Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-04
THEATCHAFALAYA,


There is much trouble down the river e.
pecially in New Orleans in view of the danger
that cxists OF the great Mississippi making
a new way for itself to the Gulf, and leaving
New Orleans in desert, robbed of her
glory and deprived of the trade that is fast
making her the metropolis of the South, the
great entrepot Of vast trade that will spring
up with the Mexican and South American
ports, and vast grain commerce with Eu-
rope. There are still many of those who,
as in the days Of the prophets, "cry peace,
peace, when there is no peace" and these de-
ny the danger, or would sit by helpless and
imbecile, without an effort. That the danger
is real and impending, however, is fully
shown in the following from the report Of
the River Commission: "We believe there is
reason to apprehend the continued and rapid
enlargement Of the Atchsfalaya, even to the
extent of lis becoming the main river,
thus jeopsrdiaipg the commerce of the
entire valley aud the perm nence of lis
port and outlet. The diversion of any
large part of the Mississippi's discharge
would tend TO impair the navigation below
and through the je!ties, while the establish
ment of favorable or even possible condi-
tons OF navigabe outlet through the Alcha-
falaya and its shallow bay would be uncer.
taiu in result and time" Where the Red
river enters the Mississippi the distance to
the Gulf as the crow flies is $50 miles, but
by the river channel to its mouth it is 1926
e miles. The Atchafalaya leaves the Missis-
sippi just above the entrance Of Red river,
and crossing directly TO the ocean enters the
Gulf at Atchatslaya bay, going over half the
distance the Mississippi traverses and hav.
ing, of course, twice the depth Of fall per
mile. Through all this region the Atchsfa-
lays, both in high and low water, is perma-
nently from 90 much as a few inches
TO twenty feet below the Mississippi. The
whole depth of its fall from the mouth of
the Red river to the Gulf is ifty-two inches.
Every year the amount OF Mississippi water
passing down the Atchafalaya iucre 4ses, the
banks widen, and the depth becomes more
profound. Of late the increase has become
80 great 10 indicate that probably 10 lees
than Eve years the great catastrophe will
take place, the brown waters of the Missis-
sippi will go laundering down the Atcha-
falsya, while mere bayou, passing down
what is now the main channel, will tell
whers the mighty Mississippi once flowed,
and the towns upon the banks, and the de-
Iightful Crescent City itself, will lauguish
aud decay deprived of their glory and their
greatness. To prevent these changes taking
place is OF course an object of infinite con-
Germ 20 thousands, and the River Commits
sion are giving their personal attention TO
the problem on the spot. Here, unfortu-
nately, a difficulty interposes. Capt.
Eads would shut of the Atcha-
falaya from the Mississippi altogether,
80 that the whole of the waters of the former
might pass through their own channel, and,
by the increase they give to the stream,
scour out the bottom SO as TO make the chan
mel ample for al the water that enters it,
aud by increasing the area OF the channel,
decrease the danger OF floods at high water.
This decided way of meeting the difficulty
appears to siagger some OF the com mittee,
who propose TO allow all the waters Of the Red
river TO flow down the Atchafalaya. The st.
Louis Globe Democrat says: sit seems that the
commission, in spite Of Capt. E ads's advice,
will not close this outlet at present, believ-
iRg thai to do SO would increase the danger
OF overflow below the gap. This is a matter
for engineers 10 determine"