Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-14

come by millions of people no one can doubt
How to protect the people of this rich and
fertile region is the problem to be solved.
Something will have to be done to prevent
the suffering, loss Of life and property. The
Indications are that there will be loss OF a
million of bales in the next cotton crop,
which is a loss Of S25, 900 900 for the country.
Add the losses in stock and other property,
the damage to crops other than cotton, and the
( amount may be safely estimated at the grand
total OF S40,0O0,000. In discussing this loss
the New York Times, which has heretofore
| opposed the proposed improvements OF the
Mississippi river, says: This is a great SUE
Of money. 1t is greater by s., 600, 900 than
the sum which the Mississippi River Com
mission estimste would be required to con-
struct levees from Cairo to the mouth Of the
| river, continuing it to an approximately uni
| form width of 5000 feet with a minimum
! channel depth at low water of ten feet.
! These figures are given in their report pre-
ssnted last month. Their surveys covered
the section from Cairo to Vicksburg, which
ia about one-fourth of the whole distance,
and on the basis thus obtained they estimate
the cost of the whole system Of levees at $685.
100000. Let the amount be doubled or
trebled, add to the known and measurable
obstacles to the work others unknown and
not estimable, such as interru ytions from
foods, the necessity in some localities Of
building not only levee. but costly foun-
dAtion for it, and the probable formation Of
mud-banks and shoals by the changed cur
rents, and it is still evident that,
simply to prevent these most destructive
overfows and putting quite out Of sight
the Improvement OF navigation, this work,
somehow and some time, must be done. The
South looks TO national aid for its accom-
plishment, and however great the disinclina- |
.ion OF thoughtful meu return 10 the policy |
which brought the trsnscontinental railroads |
into existence, it must be admitted that the |
array of arguments in favor of that course |
is already formidable and gains new force
with each recurring food or interruption of
navigation through drouth. This much, at
least, may be said, that the prevention of
like that which has now visited
the jewellers on the Mississippi banks, and
the creation of q permanent, navigsb'e
channel in 8 stream which, with its iribu-
taries. reaches nineteen States and three Ter
ritories, and may become the cheapest high
way of transportation for the products of
two-thirds of the total area of the United
States, are objects far more worthy of encour-
agement from the Federal government than
any ocean steamer lines or projected canals
or chip railways which have been or can be
II this great work can be done
by State or corporate means, so much the
better, but it is not yet clear that it is thus
achi-vsbe. The whole question is proper
subject for the immediate and careful con-
sideration of Congress, in order that if the
nation declines the task some other means
Tor its accomplishment may be found"
This concession from the Times indicates
by the present overflow Of the Mississippi
las softened the hearts of the Northern peo
Die and produced reaction 10 public senti-
nent which will induce Congress to exhaust
III its resources for preventing similar
alamity. Money spent on this river will :
promote the general prosperity of the couh-
ry. The Times, in the above extract, it will
be seen, takes the bold, broad ground thai
he improvement of the Mississippi river is
IN object "far more worthy OF encourage
nent from the Federal government than any
'cean steamer lines or projected canals or
hip railways which have been or can be
uggested." The loss to the country by the I
present overflow is greater than the appro-
'riations asked for by the people. As the peo
lie cannot be driven from lands so rich and
it is the duty of Congress to make :
n appropriation which will prevent so much b
amage. 1t is reported that the number of
eople driven from their homes by the en-
waters cannot be less than $4,000. :
1any have been drowned, and the suffering 4
the poor-most of them colored-has been I
reat. Those who are 30 fortunate as to have
money will spend it in refugeeing over the n
Ountry, and all will return when the water 9
ubsides without money, fences, farm tools, o
ins, machinery, stock; and in many cases ii = =
ill be found that the furniture and houses Z,
ave been swept away. The outlook will b
e discouraging, for nothing will greet Il
ne eye but barren waste. The only recon- =
ense will be the rich deposits made by a
lie overflow, but this was not needed, as the IL
Ind was already rich and productive. So n
lie refugees will return home with the basis a
credit gone, with no equipment Tor /,
Using a crop, and the prospect so glomy n
lat merchants will be slow in advancing &C
lpplies. These people, white and black, y
? no fault of their own, have been reduced
want, and they deserve the sympathy and g;
ID of the whole country. Surely science, al
hich has triumphed over so many obsta- h
es, can find some plan for the protection of Of
ese people. If it can be demonstrated re-
at levees are the only means of protection, L
a continuous wall, high above the posi- 81 81
itisa Of orarAow he built along the hanks l..
the river. If a better plan can be de- al
sed let it be made available at once. or
IL