The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-04-29
Lake Bolivar Leree.
Editor Greenville Times:

Editor Greenville Times:
Please allow me space for CON-
ment upon the proposition to build
a levee upon the East bank of
lake Bolivar. Since the attempt
TO build leyee No. ] across the
lake was made, the Clay & Baggot
levee was put up. This leyee car.
ried us through the high waters of
1880 and 1881, one of which equal
ed the food of 1874, and the other
was within an inch of that year.
Prior TO that time Roaring Water
leyee was built, resisting, during
its existence, the high waters Of
1874 and 1876. In each of these
leyees an artificial foundation of
brush was used; that in Roaring
Water having been supplemented
with thick layer of cypress bark.
Had similar precantion been taken
with leyee no. l isit not reasonable
to suppose like results would have
followed
Protection levee no. /, halt
mile long, quarter of a mile above
Lake Bolivar, and connecting the
then new with the old levee, was
built at right angle TO the current
of the river. In 1874 the water at
the inner angle was found to be
nine-tenths of foot higher than
at the outer. This bagging OF
water is easily explained. 1t is
well known that when the river is
rising the water in the center OF
the current is higher than upon
either shore, the levee becoming
the shore line in times of high
water. This protection levee, be
ing at a right angle, acted as d
dam, preventing the onward dow
of tho water, and rendered neces
sary the increased elevation ut tho
angle before the water could over
come its natural incline and flow
outward into the river. In 1871
Just before levee no. / across Lakt
Bolivar was overtopped, the watel
at the angle below formed by thu
junction of Roaring Water will
the new line Of levee was found L
be a foot higher ON the inside than
on the out. What does all thii
proye2 Simply that the bagginl
of water was caused by the oh
struetion across its pathway, ant
mot by the existence of certain
natural points. TO my mind, a
least, it is perfectly certain tha
the bagging of water on the Wad,
front is no more caused by Catilsl
Point than was that along tn,
Miller's Bend levee, the presen
season, caused by Carter's Point
AS large a levee, and probably lar
ger, as the present one on the rive
front, would be required on Lak'
Bolivar. The first set Of ridge
west of Lake Bolivar were no
covered during the present over
flow, while the water poured owe
our side levee on the east bank
foot deep. If the higher lands OF
the west bank require a levee 5 t,
10 feet high, how high would
levee upon the lower lands on tn
east bank have to be!
The distance across Jerse
Point, Arkansas, was one and
half miles few years ago. TIL
caving is going ON rapidly at tn
upper and lower ends of the point
that of last season amounting t
three hundred yards. When tina
cutoff makes the Lake BOLIVIA
levee problem will be solved, an
Choctaw Bend become an objeC
of solicitude. Experience ha
taught two lessons which shoul
be treasured; one, that a nature
rotten foundation can be replace
with q firm artificial one; th
othcl, that the water of the Mi
sissippi river may be confined bu
cannot be obstructed, or an a
tempt to obstruct it be made, will
out damage being caused.
r. j. NUGENT.
Bolivar, April 2l, 1878.