The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-26
UveraOws in the Mississippi

a grave queatlOn " fdlhe1 oy Dlt' ~
C. Mccullough, a banker Of Anderson,
Indiana, who has written many vigorous
articles for the press on the subject Of
improving the Mississippi river. We
are informed that he believes that the
only way to prevent overHowS is 10 di'
vide the waters and carry off the surplus
waters by a series Of outlets from Cairo
10 the Gulf.
The solution Of this problem has e1er-
cised the minds Of our ablest engineers
and river men for years. We do not
profess knowledge sufficient TO meet the
question, but we are somewhat acquaint-
ed with the great river and It's tribu-
taries from Cairo to the Gulf, and the
country through which they pass.
Let us take a glance at the PROPOSE
ton. What would Mr.. Mccullough do
with the water between Cairo an
Chickasaw Bluff The Obion, Forked
Deer, Hatchie and Wolf on the East,
and the water that comes in the Mis-
souri, and Arkansas side could not
probably be: turned into outlets, until
Horn Lake, Moon Lake, the old Yazoo
Pass, and Hushpucana are reached.
A large amount Of water could be thrown
into these side outlets, but unless turned
toward the Gulf by wide canal, start
ing out Of the Yazoo above Yazoo City
all the water from the Mississippi turned
aside, together with Cold Water, Talla-
Latchie, Yalobusha and Sunnower,
would re-enter the river above Vicks-
burg, and then it would be an immense
volume, and would have to find a place
below where it could be turned towards
the Gulf east Of New Orleans by means
Of wide canal. Let us look on the
west side for outlets. The st. Francis
could not be turned easily from its
course, and then until we reach the
White and Arkansas, which already CON
meet near their mouths, there is but lit.
tie water that enters the Mississippi.
The idea, we understand, is to turn tbs
White and Arkansas rivers into the Red
river, stop that stream, and turn all
these waters into the Atchafalaya, which
Ia now a short distance, only few miles
from the Red and Mississippi rivers.
The distance from Arkansas river to
Rod river is considerable. The feasibili.
~ Of turning the Red into the Atchafa-
llya in conceded, because it is ascertained
that the Atchafalaya Is some feet lower
tlan the Mississippi, and il let alone,
judging from the progress II has made
with u few years, the Mississippi and
The Red will enter that stream without
any artificial appliances, and then what
would become of New Orleans as the
great city OF the Cuff
We believe that able engineers have
given it as their opinion that II the
Atchafalaya and the Mississippi should
connect, that the main outlet to the
Gulf would be through the former
stream, and then il would be question
of how much of the Mississippi would
seek the Gulf by way Of New Orleans
If the Atchafalaya is FIVE or six feet
lower than the Mississippi, it seems a
natural result that the latter would fol
low the lowest outlet to the Gulf.
The idea of canals from the Mississip.
pi to the Gulf through Mississippi and
Louisiana has been discussed. We
should like to hear from engineers who
have Investigated the subject, where
they propose to take the waters of the
Yazoo, and when they entered the Biz
Black, should they be thrown into the
Pearl, and overflow the interior to saw,
the low lands borderingon the great river
Mr.. Meet II lgh has no doubt studied
the subject aud has plan in embryo, il
not somewhat matured, by which h,
would make the side outlets of which h,
speaks, The country wants information
There is no man now living that W,
would rather hear from than Capt. Jas
B, Fades, an engineer without q peer
A sal day for the interests of the Delta
Of the Mississippi when Capt. Eads left
the service.