The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-06-02


these columns some time ago, and to say
that they are worthy of serious considera'
ton by those interested in charity work in
every community is putting ii mildly. 1t
is to be hoped that Mr.. Hubble will sue
coed in arousng an active interest in the
society here.
The accommodation of the street com
mittee of the city council, that committee
of ten be appointed whose duty it shall DO
to ascertain the best method of preventing
the accumulation in the future of sipe-water
within our lcvees, is very commendable
act. 1t Is 10 accordance with popular de-
mand, which has been intensified by the
late experience with the aqueous evil within
our city; demand which will not be salts
fed unless something is done, unless hercu-
liam effort is made by those in authority to
prevent repetition of the evil. The
agitation which has been going on over the
matter has not been without profit. 1t has
brought to light many important facts
gathered by observation and experience,
which will serve an important part in de-
termining ways and means for the future.
1t has also brought into prominence men
who have made the periodical presence Of
sipe water in the city a subject of study and
observation for years, and who are compe-
tent to offer valuable suggestion upon the
subject of prevention. A committee of
these gentlemen, appointed by the mayor in
accordance with the recommendation of the
street committee, would certainly be able to
decide upon good plan which would have
all the evidences of success and, as a conse'
Quence, have the confidence of the mass of
the people. So far three plans for prevent
ing the accumulation of water within the
levees in the future have been offered.
First, steam pumps; second, filling; third,
pudding. Steam pumps alone have been
tried and have failed. Steam pumps alone
were failure when the inlets to the city
we're less in number than they now are,
they would be greater failure now. Fill
ing to high sipe water mark would not serve
the end saught, because it would not per-
nit of surface drainage in times Of high
rivers. Filling to point where surface
drainage could be had in times Of high riv-
ers is entirely out of the question, it is i'm
practicable it will, and can
never be done, it is unnecessary.
Pudding alone has the advantage of either
or both the other two. II has not been
tried here, and where il has been tried it
has proven successful Unlike pumping, it
would not necessitate heavy outlay for
ponderous machinery and would not impose
a large yearly expense upon the city; I'm
like filling to high sipe water mark, it
would not necessitate radical change in
the grades, contiscation of property by
| citizens in moderate circumstances, and
then give only partial relief. With our
present knowledge of the formation of
Cairos bottom, it promises complete and
permanent freedom from all accumulations
of water. II promises to prevent sipe
water by cutting off the natural avenues,
leading from the rivers into the city, it
promises to prevent the accumulation of
ram water by preventing the sand stratas
under lying the city from being saturated
with river water, and making them serve
as great sponges to absorb the water com
ing from above. Its principle is simple;
its conclusions are correct if its premises
are, its execution would be cheap. It's
principle is that if you bulkhead wrecked
ship you prevent the inflow
of water that water will
not flow through a substance which is i'm.
| pervious to water. Its conclusion is that
an underground levee will as effectually
prevent water from coming into the city
by means of underground avenues, as does
an overground levee prevent an overflow
Its premises are that the sipe water enters
Cairo by means Of number ofsand ridges,
below which is strata Of blue clay which
is impervious to water. OF the correctness
OF its premises alone is there any doubt;
late observations have tended to dispel
much Of this doubt, test of the ground
by borngs may dispel it all, and prove
that pudding would be either partially or
wholly eRectual, or, entirely impracticable.
The test should be made; something must
be done now; the committee called for by
the street committee must be appointed and
Unjust act promptly; large individual in.
terests demand it, the public good de-.
mands it.
|
Seed Potatoes.
/ "a nj