Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-18

Orleans, find the subject one of intense per-
sonaI interest, To one of these parties there
is danger of loss of trade from the want OF
the facilities afforded by the river; the other
sees the approach Of ruin from the perrna-
nent overflow Of their lands. 1t often hap
pens that where mischief ia done IN one
place q compromising advantage OCCURS
to another. In the present instance
the neighborhood among which the
river threatens to flow complain Of
the anticipated change fully as warmly ss
that along the present course of the channel.
We have before US the report OF the grand
jury OF Terrebonne parish, La, made to
Judge Goede at the present May term OF his
court, sne-third Of which is devoted to the
subject OF overflow in the Atchafalaya.
Here we have neither theories nor specula-
,tionp, but the plain uttsrsnces OF body OF
men who are themselves dwellers where the
waters Of the AchaEalaya flow, and on their
statements no suspicion can be cast. 1t was
not prepared to create interest at distance,
but il plain statement got up TO present TO
the court OF DE district. The grand iury's
report Gays that the planting interest of this
district is terribly menaced, and in places
totally ruined; that the jury has devoted
much Of its time "to the investigation of this
fearful danger which menaces not only the
twelve large, populous and vast wealth
producing parishes bordering on the Atchs-
falaya basin, but the commerce Of the entire
Mississippi Valley" There is a continued
and rapid enlargement of the Atchsfalsys,
the mouth of the Alabama bayou, and an
enormous consequent flow into Grand Lake,
while the outlet from Grand Lake increases
but inconsidsrsbly; all this fills the jury
with the grayest apprehensions. The Atcha-
fslaya has assumed funnel shape, receiving
an immense quantity Of water which tears
its way with resis,less velocity for fifty
miles, then it becomes obstructed by many
abrupt bends called COX bows" and spreads
over all the timhered country from the Mis-
sissippi thirty miles to the Teche. The dis
lance from Old river to the bends is fifty
miles, and the fall in this distance is
almost az great as in the $50 miles
of the Mississippi river from the mouth
OF Old river to the Gulf. The swelling Of
Grand Lake spreads over the low lands, and
submerges FL the country from the Missis.
sippi, Bayou Lsfourche and Bayou Black to
the Teche. The ox.bows are a protection tc
the country below them, but there is great
danger that they will speedily be cut away
by the current. 1t is evident that uniesi
something be done at once TO prevent it, tht
Mississippi river will be DETECTED down the
Atchafalsya, disaster appalling to contsm
plate. Oae-lhird of the State OF Louisiana
with population of 100000 souls, will b,
absolutely destroyed. Below Red river ths
Mississippi will have no curreHt, its channe
will fill up, the ietlies will be filled by tst
drifting sands of the Gulf, and the commerc'
of the Mississippi Valley will be forced ovel
railroads to the Atlantic ports. Where tbs
Atchsfalaya enters the sea there is but min,
feet upon the bars in Atchafalaya bay
which is twenty five miles wide and is con
fined by low, narrow, sea-marsh peninsular
aud can never be jettied. The consequences
of This state OF things threatens to be mos
disastrous and no time should be lost. Tn.
power of the general government, if exerted
10 time, is adequate to prevent the fearful
disaster impending. This statement. which
sets very plainls bsfore Us the greatness anC
imminence of the danger, the grand iury
concludes by saying: "We, therefore, with
all the earnestness We can command, cal
to act with the greatest prOmptitude in tn
great crisis which is upon u.s."