Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-07-27

Presuming, however, that the BounetC Care
Is Affecting the surface of the river four fee, six
inches at CarrolIton; there is an effect also a.
the mouth of Red; and, by the Cowdon sys-
tenn OF hydraulics, a wonderful hydraulic
ana hydrostatic action, consequent on the
Bonnet Care crsvasse, Is developed up
str' am as far as Vicksburg. Al Nstchez the
effect OF the crevasse lie felt with greater power
than at the mouth OF Red, at Carrollton. or
even within the jaws OF the creyasse itself
a. Vcksburg it IL greater than at Natchez:
and then again, the crevasse, almost losing
Its effect at the mouth of Rcd river, regains
some Of lis power on the way to Memphis.
The differences OF surface elevation at each
point IN the table must certainly be due to
other disturbing causes than that Of the Bon
net Carrie crevasse. Phe gentleman therefore
must cite some other snd better authority be-
slices mis- table for This reduction of four feet
six inches at Carroilton, etc, as being due to
the BJnnet Care. An effect, as being due to
crsvasse action, would. be more regular, and
on the decrease at points above. The table
Is not what it was represented, and does not
work right to sustain the arguments. Ii
does too much for a common crevasse-more
even than The theorist calculated on-its
Vlgor Increasing in a most remarkable way
up stream from the mouth of Red river,
The effect in the case OF the Bonnet Care il.
however, altogether differenl from thai
prescribed for the Lake Borgne outlet. Ia the
Bonnet Care, it increases up stream from
four feet at the mouth OF Red, to nine feet
three inches at Vicksburg; in the Lake
Borgne It decreases up stream from twelve
feet at New Orleans to eigat and ten feet a,
Memphis and Cairo. Thu similar cases in
the same river, under similar circu ms, auces,
producing diff rent effects. "On, con.ist- ncy.
thou art a jewelp These are the captain's
own figures, taken from his pamphlet, to
which he calls my attention. They do not
support his argument, his caleu latioas, or
his theories; and they do show up plainly
the FOLLY OF undertaking to build a gresi
system, TO correct and control the mighty
Mississippi on a foundation so poorly laid.
lhe captains allusion to the jsttIes plugging
the river Is no answer 10 my letter or the
questions asked, why the crevasses or out-
LET'S mentioned did not prevent overt ,ws in
the years 1882 and 1888. The "CubittsD gap
or the Jump" either of them, is more tnan
equivalent to any pluggiug effect which he
may suggest. l deny the plugging, but &C.
knowledge 1t Tor arguments sake. Again. 1
ask what has been The fleet on The river In
the lace OF the test which the QUILT theory
has received during unprecedented foo in
1882 and 1888. All experience teaches from
Cairo to the mead OF the pssses, that the river
WI 10 aAhluky 6uu tnhb the nDOu surface Ia
being raised higher, by revasses and oullets:
and that crevAsses ana outlets afford no re-
lief to the river whatever. 2
L am not IN the employment of the River
Commission, but L have been engaged on the
levees. as assistant engineer under Mai A.
Miller, United States engineers, for a pc
ROD OF i've months, l presume / have had
a lew OF those nubbins the captain would
like to have got out of his Lake Borgue QUITE
let hobby. Acknowledging the corn, and, to
q certain extern, the illustration of the old
SOW in the cern-ield, l have been like a
pig, Probably. l got a few small nub-
bins, aud, am sorry to say, l did not stay
long enough TO get fat, and had to work hard
however, presents the BE- st subject for illus
that 1 know of in the whole land,
being remarkably like a hungry old SOW on
IKE outside of the fence. Bingham Bros.
could not photograph a better representation
from nature. l can imagine the picture of
an old SOW running all round the government
Enclosure, scratching, roofing, climbing and
almost crazy 10 get on the insIde where the
nubblns are. But those "ignoramuses" and
educated ldioGs, the engineeIs," are on
guard against every other kind of "idiot."
L have nobody backing me with a dollar, |
no speculation In view, and no prospect of
any more nubbins that l know of; and 1 do
not back up the River Commission on a pros
pect. have always with one mall excep-
tlon) and can continue yet to make my liy-
ing without government pap. Ny first OBJ |
lect IN my communications it mas been
years ago, before the existence of
The River Commission, river improvements. |
Or even before / ever heard Of Capt. Cow
1on-is a desire TO establish proper ideas. |
correct principles in the public mind, on |
aver subjects; aod 60 long as the River |
commission act intelligently, and do their
YORK scientifically, baslng everything thew |
10 on exact survey, observation, examination
ano experlence-sesting aside all old granny.
lapnszard, common-sense guess work and
'pecuiative, theoristic guessers-eyery en-
,lneer In the land, every business center md
'lrcie In the whole Mississippi Valley, should
ustain them. The Improvement of the Mis-
river and correct methods Of work
Dg are great national qu-.tions-ouestions
nat should not be tempered with BY men
Vno lay no claim TO education, special train
ng, or practical experience in bydrauiir
nglneering, beyond the teachings of un-
ralned common sense; and this enlightened
'ge cannot accept them. By the Industry
nd energy displayed, a few theorists. each
sith his hobby, and some spectators. led nv
apt. Cowdon, and all playing into the bs nd
I the enemy, have been an injury and a
TO every interest IN the country in
ne navig sron and drainage of The Mi.sis-
ippi river. WV upwsov
CoAHohA COUNTY MRS.