Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-03-11
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A vicksbur9, Miss. gentleman, who
evidently has sorns faint idea of the sub
yet be i sslking about. dIss1rsss tbs
Mississippi river aud the improvement
sche,nss a. follows, and though be gives
the fatker.y stream bad characser,
most everybody viii admit he states the
ease about right:
Ths proposed improvsmsn: Of the
Miss1sdpW river Oh shs scals advocated
by tbs 0omm;mioo 10 the Creates: i'm
position that has svsr been attempted
to BE- psacsised on the Amssicsn people,
but the people dosL bers want II, and
a. Congress sesns kindlv disposed
towards the scheme. hoe il may 60
through. River men, who have made
study Of the stream all their lives. know
tina: IL il a Gckis and uncontrolisble
river. and tina: money spent IN attempts
tn ssraiahten, narrow aud dsep-u tas
channsi. and coatins the water vis IN
regulation limits, will be noaey thrown
away. Ihs commission might buiid
ievess 80 feet high. on granite foam
dalton 20 feet deep % both SIDES OF
the riv>r from the Gulf TO Cairo. at a
cost Of 4y.m00W and the river
would burst its bocds and defy every
known Law of civil engineering and sci
eafiis sudeavor. The river flows
through made gYouLd for 1000 miles
and more, soft loan Of sandy soil.
which extends down 20 |. varying depth
II from 20 70 500 fest before gravel il
reached. The water cuts \ channel
through this land ~ Is takes a notion.
Il starts for the gulf, and i. knows be :
ter than man hox It wants to get there
and What course IL mnst take 70 reach
the salt sea. It sxa..ovS whole town
shipe and throws them MP in other
States, c1t.ine = new pathway, forming
new Isl snds, and devouring old ones. in
hagrant disobedisnce Of known Laws
Pne river has An average width Of 800
or COCO feet, And ut Low water depth Of
probably 10 feet from the mouth Of the
Ohio down To the jestirs The water ut
such times flows along the bottom of a
dep cash IN the land, and the banks
stand 40 feet above tho surface. In
hopd times the river is bank full and
ov-rtiJSilg. An enormous volame OF
waser ruaning over the top or through
erevases into the back country. which
IL ioger than sbe river proper. Tue
sster in the main channel has almost
The force Of solid wall 50 feet high
moving st tho rate NJ from SIX 50 eight
miles An hour. The salvation of the
coantry il in the curves and bends.
which do much IN check the speed Of
inis Tremendous volume Of wafer. The
sb.ardty Of trying ~ regulate the Mis-
si-sippi, ana combining q mile Of water
pushed along by An irresistible force
INTO a channel half . milo wide with
banks q1ick and, is patent 10 every
intelligent man Who has given the mat
tsr careful consideration. The commits
sion onght To ride down the river on the
cr.s. Of n spring hooI and take observa-
tions. They would be Impressed with
the insignifcance of human endeavor
aud the fusiiity Of improving on Gods
alan Of managing the Father Of Waters.
HDweyer, a. have before rem .rksd. II
tie government. wants 10 donate 800
UO0.0DD or $iO,00.M0 for our benefit We
will tske is. Il might be better en-
ployed thou n. in educating the iQnor-
ant masses and building manu- 20 cries.