The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-07-07

chita. A revenue was provided and
appointed, empowered
TO build leVees in Arkansas, or where
ever necessary to protect the district
from overflow.
A large amount of levee building
has been done by the Tensas basin
levee commissioners along the Mtssis-
sippi river in Desha and ChicOt coun-
ties, Arkansas, good deal by the
local authorities Of these counties, aud
more still by the United States 80
that the line is now nearly complete
(though probably not high enough), !
and the Tensas basin district is thus
about as well protected against overs
flow as the other levee districts III
Louisiana.
But there is feature Of the situation
that cannot fail to strike any one who
examines the Typography of this region,
and to suggest line of defense against
the foods other Than those imme-
diately along banks of the Mississippi:
The ridge of high lands, generally
known as the Macon hills, runs alO1 &
near the west bank OF bayou Macon
and If it were continuous all the way,
Mississippi to the west of it, and no
need for the existence of the Tensas
basin levee district. But this ridge Is
interrupted and depressed for twenty
| miles or 80 in Cnicot county, notably
ut the stream known as B9uf cut-on,
which is outlet from the Macon to
the B9uf. Through this outlet, ana
across the depressed portion OF the
ridge, comes nearly I'LL the water that
has so long OVERLOOKED tho Tensas
basin district and If an elnbankm ent
could be built for some twenty odd
miles to supplement and complete the
line of hills, the major part OF tho dis
trict would he protected thereby for
ever, and made Independent OF the
levee system along the river front.
This, however, would be a costly
work, over which the Tensas basin
CONN issioners could exercise no effec-
tive control, Gt being in another
state,) and the way has never seemed
clear to undertake 1t until within the
past year, when the Louisiana, Arknn-
sas aud Missouri Railroad Company
proposed to build and maintain such
All embark lnent, to serve the double
purpose of roadbed for their track
aud Il ievee for the protection OF the
Tensas basin levee district.
A contract was accordingly entered
into between the railroad company and
the ievee commissioners for the con-
struction and maintenance of such an
embankment, and 1t was hoped aad
believed that the result would be to
give the people of the district two
great and much needed benefits: rail-
road to put them in close connection
with the rest of the world, and Sc
cure barrier against the floods that
have 80 often brought ruin to their
interests and prospects.
} 1t seems, however. that when this
|, arrangement was proposed the railroad
company had only contemplated build
ing their bank 10 a height that would
be, say, three and half feet above the
depth of overflow as found along the
line of the proposed road, without con-
sidering that when The flow through
the cutoff and across tho ridge was ar.
rested by the embank ment, the water
would rise considerably higher-and
probably, az high as that in the Mis-
sisstppi river in case the levees along
} its banks were not maintained.
To build their bank to such Il height
as would make it a secure levee against
the Mississippi, would-it is reported
involve much greater expense than
they had counted on. And hence, il
is said, there is now some doubt rs &c
the execution of this important work
unless it can be made smaller and
lower.
have been sorry to learn that il
some portions of the district there ap'
pears disposition to sacrifice the levee
feature OF this proposed embankment
or at least to be satisfied with almost
any degree of protection it may afford
if built AS railroad bank, and only JUS
, above the overflow, as it has beer
found along the line.
This ] conceive would be a great mis-
take. The Tensas basin district needs
railroads; it needs just such line o.
road rs has been proposed, and If the
people could build it simply as a rail
road believe it would be good in
vestment of their means. But they
should not lose sight OF their great pur
pose of securing at the same time thor
ough and permanent protection for thu
larger part of their district agains
. over flow. To my mind II would seen
: much better t, pay if necessary the ad
, ditionsl cost of a really secure leve'
=, than to rely on one Of less substantial
character.
1t is we'll to consider that, though tn,
} water has never yet been found to ris
rs high along the line of the proposed