Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-14
The Leyees OF the Mi.sIssippi.

comparative antiquity, having had its
beginning in the earlier years OF the
eighteenth century, and the embank-
ments long ago came under the juris-
diction Of local and State government
and assumed the dignity Of public
works. In Mississippi and Arkansas,
however, the reclamation OF the swamp
was an enterprise OF much more modern
date, having it's origin almost within
memory Of persons now living, and at
first-and, indeed, for long time-it
was exploited solely by individual ef-
fort.
The earlier settlements in the river
between Memphis and Vicksburg-gen-
orally wood yards with small appurten-
ant corn-fields-were made upon un-
usually high spots, which, although
really formed by antecedent inundation
obtained, absurdly enough, the reputu-
ton OF being "above overflow" because,
for number Of years, they had not
been actually submerged. They were
priced accordingly. and the corn fields
OF the woodchoppers were gradually
transformed into cotton plantations, at
first, Of course, OF very limited dimen-
sions. Similar elevated spots were
sought and subjected to culture, and
before any leveeing operations had
been attempted the river on both sides
was dotted with settlements Of pioneer
planters, who sought TO utilize the fer
tile soil by cultivation.
A very few years, however, sufiiced to
demonstrate the fAllacy of the "above-
overflow" pretension the planters
mind relinquished the delusion that
land should be hight was sufficient
that it should be dry-and the pro-
prietors deemed it eIpedient TO fortify
against their common enemy. The
watermarks left by the food upon trees,
stumps and fences were as plain as
paint; these indicated the level OF the
water and supplied the want of engineer
ing science A makc-shin leyce Of
primitive style was constructed very
near the river bank, because less land
was thereby thrown out, and because
the ground is always highest upon the
margin OF the river, sloping thence in
land. A the plantations increased in
number and approHimatcd each other,
the principle Of cooperation appeared;
lcyccs were built across unoccupicd lands
until there were disconnected strings
ten, twelve or fifteen miles long. The
construction Of these was far from salts
factory. The operatives were generally
the plantation negroes. At that time
the Irish ditchcr5 aud levec-buildcrs
hal scarcely made their appearance in
the country. The colored people are
no. usually distinguished for their skill
in the use of the spade. and cannot at
all compete with the Hibernian. Some
years there was high water, carrying
NAoAAa. ~ AAf llAAAtI utATl some
years there was low water. inspiring
confidence and security; occasionally
there was Er>'' water" at all-the river
did not gtStNt Of its banks, and was
therefore held in contempt. In 1874,
however, the Mississippi, having appar-
emily lost all patience with this persist
ent intrusion upon its domains, "spread
itself, TO use a yulgarism singularly de-
scriptivc Of the operation, and treated
its unbiddcn guests to first class "big
overflow" the like OF which had not
been seen since 1898. The river rose
early aud went down late it overflowed
the whole country, and filled up the
entire swamp; ruined all the levees.
great and small remained at or near
high-water mark week after week aud
month after month until late in July.
and did not finally retire within its
banks until nearly the middle Of August
- William L. M'Efree, Sr., in .Scvibner.