Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-25
COmbined Action for the valley

:
Vicksburg Herald.I
Never has the time been so pro-
pitious to obtain the ear and attention
Of Congress and the country, to the
needs Of the Mississippi valley and its
great river as now.
The River Convention last fall, at
st. Louis, gathered from every part Of
the valley, gave expression to popular
opinion on the subject. The proceed
ings and resolutions of that body were,
two weeks ago, formally presented TO
the appropriate committee of Congress
and enforced by oral addresses from
gentlemen entrusted with that duty.
The universal overflow of the delta,
for eight hundred miles, extending
from Cairo to below the mouth of the
Red river, has become the absorbing
topic OF newspaper report and discus
sion, and enforces on Congress the
consideration of methods of permanent
relief, and protection againt the
periodic occurrence Of such disasters.
The eyes Of the people in the lower
riparian States are especially turned
to the Representatives in Congress.
They expect Of them to present and
press such matters as shall command
a majority of the two houses, though
not the best in the several opinions of
the members.
Fortunately for our Representatives,
plan has been devised and matured
by as able scientists and engineers as
the country has, and is now before
Congress, awaiting the appropriation
of the money to begin its execution.
The River Commission has brought
to the study of the phenomena of the
river all that has been written on by
draulic science, the results of the
most careful surveys and personal ex-
plorations.
That member Of Congress is bold,
not to say presumptious, who would
undertake to insist on a plan of his
own devlsing varient from that of this
Commission.
The Committee of Congress would
assume fearful responsibility which
would discard the methods of the
Commission for one which it thought
better.
The plan of this Commission, stated
in few words, is to confne the water
within certain limits ian average of
about 5000 feet) so that the channel
may be deepened by the increased
volume and momentum of the current
securing the bottom, thereby inoreas-
ing its depth.
They affirm that wherever a break
in the levee occurs, the downward flow
Of the current is checked just below
the outflow, which causes a precipita-
ton of the sediment to the bottom,
shorling the channel, lessening its
ability to carry the volume of water
within its banks.
just here embankments come in as
a part and a necessary part of the
plan. 1t has been ascertained that
the escape Of the water over the banks
causes a deposit in the channel which
shoals it, and diminishes its carrying
capacity, 1t becomes necessary, there.
fore, in order to obtain deep water at
all seasons, thatit shall be confined by
artificial embankments or levees.
But the Commission is not confined
to any specified limits or to any one
particular method, as we understand
it. Its duty is to improve and control
the river, and if furnished with
means by the government which ore
ated it, all the resources of science
are open to it. What the valley in
sists upon now is the united, energetic
action Of its members of Congress TO
get the means for the Commission.
The valley wants DO more bunkum
announcements that Hons. So and So
have introduced such and such bills.
What they want is long pull and a
strong pull altogether for money TO
start the great work.