Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-19

OHlbSu Dldbse LukAlpSA oVAA 4Woub
arrived in VicksbuTg last evening on
the T., n. o. s. 4. railroad from New
Orleans and the south having, com
pleted his guage inspection tour of the
Mississippi river from st. Lonis to
New Orleans and an up stream inspec-
ton from the latter city to V~icksburg.
From here down the following work
was accomplished by Engineer Ewens.
The water gauges at Natchez, Red
River Landing, Baton Rouge, and
Carrollton, on the Mississippi river,
wers put in complete order.
The following stations on the
Atchafalaya river were also inspected;
Burke's Landing, La. At head Of the
river, and West Melville, La. at both
Of these stations permanent gauge
bulletin signals have been erected by
Mr.. Ewens, and the posting Of the
daily gauge readings inaugurated.
This will be a great benefit to the coal
towboats running to Morgan City,
the Bayou Teche, Courtableau, Red
River and Ouachita steamboats,. The
only changes, said Mr.. Ewens, l have
noticed between here and New Or
leans, were at Natchez and at Red
River Landing. In. at Natchez the
current seems to be getting gradually
perpendicular to the bank in the vicini-
ty of the Brown residence, or rather in
the apex Of the bend just above the
sawmill. This change is due to the
action of the Kings cutoff just above.
The system Of bikes or breakwaters
that have been built by private parties
at this point are doing much to prevent
the action referred to. The present
action of the river at this point will
doubtless be but temporary, as 1t is
due to the irritable condition of the
river above, which is always
present for months, and some
times years after a cutoff is
made. In other words, the river
finally settles down to its normal con-
dition, and the ~Vacillating action
ceases. Should the banks at Natchez
be able to withstand these forces for a
time, the danger will be past. At Fed
River Landing the river is caving the
banks terribly. At present there is an
immense bar on the left bank that ex-
tends from ~Sunnyside to Tunica, a dis
lance of over eighteen miles. 1 know of
no parallel case in the river where bar
formation has been so extensive and
formidable as in the reach mentioned.
The action Of this bar has been to
crowd the larger volume of water on
the Red River Landing side, thus mar
rowing the channel proper, which, in
turn has increased the slope. The cur
rent, past the Red river side, is now
swifter than ever has been know in
the memory of the oldest resident.
The bank is caving all the way from a
point above Tensas, near the mouth of
old river, to apoint some distance be-
low Smithland, La. The effect of this
change will be as follows: 1t will give
a bluff bank from the mouth Of Old
river down where formerly there was
a gentle sloping batture, more like a
beach than a river bank; it will also
force a very much larger volume of
Mississippi river water down the
Atchafalaya, which, at the present
time, is a very serious thing
on account of the grave a~pprehensions
there are at present regarding the pos
sibllity Of the Mississippi leaving its
present course at this point and going
by the Atchafalaya to the sea. On the
Atchafal0ya l FUND the cavlng from
Barber's down to Bayou Morelan quite
serious. Below that part there was
nothing unusually notable. The color
Of the water all the way down was
that of the Mississippi, showing the
vast volume of the latter that is at
present discharging through this
channel. From here Mr.. Ewens
goes to Lake Providence, La,
thence to Greenville, Arkansas
City, mouth of White river,
Helena, Memphis, Fulton, New Mad
rid, Belmont, Cairo, Gray's Point and
St. Louis. At Grand Tower and St.
Louis bulletins will be erected for the
benefit of pilots. Engineer Ewens left
last evening on the Anchor Line
steamer City of Providence.
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