The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-22
For the Bulletin
TOT IHt BuIItUH,
ARE WE IN DANGERS
CAIRO. Ill. 2lst, 1873.

Are we in danger of an over
| flow from the rivers at Cairo, is a
query, which is daily heard from persons
in all classesl An ancient philosopher OBJ
served that fools could PROFOUND questions,
which would often coDfound wise men.
BY this declaration, we do not mean to stig-
Matte the querists, nor to assert that we
are easily confounded But on the con-
! trary we will endeavor to answer the ques-
tion. Now, let US discuss the matter and
reason together for few moments. First,
there is possibility Of sn overflow, but
very little probability. The reason why
there is very little probability of an over
flow is founded upon the fact that several
conditions would be necessary to produce
it, and upon the further fact that those con-
ditions must all exist at the same time a
state of things that lie altogether unlikely
to happen unless some meteorolo ical reso-
luton should suddenly take place in the
atmosphere OF the western continent, in
consequence of aviolcnt CONFUSION of ma
ture, changing the face of the whole country
by remoulding the geological relations of
elevations and depressions on this portion
of the earth; in other words, while the pres
ent order of nature remains, we will not
have an overflow at Cairo. so much, then,
for the danger that might arise from geo.
logical and meteorological changes. But
some may say what has all this to do with
the present condition of the leveesl True
enough we say SO, too. Let the big words
and the commissions of nature 90. we don't
care about hearing the one, or seeing the
other The question then arises, "are We
safe with our present levee protection
against any surplus of water that does not
exceed the greatest flow at this place with.
in the memory Of manl' We answer yes,
with this qualification should We have
as much, or more, water as we had in 1867,
oras there was twenty years previous, and
then have. in addition thereto, strong gale
for two or three days from the west, or a
cyclone from the same quarter, We believe
that the mighty mouths Of the Mississippi
and the Ohio would kiss each other far
above their usual trysting place. But we
scarcely apprehend such q coincidence Of
flood and wind with time and place. Such
a combination Of elements would certainly
prove disastrou; to the Mississippi leyee,
but such a combination would be excep-
tiona, and, therefore, not probable But
since it would be only exceptional and not
impossible, wisdom dictates that the au-
thoriti's take time by the forelock by
planting as soon . it is practicable TO do
so, the water side Of the levees firmly with,
rock and SOW the tops, and other sides,
with grass and other growths suitable for
such purposes.
There is no reason why Cairo, aud that
without great expense, should not be made
safer than New Orleans against the dangers
Of overflow.
Would it not be good idea in Gaze of
prevailing winds from the west 10 make
arrangements with the transportation com.
panies to give US a temporary loan OF all
the barges they can spare, and anchor them
on the Mississippi levee till other protection
10 shape Of quarries, &c, can be securely
placedl
A word to the wise is sufficient. A con-
'enton of the tax payers and business men
Of the city, at an early day, would be a
step in the right direction. Let every one
who is friend to the interests or safety OF
the city at home or Of her reputation abroad,
demand substantial and durable improve
ments of the levees, and make good that
demand by helping to enforce it. Levee
improvements, first, and internal improve
ments afterwards. X.