Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-20

The Peril Of New Orleans.
Now Orleans is confronted with a
danger that has long been apparent to
eminent engineers. The beds of the Red
and Atchafalaya rivers are on lower
level than that of the Mississippi, and
for years past the Mississippi has exhib-
tied tendency, increasing from time
to time, to find its way to the Gulf
through the Atchafalsya. Over twenty
wears ago Mr. J. E. Duncan
State Engineer of Louisiana, De-
became impressed with the danger OF
permitting the waters Of the Mississippi
IN enlarge and deepen the Atcha-
falava and conceived the idea of
closing the mouth of Red river
and opening a new channel through
BAYOU Plaquemine. Grand Lake and
the AtchafalaYa. He submitted an elabo-
oiate report on the subject But lit
tie attention was given to the matter,
however. But of late the size of the Atchs-
falaya has grown so sensibly that the
danger TO New Orleans, is made mani
fest to every one. The Democrat, dis
cussing the subject, says that the Mis-
sissippi may, at no very remote day
abandon its present channel aud adopt
that Of the Atchsfalaya, which affords
shorter route to the Gulf, and is upon a
lower level than its own.
This is no mere idle fancy, no whimsi-
cal fear, but a real danger which threat
ems the very existence of New Orleans,
and which cannot, therefore, too soon be
'met and fought with outright"
In 1879 Major Benyaurd wrote a very
able and exhaustive report on the sub
iect. in which he reviewed the subject
in all its bearings and unhesitatingly ap-
proved the plan of Mr.. Duncan for clos
ing the mouth of Red river and making
a new route through Bayou Plaquemine.
He showed the natural tendency of the
Mississippi to seek the lower level of the
Atchafalava nninted ont the imnOssihili-
ty Of effecting any permanent improve
ment at the Red river bar, owing to the
peculiar conditions that exist there. and
claimed that many benefits would result
from the creation of the proposed route.
Surveys, which he caused to be made,
established the fact that on line
drawn from the Mississippi to the Red
river, at Bayou Cutoff. the latter river is,
at high water, three feet lower than the
former, two miles south of that point
the difference is 8 10 feet, while be-
tween the Mississippi and the Atchafa-
lava at Latenache bayou the difference is
Il 10 feet, and at Bayou Plaquemine
20 ? 10 feet. This readily accounts for
the tendency of the Mississippi to enlarge
the Atchafalaya, and shows why Red
river does not run up hill into the Missis-
sippi.
Major Benyaurd's report was not
favorably considered by the department
at Washington, but the subject has at
tracted the attention of the members of
the Mississippi River Commission. and a
subcommittee, consisting Of Colonel
Suter and Major Harrod. have the mat
ter under consideration. In an informal
conversation with the latter gentleman
the Democrat learned that there is ground
for serious apprehension that the MISS
sippi will. unless checked, abandon its
present channel and make a new one for
itselfthrOugh the rapidly enlarging Atcha-
falaya. Should it be determined to
close the mouth Of Red river, however,
Major Harrod presumes the government
would, of course. clean out Bayou Plaque
mine and Grand Lake so as to make
them perfectly safe for navigation. He
alluded to the fact that the cOntempla-
ted new route would shorten the distance
TO Washington on the COurtableau one
hundred and twenty-fOur miles, TO the
Teche one hundred and seventy-four
miles. and to the mouth of Red river it.
self fifteen miles.
Another danger to the Crescent City,
which is at hand. is the destructive &C
ton Of the river on the levees in the sec
ond and third districts of the city. The
damage already done IS so extensive that
immediate action alone can repair it.
For some twelve or fourteen blocks
there is but one wharf standing, the one
in front of the lower cotton press, and
that is in a sbaky and unsafe condi-
ton. All the wharves, but that one, all
the piling and all the tenders, or cane
mats, placed on the bank by the govern
meut and by government contractors
have been swept away, and the recedng
water reveals a condition of affairs that
is truly startling, calling for instant at
tentiOn and the adoption of some meth
cd which will certainly answer the re-
/ quirements of the case.
The methods pursued in the past by
/ lu6 government GuEluCCIS nave piOfOu
worse than useless, for they have cost a
great deal of money and effected no good
whatever, the banks caving as rapidly as
though nothing had been done, and the
river pursuing unremittingly its en-
croachments till the margin of the street
has been reached in some places, and the
very houses on the banks are threatened
with annihilatiOn.
Hon. E. John Ellis, of New Orleans,
approaching the gravity of the situation,
visited the threatened locality, critical
ly examined the extent and cause of
the damage, and viii probably make
such representations to the chief engi-
Deer al Washington as will cause the I'm
expended portion of an appropriation
some $S5, 900 for that harbOr to be used
in q way that will give the relief needed.
The Douglass monument and sarco-
phagus erected at Chicago, and which
cost about $75, 600, is now receiving its