The Evening critic., 1882-05-17
The. River Commission.

Not many days ago, when before Congress
sional committees, where it was not best to tell
what 1t would cost to levee the Mississippi
River, among the other members Of that body
was one Mr.. Harrod, the New Orleans archi
tect who declared that If the gaps In the
levees were closed at a cost Of 81, 500, 900 the
old levees would be sufficient to hold the water
of the valley in the river.
But by recent publication in the New Or
leans Picayune one of the levee and jetty or
gans, where 1t is popular to demand large
to build egees under the Of
says II assume that the present levees range
in height from A TO 10 feet, and that they
tire length on both banks, say 1870 miles,"
The amount of earthwork required for the
additional grade Will be. 59,0OO,OO0 cubic
yards. The cost of this, he says, would be
S11,S00,00O. To this must be added the 81
100000 for closing creyasses; in all S14,-
100000, and In addition, 100000 annually
to keep these levees up.
This is mere beginning, and does any one
foresee what 1t will amount to in the end?
That Congress and the country may form
some correct conception Of the enormity Of
this leyee job, under the pretense of. improv-
ing the navigation Of the river where 1t does
not need improving, we Will let the friends of
levees speak.
In 1876 board of engineers, after care
full study Of the subject, and basing their esti-
mates on tho experience of ten years careful
investigation, as found in the great report of
Humphries and Abbott (recognized as the
highest engineering authority in this country
on "The Physics OF the Mississippi River"),
say that to protect the valley from overflow
the levees from Cairo to New Orleans, and on
below, Will have TO be raised from six to seven
100000. ~
The other day, while before the Commerce
Committee, General Humphries was asked II
this embraced the leveeing of the tributaries
He said "No." He was then asked II this
raising of the noodline OF the Mississippi
from six TO seven feet would not raise and
nytanf ri
taries, and If they would not also have to be
leveed. Hereplied "Yes;" that 1t would raise
and back the water up the tributaries, and
levees would also be required there.
From practical men we learn that these
levees would cost more than the levees on the
banks Of the main river, so we Will put down
levees alone.
Now, we come to the Improvement of the low
water navigation OF the Mississippi from Cairo
to New Orleans. In 1879 board of engineers
said II would justify an expenditure OF $lO,-
100000. Captain Ernst, Government engi-
neer, who had charge of the work at Horse
tail Bar, where, after five years work and the
spending of nearly S1,O00,O0O, he only claims
TO have deepened the channel one foot, says
the River Commission guess II will cost $780,
OOO,OOO, while last year, the real head of the
| Commission said It would cost from $40, 600,
| 600 TO y6O,O0O,0O0.
When we come to compare this statement
| with the one he made that the bridge at St
Lou Louis would cost $500, 900, when it cost sl3,
| levee and river lefty Job will cost, and no GER
tainty of its doing any good after all these
| millions are spent
Now, this is the plan OF the men who are
called "scientifc," which cannot stop short OF
| $20O,000,O0O.
on the other hand, CaptainC Cowdon, who has
| plan based on common-sense and well sus
tained by practical experience, proposes TO dc
| the samc work for S250,OOO, by making M
| outlet at Lake Borgile, and we are at n loss &c
see how Congress can hesitate to let Captain
| CowdOn try his plan
But we do see why this ia so much opposed
| by the River Commission, for, when made, Il
| VIII not only demonstrate that we have no ust
for the River Commission, but II upsets all the
fine theories OF engineering for 5000 years II
China, loco years In Europe and $50 year.
| In America.
| We have no doubt that science is a wonder
ful thing; but when IL wants 00,0OO,00 Il
accomplish certain piece of work which car
be done for S250,O00 by common-sense, W,
prefer that the latter and cheaper plan should
at least have a trial, and have no doubt bu
L opinion.