The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-03-19

49,. wAsHI.eroH, p. O. March 4
= n com asnoss q the ni,: s.aIDgi nv
Sn.Ss. Il Ia. performs: slr0G II as aas;
pnder the net Of June q. ls7S. 20 mature plans
Tor the improvements q tho river 30 Us 70 10.
ana give safety . ss snSs ssna
% previous scientific labors. and work now
~ progress ~ the Coast. Survey and Officers
systems Of Improvement. They are not pre.
pared 10 submit full and detailed report.
with estimates upon the final cost Of any gen.
eral principle kept In view has been the Dian
which would concentrate rather than dis
pcre tie water3 q the river. as
improvement IA syigation. Tho famous out
let system :" being Of diffusion and waste, ars
not of contrscdon," Il examined and co..
sidercd ~ possessing phenomena 1in~rxnt
from other tnibid streams flowing through
niinvtal deposits. Ito waters carry Largo quan.
IL borne along by tho current IN such : man.
ner that large part Of Il Is held in naore or
less constant suspension IN the water, while
portion Is rolled or swept along on the bottom.
observations show beyond question fhae
when. on any given reach OF the same stream.
velocity. usually. measured by meters or
therefore the sustaining and transporting
power OF the stream. Il also increased. Itis
held that. II the normal volume OF silt. bear
ing stream, flowing In an ailuytai bed Of It's
own formation. be Increased. there viii results
An increased velocity. and consequently an
erosion and cross section. and an ultimate
lowering OF the surface slope, aud. converse
~, II the normal how be decreased in volume
there will ensue decrease Of velocity Of silt
transporting power and mean sectional area.
and an ultimate raising Of the suface slope
The Cowdon plan IL recited. and condemned
In respect 20 the levees. the Commission say
that they do exert y direct action In deepen.
ing the channel and enlarging the bed OF the
river during the periods OF rise when they
cause the water TO rise 70 higher level than
II dispersed During the period when the
levees we're In their most perfect condition
from 1850 to 1853 the channel Of the river WAS
better for purposes OF navigation than II has
been since. II II argued that the immediate
effect Of the levees would be to increase the
volume and accelerate the velocity Of
Hood water. resulting in mn erosion aud
deepening Of the rivcr-bed; and that 4 clos
ure of the crevasscs might be expected to &C.
CELEBRATE the removal Of the shoals which have
been produced by them, and II their closure
be accompanied by contraction Of the chan
mel cause a lowering Of the surface slope TO
such an extent NJ viii render the maintenance
Of levees above Red River - nm mid "a navi.
CATION practically needless. The repairs and
maintenance OF extensive lines 81 leyass III.
ready existing will hasten the work ~ chanel.
improvement and promote and facilitate
commerce.
The Commission propose 20 work 70 sco.-
ont and maintain "A channel through shoals
and bars existing IN portions ~ the river
where the width II excessive, and huflt an
new banks aud develop new shore lines 20
a. 70 establish tire requisite condition. nf n
uniform velocity for al stages ~ the river
This improvement can be accomplished below
Cairo by constructing n Low. water canu.l-
way 10 uniform width ~ 5000 feet, for tile
purpose OF securing out a channel through
shoals and bars. IL is thought that this plan
will secure channel Of ten feet
AT the extreme low stage Of the
river. over all bars below Cairo. The
Commission favor the general rule
that the channel should be fixed HI ia rrns-
cnt location. and that no attempt he made 10
straghtcn the river or shorten l,y
cut Off. The works Of channel. construction
and bank protection recommended during
the fiscal year. and confined. 10 the length ~
200 miles, embrace New Madrid, Plum Point.
Memphis. Helena. Choctaw BEND and Lake
Providence. The estimates for this wear are
A,ll3.oo0. Tor closing gaps ia lcvecs 81 600 900.
and checking the enlargement OF the Atclafa.
lava outlet $1,000