The Port Gibson reveille., 1891-08-26

said that the bed OF the lIoang Ho, or
Yellow river, of China has risen above
the surrounding country where il Is
lcyeed. The error originally due to Alb
be Hue has been repeatedly English
writer's on the subject. The following
extract from letter TO me by Gen. J..
II. Wilson, a very competent authori-
", gives reliable information on the
subject"
The extract being somewhat lengthy
we give only tho closing sentences /:
ain conclusion do not hesitate to say
that Able Hue was entirely mistaken
in regard 10 the sitting up OF the chan
mel and that an exhaustive survey
would prove beyond n doubt that no
such sitting as to raise any part OF
the bed above the surrounding coun-
try has ever taken place." The Missis-
sippi is next considered and gauge
readings exhibited, taken at various
points from Cairo to Natchez, which
show that there has been no raising Of
the1ow water surface; but at certain
points including Vicksburg and Match
ez, there has been no rise in the high
water surface, Notwithstanding more
complete levee system. Again we
quote "0n the Mississippi the record
while not extending over period long
enough to give final results, do not as
far as they go, indicate that the bed
has risen. The opinion so often held
that leyees cause river bed to rise is
probably due to the fact that the bed
of river does sometimes rise though
leveed, and hence it is concluded that
the levecs cause the rise" Mentioning
several rivers that have raised their
beds, mostly locally, and. assigning
causes he adds: ain oil these cases the
bed would rise without leyees."
It should be remembered that the
foregoing from Genl Comstock ema-
mates from ono who Of all the men,
bers of the River Commission, favors
leyees least, for improvement Of navi-
CATION, and as far.as have been able
to learn may be considered the luke
warm member on leyce building Of all
the army engineers connected with the
river service.
Let us next refer to the testimony OF
Capt. Smitk s. Leach, or the u. 5. En-
ginecrs, who was assigned to duty
with the Mississippi River Commission
in 1878, who says: Il began from that
time to study this question from the
original data and measurements made
upon the stream itself, and have done
nothing else professionally from that
day to this" beginning with a state
ment in which he agrees with Gen.
Comstock in regard 10 the Po, be says
"Gauge records show that the abso-
Lutte elevation of the low water sur
face is about, as nearly as can be figur-
ed, where it always has been. The low
water surface has not risen. We have
measurements made at different places
by a great many people, so that there
could be no cOllusIon about il. The
records at Natchez go back to the be-
ginning of this century"
Aud now, Mr.. Editor, having
brought forward two unquestionably
high authorities, supported by an in
vincible array of facts and figures, we
are willing to submit TO sound reason
ing to sustain us. The statement Of an
English geologist, whose trend of
thought leads mainly into fields of
speculation, should not be received in
preference 20 those of practical, vet
scientific, men who are engaged daily
in the application of the science where
of they speak. We submit the ques-
ton as 10 which is entitled 10 the great
er credit, the casual assel ton of one
who starts out to write an article for
magazine on the effect OF glaciers
and other physical forces of prehistor-
ic times, possibly "a penny liners" or
the well authenticated statements Of
capable men answering in regard 10
their own line Of business, while their
regulations depended upon the accu-
racy of their replies.
1t was, at the outset, my purpose to
give some attention to the second OF
the premises laid down to-wit: "All
rivers are under the same law" aud to
discuss other branches of the subjects
of river Improvement and riparian pro-
lection, such as outlets, cutofIs, reyet-
ment elevation of high water surface,
accelerating and retarding influences
on currents, securing, etc, but fearing
this letter might prove too long, do
siss having been able to barely skim
the surface OF the great river question.
The REvEIILE has shown a commend
able spirit Of enterprise in thus BRING
ing this subject out The advocates Of
levees and friends of river improve
ment are glad to have the agitation.