The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-23

tHls lOunuutiou, tdCH lOdu VI cuTln Dblnb
tramped and packed down by horses hoofs
and wagon wheels, until the top was reach
ed. The result is that there is no POSSIBLE
ity of water siping through the levee, or
between the leyee and the earth proper.
Yesterday the inner slope Of the levee and
the ground for some distance away from its
base, were entirely dry, showing concu-
sively that it is not soaked through as was
reported, and that there is not the slightest
danger of break toward the inside.
1t is safe to say that, as the Mississippi
river is. falling at st. Louis and at points
below there, there is no danger that the
water will come over the levee; that the
levee will not absorbe the water like
sponge and give way to pressure, and that,
with a hundred and twenty five men almost
continually at work fighting them, the wind
and waves can accomplish little or nothing.
In view Of all these facts no danger need
be apprehended from the Mississippi side.
The following argument against levees
as a means of keeping in their channels the
two mightiest rivers in the country, which
appeared in the Chicago Tribune of Tues
day, is, so far, effectually refuted by the
great levees which surround this city, and
which have protected her against floods
which carried destruction to many
cities, both above and below here
"This flood, however, has served to
demonstrate at an opportune time the su
periority of the outlet system as meens of
protection. The levees already constructed
have proved of no avail, and it does not
seem to be possible for human power to
erect sand-mud embankments that can re-
sist the mighty rush of waters. AT the
same time it is observed that those sections
where the river has found or forced outlets
have escaped the flood. This especially
noticeable in the neighborhood of what is
known as the Centennial Cutoff" which is
the designation given to long bend made
by the river above Memphis in 1878. The
influence Of this natural outlet extends fully
sixty miles away, and islands of splendid
farming lands which were formerly sub
merged at a lower stage of water than at
present now lie high anddry. If there had
been ample preparations for carrying off the
surplus water the present flood would have
inflicted no great injury, and it seems to be
incxcusably stupid in congress to lend a
willing ear to proposition to expend at
least hundred millions OF taxes for the
construction of mud entertainments which
will not be able to stand against such
food as that which now prevails, but will
only help to increase its impetuosity and
force. 1t is not only the Mississippi that
would have to be leveed, but all the streams
flowing into it from Cairo to Vicksburg,
and some of them for hundred miles back
from the main river.
Perhaps the most powerful argument
ia favor of the attempt on the part of the
council committee to induce the Cairo and
St. Louis road to enter the city outside OF
new levee street, is the experience through
which we have gone within the last few
days. No one who has the future good
and safety Of the city at heart can any
longer doubt that the committees act is
wise and that il ought to persevere in its
purpose and finally accomplish it, OF all
the vast stretch of levee around our city,
only that little portion, which belongs to
the city, and which the city council and its
committee are endeavoring to render safe
by inducing the Narrow guage road to
build its embankment along the outer sice
of it, as a partial recompense for an impor-
tant privilege granted, has given us any
cause whatever for alarm. The wisdom Of
IllD committee IN W DC SOlll uClidCh uub IL IN
being commended bv all far'sighted citi-
zcns. Those who denounce the committee
have been worked upon by the company's
buncombe threats to switch off somewhere
above the city, etc. They are short sighted
and strangely inconsistent, denouncing the
council one day for endeavoring to strength
en- the levees and the next for not doing
so. Water is what ais them; water has
caused all their dissatisfaction Ms it has
caused all the troubles Of the little narrow
guage road. When the water goes down
the latter will commence work on its new
embankment, outside the city's levee, finish
it, run it's cars into the city as usual, and
make everybody happy alike. And then
Judge Bross, and Jack Winter and II. +.
Potter, and D. 7. Linegar, and Captain
Williams, and Colonel Hamilton will fall
upon the necks of Mayor Thistlewood and
Aldermen Hughes, Halliday, Blake Saup
and Wood and while weppjn, tears Of con-