The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-23
the SWOLLEN RIVERS.
Plans to Relieve tho overflow of the
MInnIhalnnI.

Elnng 10 Relieve inc Overflow OF tne
Mississippi.
Just at this time the condition OF the
Mississippi river and its tributaries is en-
gazing very earnest attention from all the
people who live along their banks, or who
are in danger Of being affected by their
swollen situation. For days past the great
Fatherot Waters has been rollinga ire
mendous flood to the Gulf, and this flood is
carrying CONSERVATION and destruction all
along its pathway, breaking through
leyeeI, overlooking plantations, drowning
the stock, and driving the people from their
homes This condition Of that great water
highway, taken in connection with that Of
its main tributaries, naturally calls atten-
ton to tho plans that have been preached
in Congress and elsewhere for the protec-
ton Of the great int rests that are involved
not only in the navigation Of the Mississip-
pi, but for protection against its immense
and destructive floods.
The plans that have been suggested are
numerous. Most OF them look to huge
and costly system Of entertainments, sup
posed to involve the expenditure OF one
hundred millions Of dollars. And yet,
even in the face Of this proposed expendi-
ture, no one Of tho so-called scientific engi-
nees can give either Congress or the coun.
try any assurance that the condition OF
affairs will not DO worstei rather than bet
tered. The trouble is not alone to build
embankments high enough and strong
enough to prevent an overflow, but
II Is 70 prevent the bed Of the
river nom constantly filling up and rising,
thuI not increasing the depth Of water
when most needed in the summer for nayi.
CATION, but constantly increasing the Iia.
bility to an overflow period as the bottom
Alls.
Capt cowdon who has become well
known on account of his large acquaint.
ance with everything that relates to tho
history Of the Mississippi river for gene
ration past and who has studied all its
pscularities, as well as those OF lis tribu.
taries, has for years past denounced the pro-
posed expenditure Of untold millions for
smbankments as perfectly useless waste
Of money. He has persistently claimed
that there is but one way to relieve the
river, and that Is through an outlet sys.
tenn. lie is now at Washington urging his
views upon the Mississippi River Improve.
ment Committee Of Congress. lie says
that tho value Of his ideas can be fully
tested for a very small amount of money as
compared with the amount demanded by
those who advocate the embankment sys.
tenn, by the construction OF a.
canal between tho Mississippi and Lake
Borgne, just below New Orleans. The cost
need not exceed $500, 900, and he has pre-
pared a map which illustrates tho bearings
Of his scheme. He claims that the old
how.line Of the Mississippi was seventeen
feet lower than the present line, and the
river cmptied into the Gulfat New Orleans
instead Of 1870 miles below that point. Tho
tendency Of tue river is to fill in at the bot.
tom, thereby raising its level, and the
leyees already constructed have served to
increase this evil. II sl00,00O,OOO DO cx.
pended by the Government to build
more extensive system OF leyces for the
Mississippi and It's affluents the bed Of the
river will be raised still higher and the dan.
gerofflood Increased incorporation, the pitch
or fall Of tho river from Cairo to the mouth
will DO materially lessened, and the capaci.
" for outflow at the lower end Of the river
viii DO 50 much smaller than the inflow at
z the upper end rs to make an overflow or
breaks inevitable, no matter how high or
strone the embankment may be. Captain
CoWdon's plan contemplates an escape for
the surplus water through outlets at the
most favorable points He would keep
open the Bonnet Care! outlet into Lake
Ponchartrain, which lowered the high
water level at New Orleans from four TO SIX
rect between 1874, when tho river broke
through at Bonnet Care, and 1850, when
twe 81 the passes at the mouth were OBJ