Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-23
The Iutervie ".

"Cau security to the Mississippi valley be
obtained by the present system of levees?"
was first asked of Col. Miles.
at cannot" he replied. an event the
great St. Francis and Yszoo basins are
leveed, the immense volume OF water forced
through the channel in consequence can
never be held within bounds. The result Of
this would necessarily be the total abandon
ment OF the bottem country from Helena TO
the gulf on the west bank of the river, and
from Vicksburg 10 the gulf on the east"
Then what do you propose as renedy?"
sit is TO reduce the distance from Cairo 10
the gulf to the minimum. The airline dis
lance from Cairo to the gulf lie, in round
numbers, 900 miles; by river, just double
that, or 1900 miles. The slope of the coun-
try in an sir-line is six inches to the mile,
whereas by river it is only three inches. l
claim that the present distance from Cairo to
the gulf by river can be reduced 800 miles
by a practical system of cutoffs, such as l
propose, turning the river, Of course, through
Atch afalsys, which would give an average
depression of the river channel, from Cairo
10 the mouth, of four and half inches,
instead OF three inches, which it now has"
"What would be the effect of this increase
OF slope"
SIT would be TO increase the current of the
however, but give at least Ten per cent. inn
petus over present flow."
"Was this plan adopted and carried into
effect, would levees still be required~
"Oaly in neighborhood OF Memphis"
"Why is this2"
because there is go small a volume oil
water passing Memphis without levees"
"Wbat gives this decrease in volume al
Memphis?"
"The overflow into the St. Francis basin
between Cairo and the latter place."
"Then, is not our present overflow directly
attributable TO the oVeraow Of the great ST.
Francis bssiu?"
"Yes, certainly; but it would have been
doubly destructive had the great volume OF
| water passing Cairo, ar d received Into St.
Francis BASIN, been forced down upon us in
four days-as would have been the case with
| the 81. Francis basin leyeed-inste ad Of four
teen days, IS 1t now comes"
"Whst do you think of Eads's ietties?"
"Tke theory OF the j.tty system as APP
| piled by Capt. Esds is a success"
"Has the work of Capt. Esds at the mouth
of the river had any Influence in increasing
the stage of water at any points above?"
at has not-not even at the Passes Them.
selvss. The only mistake made was in Eads
being forced 10 take the South, instead oil
the Southwest Pass, due, understand, TO
Gen. HUMPHREYS, chief of the Engineer De-
partE eat. If the Southwest Pass had
been chosen-as wss originally intended
the hight of water for some distance above
would have been reduced, and channel Of
fifty feet obtained for less money than the
thirty feet or whereabouts, at present in
South Pass."
"Wnat do you think of the work at Plum
Point, and the general plan OF Mississippi
river improvement 10 which the government
ia partially committedp
Il Gm favorable 10 bank protection bv
mattresses or whatever may be found most
substantial in securing them from caving.
By Strengthening tbs river-which is my
piau-the banks can, of course, be more
easily protected, and by comparatively
small outlay they can be permanently Sc
cured. l. is only BY Strengthening the river,
and securing It's BANKS, that the Mississippi
valley can be reclaimed from the inroads BY
floods now so frequently recurring. As to
deepening the channel by any perm Irent OBJ
stIuctions being put IN the bed of the river,
such as | understand ia now going forward
at Plum Point and Lake Providence, am
opposed to that method. Ny reasons are
that the work dons can only be effective
during one season of low water; as, during
high water, the changes in the channel are
so radical that the probabilities are that the
work will be hopelessly ruined by sand, and
the channel driven into a new and wholly
unexpected course. Any observsnt steam.
boatmau will corroborate me in this"
"What do you think of the outlet theory ~
"Ouileti Why there 10 almost an unbroken
chain Of outlets now from Cairo to the gulf
OF Mexico. The whole Mississippi valley is
an outlet from three TO tTen'y feet desp. 1t
iso L.,
entire valley country to talk sueh monstrous
absuTdity."
Suppose the present food confined to the
river proper by levees, what would their
hight had to have been"
swell, starting at Cairo with levee three
feet above high water, it would require a
gradual increase in altitude until fifteen
feet would be necessary at Memphis 10 be
above high wster there. From the latter
place to Helena a gradual depression could
be made until only Ave or seven feet would
be needed. This ls due to the fact that the
large amount of water going over into 81.
Francis swamp above Memphis and again
forced back into the river above Helena,
creates greater width and depth st the
latter than the former place; the difference
between high and low-wa,er mark at Mem.
Phis being thiriy-six feet and at Hslena
4O' y-eSNeh ret 1uc elSVallOn oil Inc Ievee
would have to begin again at Helena. con-
tinuing to Lake Providence, where thirteen
feet OF high wafer would have TO be attained.
From Lake Providence to the mouth OF Red
river there would be but little variation
Below there sixteen feet at least would be
necessary, and from that point on to the
gulf 1t could be gradually depressed, only
six feet at New Orlesns being required.
Assuming the river strsightened, aud the
channel turned out through Achafalays.
what would be the effect on New Orleans and
coast country south of the new outlet?D
To this question Col. Miles replied suh-
slsutially as follows: The old channel from
little below tne mouth of Red river to m.
gulf would soon become a sort ef.lske. The
water OF which would probably be salt. TIE
main difficulty to New Orleans would be iu
getting supply of fresh water. Otherwise
she would suffer no material injury, as the
present mouth would remain open, and her
connection with the sea in no way be inter-
rupted- The coast country above would be-
come an Eden, secure from overflow, az the
difference between high and low water would
not be more than two feet. Coast nayigs-
ton would be unimpaired, the health of the
entire section secured by this inland salt sea,