The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-05-06


ter levee has perhaps forgotten
that 1t, too, sloughed very badly in
1871 the same day that the main
levee across the head of Lake Boil
ivar broke. This shows further
the insecurity of the soil.n Here
are two glaring mis-statements as
premises for a conclusion, and a
very loose one at that. The Roar
ing Water levee proper did not
slough, and never has, but a small
temporary hoop across the angle
below Bolivar Landing, which was
built the previous year to protect
the Dent work at head of Lake
Bolivar, was the sloughing point.
Second. There was no completed
"main levee across the head of
Lake Bolivar to break. 1t was
likewise the temporary levee run
ming from Wade's to Bolivar Land
ing, and also hurriedly put up by
Dent for protection, that broke.
Such are some of the inconsis-
tencies, inaccuracies and logic of
the two and a half columns before
me, in which the writer finally
takes leave in the following sim
cere and courtly language: "In
conclusion, | will state that / will
not allow myself to be brought
into any further controversy by
such inaccurate and unfair commu-
nications as that of your scribbling
correspondent sc. C.'n Exit the
immaculate Captain, and with him,
Ihope, the "animus y of this "con.
troversy.'
| will now proceed to discuss
briefiy-hoping to be able to do SC
more at length, if necessary, Will
a map of the Lake Bolivar country
before your readers-the PROPOSE
ton raised in the only part of thil
communication worthy of any Sc
rious consideration and of an,
interest toyour readers the prac
ticability of constructing n leve'
across the head of Lake Bolivar
or of running around on the cas-
bank.
The position, that adequate EN-
bankments cannot be made at th'
head of Lake Bolivar is simply un
tenable in the light of other mucl
larger levees of similar materia
having withstood the late water
and, if tenable, would overthrow
the entire practicability of the plal
of the Mississippi River Commis
sion, who hold levees must rul
close to the bank, and of cours,
on alluvial deposits. And | be
lieve they have studied the rive
for years with the aid of compe
tent engineers. The idea of an,
engineer in this levee distric
maintaining that leyecs on alluvia
soil cannot be maintained, an,
only quick-sand creeks, buck.sho
bayous and sloughs in the interio
are capable of being successful
ly leveed, is indeed SURPRISING
strange. | am not aware of an.
expression heretofore, in privat
or officially, where such convict
ions have ever been entertained b,
Capt. Anderson; and if such wer
his honest convictions while h
was spending the money he has Of
: the Lake Bolivar line, it only show
he has been more rocreant in hi
duties as the engineer in chief an
principal advisor of the Board tha
even the late floods demonstrate
in regard to his actual works. o
the contrary, it was known it wa
{ his especial pride to speak of tn
practicability of a levee across tn
> head of Lake Bolivar and tn
present contract with McTighe
Co. must have been made under hi
l special recommendations-as h
says in his letter-on an estimat
of some $4,000. The topograph
! of the country remains the SAINT
and is it possible that such pr,
carious work at such cost woul
not have received his protest, Ell
tertaining the convictions he no'
: does! This work was progress
I ing well and no signs of sinkin
when the high water came, and yet
though it seems so important
J work, was not even under the pei
sonal supervision of the enginee
or any skilled assistant. Wha
! has so changed the views and pre-
fessional pride of an engineer I'll
) der whose auspices this work wa
let and commenced 7 1t is one @
the strange things of the times
! the old Levee officers are so fol
ward to disown their own legacie
to the new Board.
Let us see what are the reason
! given for the impracticability G