The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-01
CONDITION OF MISSISSIPPI
LEVEER.

We have received o report OF the
president OF the Yszoo Levee Board,
Col. T. w. White, which presents
various facts OF much interest. From
its pages Wa extrsc! the following:
The levees had not been cons dered
sufficient to Withstand a flood like that
OF 1882, but this year the Iise was
from four to seventeen inches higher,
yet surprising success attended the
efforts made TO protect the levee, the
expense was $4,000. The president
recommends the construction OF
telephone line along the levee, so az
to secure rapid intelligence Of breakr,
etc., in future floods. The light Top.
ping work done, though generally
with narrow base and steep slopes,
resisted the water remarkably well,
but trouble arose ia places from
sloughing OF the rear slope. Tendency
to slough was more marked where
q light backing Of new coil was
placed on the rear slope Of
the old levees, the effect Of want
OF cohesion between the new
and old work, the new material slid
ing off, involving also existing work.
Some sections, completed just before
high water, stood perfectly well, a.
though fresh soil mad been put on the
rear slope; the quantity Of new over
old work proved sufficient for s.ati-
ity. Where thin prism Of new ma
terial is to be applied, it Is best to
place 1t on the river side. II there is
q standard slope the water will sus-
tain 1t in position. At the junction
Of old and new levees leaks were pre-
valent, and greater prerauHon is re-
quired in making such functions than
the usual one OF extending the muck
ditch up the slope OF the old work
The new levee is principally composed
Of "buckshot" material, not having
been subjected to water pressure be-
fore the portions built with wheel
barrows were porous, the water pass
ing quite freely through, and a liber al
help by sacks wa, applied. Projecting
old levees at the lower junction with
new work, retardlng the water flow,
made the water In the pocket between
the old and the new line riss above
the normal food plane, and came near
going over the lsvee. A crevasse Ave
miles below Fdars Point came from a
negro cutting the levee from malice
toward the negro occupant OF the land
behind it. In previous inst ances the
bed Of the Louisville, New Orleans
and Texas railroad proved Of service
in protecting from floods. The per.
nicicus influences Of the st. Francis is
seen in the sudden large increase OF
the food elevation just before it's Cul-
mination. The svowed intention OF
the Mississippi commission TO close
up the outlet a. the head OF the st.
Francis, aad to levee the front of that
basin, ia a work much de,ir1d Presi-
dent White adds; 81 cannot escape
the conviction that great misfortune
10 the riparian interests OF the Mis,is.
sippi Valley has resulted from the d.
vided couusels among our Congress.
sional Representatives as to the COZ,
rectnets OF the commissions policy in
other matters pertaining to the river
improvement, the effect OF which is Ia
destroy any present hope OF this con
summation, and render its ultimate &C
compishment a matter OF doubt
The first effect OF such leveeinS
would probably be to elevaC
the food plane at Memphis and in thu
upper part OF our district, but male
rally relieve MS from Austin down. 1t
would also reduce the food plane to q
condition Of regularity which would
enable VI to rea lily tes how 10 resist
the water efecIually, and l am con.
WINGED would ultimately materially