Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-11
HELENA, ARK.
The Position OF, Mr.. Miles as TO the Im.
prOvement of the Missfs.
sippi River.
He Agrees with Capt. Eads I'm Every.
thing but the Closing of the
AIehafaiaya.

Regular Correspondence of the Appeal
HELENA, April S.-The problem of Mis-
sissippi river improvement grows apace. To
Keep the great stream within bounds, pre-.
serve its utility as high road 10 the sea,
and secure the alluvial valley contiguous to
it-rich beyond comparison-from its annual
and prospective semi-annual aggressions, Is
indeed theme iuviting 10 solvers Of ab-
struse problems in natural philosophy, as
we'll as Offering post of honor TO the civil
engineer capable of effecting remedy which
will cure thls evil, and yet preserve the good
With purpose single to the general wsal,
the APPEAL has twice pressated, curso-
rily, the views of Mr.. j. B. Miles, of this
city, upon this, as yet, uneolved proposition,
eliciting nothing, however, but the Irouv of
the New Orleans Times Democrat, because
Mr.. Miles expressed the belief that the chan.
mel OF the Mississippi river wss seeking, and
would ultimately obtain, an outlet through
the Aichsfalaya. The Times Democrat goes
furher, and charges Mr.. Miles with an
tagonjzine the theories put forward by
Capt. Eids, and arrogating to himself
the possession Of the only safe, sure aud pr
maneDt plan for securing the country and
preserving the channel of the river. The
facts Mr. Miles is in perfect harmony
with Capt. Eads, his jetties and all that tn at
:
of the Mississippi river problem, save and
except the plan he proposes for gradually
closing the Atchafalaya, and turning the en-
tire volume of water down the present ch anne
of the river. This was suggested prepos.
terous, bee iuse the river has not only mani
tested disposition to seek, but an absolute
determination 10 force, pass age through the
chsfalaya. This la.t clause is what tight
ened the shore, and N sde it pinch, evoking
the derision of the Times Democrat. But the
opinions ex pressed by Mr.. Miles are borne
out by the fscts, even such as have been
furnished by the corps of correspondents of
he Times Democrat who are aboard that
ubiquitous little stesmsr the Susie B. More
ss any competent and disintsrested judge of
the facts before the country might have
advanced, independent of Iany personal bias
whatever. Apropos of this theme, and
Capt. Esds's connection Herewith. there is a
scrap Of secret history which, IN simple ius-
lice, should be told. Admitting, as all must,
Capt. Esds 10 have done a great and good
work in the jetties-such as only practical
and skilled engineer could have done-it may
be interesting TO the world to know that the
theory aud pTdfI Of r.Is jetty system are Capt.
E.ds's only 80 far as his having carried them
into effect may entitle him 10 the NJ The
genius of the jettiess is Capt. w. r Fighter,
If this place. For six weeks prior TO CIpt.
Eids's ovedures TO Congress in the interest of
he j.tties, Capt, Rightor was cioseted with
Capt. Eads in st. LoHis. II was then, II
the first time, that Capt. Eads conceived the
plan-eIsborstsd bv Capt. Rightor-for
| the jetties, which now stand as q
monument TO the enterprise and en-
gineerins skill Of that gentleman. Letters
written subsequent to this caucus in S..
Louis by Capt. Eads to Capt. Rightor, con-
cusively demonstrated that the latter gem
| tleman wss the real protector of the scheme
| for deepening the mouth Of the river, the
execution Of which, by Capt. Eads, has been
fruitful OF such bepe6cspt results. These
letters are yet ex'ant snd accessible to the
APPEAL for use at any time. Thus ii il
is shown that Capt. w. R. Riehtor, and moi
Cspt. Eids, is entitled to Whatever honor
may attach TO the jstty project, albeit
without Capt L ids, there might have never
been any prsctica! illustration of the heory
| This is history. BARNABY.