Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-23
The N1lsslssinpi improvement.

The river and harbOr bill has not been
reported, 70 the House, and therefore, II
i not ret known what amount the
Mississippi river i to get. 1t is probable.
however. that il viii get whatever is
deemed necessary for the prosecution Of
the work already begun. There has been
no report Of the amount Of damage which
the completed works suffered by the late
food. II VIII not be possible to estimate
the damage until there Is a tall in the
river sufficient 70 permit Of an examiua-
ton. There are indications that there
viii be a great deal Of opposition 10
another appropriation for the Mississippi
improvement. The great floods Of last
year and this year have created an i'm
preston that It is not possible 70 control
the river. anJ that sooner or later I'M
pr0vemeuts intended 70 prevent destruc-
tive floods and deepen the channel are
certain to be swept away.
Whether this impression is correct or not
ii will have its influence when the ques-
ton Of making another appropriation
comes before the House. Il is certain
that the work has not yet progressed far
enough TO determine whether it viii do
what Is claimed for il. Destructive floods
have not, Of course. been prevented, but
where the improvement has been made
the channel Of the river has been deep
ened. The effect on the floods is not eX-
pected 70 be apparent until the improve
meut Is completed. When, however, an
influential Mississippi valley paper like
.r-- 30 u NJ n n
show signs Of doubt respecting the sue
cess Of the work. II need not occasion sur
prise if the same doubt is shown by Con-
gress. That paper lately contained the
following: The Mississippi is a stream
difficult 70 control. and some good men
question whether iteyer can be controlled.
The work proceeds very slowly, though
great many men are kept at it; but the
solemn stream refuses 10 be put under
bonds TO keep the peace, and it is as IN
ruly as when first discovered by the Span
iards. We VIII doubtless have 10 make up
our minds that the annual foundations
are inevitable. and make the best Of them,
/ for no human power can curb tue flow Of
/ this river. We are willing to cOncede
| everything 70 our engineers, who are
/ excellent. but il is the old story over
again Of Mrs. Partingt0n with her broom
fighting the Atlantic ocean. The shifting
character Of the stream itself is the main
drawback. as it Is impossible for any one
To predict from year TO year whore the
main channel viii be. At every return Of
high water new sand bars are made and
millions 81 tons of sediment roll on down
the channel" Every season for three or
four years there has been unusually high
water. The leyees have been broken, the
improvement retarded and the works
damaged. Il IS not 70 be expected that
there viii be destructive floods every year
/ for the next three OF four years. With
fair chance and ample appropriations the
/ commission viii be able within that time
to determine with 4 considerable de-
gree Of certainty whether their
plan gives a reasonable promise Of sue
cess. To enable the commission to reach
such a determination it viii cost $1,000
600 OF So. 900, 600. but it Is well worth that
sum to know whether the great, rich
lower Mississippi Valley can be protected
against annual OverfiOws. II would be
the extreme Of folly 20 stop the Work now,
when nothing IS determined. 1t required
half a century to get Congress in the no
ton Of undertaking the great work Of
improving the river. Now that the work
has been begun it ought not to be
abandoned until it is clearly demonstrate
ed that the present plan Of improvement
Is impracticabIe, or that the river cannot
b. improved. The friends Of the river,
however,. ought 10 insist on a separate
bill. The disposition OF the present House
70 pass small river and harbOr bill viii
compel extreme economy in the appro-
priations for al other streams in order 10
give the Mississippi anywhere near what
II needs. This will make enemies for the
Mississippi improvement. Many mem
bers who are friendly 70 the Mississippi
VIII not remain 80 If the public works in
their respective districts are to be sacri-
feed for that river.