Richland beacon., 1880-04-24
OURGREAT WATER HIGHWAY


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The following is The article referred to il
Gen. Kings let,er, which appeared in tn.
Washington Post Of March End.
The report Of the Mississippi river ,ommis.
| sion is IN elaborate and mHsterly document
and its conclusions afford the highest gratitica.
ton 10 the friends and representatives Of the
great interests invoivei. 1t has performed
the duties under the act Of June %, 1879, to
mature plans for the improvement Of the river
80 as 10 locate and deepen the channel, protect
banks, give safety to commerce, etc.. etc.
After reference to previous scientific labors
and work now in progress by the coas, survey
aud by officers Of the commission. the board
discusses various systems Of improvement.
They are not prepared to submit full and
detailed report with estimates of final cost
upon any general system OF river improve
ment. The general principle KEEP, in vie W
| has been plan which would concentrate
rather than disperse the waters of the river,
as the principal agent in securing the needed
improvements in navigation. The famous
! QUILT .ysrem. being one of diffusion and
waste and not Of concentration, is examined
and condemned. The Mississippi river is
no, considered as possessing phenomena diffed
cni from other turbid streams lowing through
a!luv'al deposits. Its waters carry large quaint
ties of sedirnen,ary batter This sentiment Or
sill, is borne along by the current in such manner
that large part Of j, is held ia more or less
constant suspension III the water while a
portion i rolled " swept a.o.lg upo;. -.
bottom.
obserV IN show, De, Ji.i .s.,. -...t
u hen n my gwen .e:.cl. u :;.r - ~, ~
he ve.oil'!, a. usually measured b. ae:-r. .-
aoa'>, Is .ucEeaseu, ,..r vertical lEoi.UL and
therefo'r he silt sustaining ami irauspoT;lls
power, the stream Is also increased. Ii is
held that if the normal volume Of silt.bear.
ing stream, flowing in an ailuvial bed Of it,
own formation, be increased, there will result
an increased velocity and consequently of
erosion and cross section, and an ultimate
towering OF the surface slope; and conversely,
II the normal flow be decreased in volume.
there will ensue decrease Of velocity, silt
transporting power and mean sectional area
and an ultimate raising Of the surface slope
The Cowden plan is reci,ed and condemned
in all its parts.
In respect TO levees, the commission say
that they do exert drec, action in deepening
the channel and eniaging the bed Of the
river during those periods Of rise when they
cause the water to rise 10 higher level than
If dispersed. During the period when the
levees were in their most perfect condition,
from 1850 to 1853, the channel Of the liver
was better for purposes Of navigation than
il has been since. IL is argued that the
NJ Ia ~
the volume and accelerate the velocity of
Hood waters resulting in an erosion and
deepening Of river beds. and that closure of
the crevasses might be expected to accelerate
the removal Of those shoals which have been
produced by them, and &c their closure be
accompanied by contraction OF the channel.
cause lowering OF surface slopes 70 such
extent ~ will reEdey the maintenance Of
levees above Red river, o. IN aid to navigs.
ton, practically needless. The repair and
man'ainance Of the exte nsive lines OF levees
already existing, will hasten the work Of
channel improvement and promote and facili.
tate commerce.
The commission propose work to scous out
and maintain a chaaneI through the shoals
and bars existing in portions Of the river
where the width is excessive, and build up
new banks and develop new shore>Iines, so
Is to establish requisite conditions Of uniform
velocity for all stages Of the river. This i'm.
Psovemsnt can be accomplished below Cairo
ny contracting the channel. way to q uniform
width Of 5000 feet Tor the purpose Of scour.
ing out channel through the shoals aud bars.
IL is thought that this plan will secure chan.
mel Of ten feet At extreme low stages of tho
rver over all the bars below Cairo The
commission favor n a general rule ihH the
channel should be fixed in its present location,
and that no attempt should b. made to ssraigh. |
tel the river or shorten it by cut OTIS. The |
works Of channel contractors and bank pro- |
lecsoss recommended during the fiscal year
are confined 10 q length Of 200 miles, embracing
New Madrid, Plum Point Memphis, Heleaa,
Cboram Bend and Laxe Providence. The |
sssimases ios this are e4.ll3O0O, and Ios clos. |
ing saPs in ievees 100000, and fos check.
ng enlargement Of Aschafalaya outlet $4,000. |
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