outlets
"does not emphatcally and decidedly nullify the
benefits expected to from levees in proportion
to such contraction. S. That turning other streams
Atcha and others) into the Mississippi when it
cannot accommodate its present flow is another
absurdity .. That contracting the Upper Mssis-
sippi Plum Point Reach order to cut out deeper
channel thereat will not" cause higher level of
surface water throughout all parts of the river above
that point and tend to create overhows by impeding
the velocity of the current above and further that
such work will not proportionately result in also
building up the bed bottom Of the river above by
deposits-in other words such works will result in
building up or raising both the water surface
level and the bed bottom level, for which reason
Mississippi River improvements likely hereafter
to be directly interesting to the people Of the
Upper Mississippi River and tributaries they
now to the people of the Lower Mississippi The
physical results named in this clause may be found
in the rivers OF France and other parts OF Europe
ctde the Thames Embankment for striking and dis
astrous consequences annually recurring by the mis-
carriage of a similar contemplated Improvement.
The proper place to commence the Improvement OF
the mississippi River is at it's mouth Such improve
ment should solely consist in opening its mouth so
that its waters should have much reer and uninl-
peded dow to the sea- which would Jesuit in reducing
both its levels of water surface and bed bottom
throughout its length, concentrate its channel
in deeper and more direct course, and
likewise tend to straghten the entire length
of the river by cutting off it's bends and elbows and
reducing it's serpentine character 10. That the
of this il being done now, both naturally and
arifcially by contracting all its outlets which pre-
is the direct and decided of the river taking
serpentne character, which serpentne character is
and will be directly increased in proportion to the
contraction of its mouths and impediment to dis
charge; the applies to its channel throughout
its length its wide reaches and its overfows Lastly
the whole country will continue to be deceived on
the question Of Mississippi River improvements
until the proper kind or work is done at its
mouth, and such proper work will result in giving
it wide and deep commercial entrance worthy Of its
name and future commerce. and greater in depth and
width of channel than any other port in the
world can ut present boast of. For such an outlet
through the Southwest Pass have bill pending be-
fore the present Congress, in which. at my risk
and cost. without asking for dollar before beneh-
cent results secured, offer to undertake the
work at nominal price, on the principle Of no cure
pay, binding myself in the most clear and unam-
bguous terms. with saving clauses to secure lib
eral Interpretation easing off of its
ditions obligations. HENRY +. KNAPP, c. 4.