The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-27
CREVASSES MAY BE CLOSED.
RAILWAYS AND TUGS Co-OpEfITE TO
REPaIR BROKEN LEVEES.
Crib Work. Rrushwoad, mud Sand Rags are
Mnte,i,is Us~d-21O. 600. 900 saved This
Year Throu xh tho Improved Method.

Crib W. rs. Brushwoad, mud Srnd Rags are
Mate,i,is Used-alO 10000 Snvod This
Year Through tho Improved Method.
New ORLEANS. June %. Ono lcsson which
has been learned this year is that crevasses
or breaks in the lcvee can he closed. n lesson
worth millions already to tho pconlc along the
Mississippi River. and which will o worth
tens Of millions in future years. For over
a century thoy have been trying to close
crevssses. but have failed. snendlng great
deal OF money in tho experiments, Thoy have
been near success n dozen times. hut have
never before reached It. Engineers have como
down hero from tho North. certain that they
had solved the problem. but have confessed.
after n thorough trial. that they could do MOTH
ing agains tho raging Mississippi. So many
have been the failures that tho State some
years ago decided to give no money for the
purpose OF closing crevassos. regarding this
as impossible.
Attempts. however. continued to he made.
and millions Of tons OF lumber. piles. and sand
bags were dumped into the river IN the vain
hope OF stopping crevasses. Tho problem was
no easy one. With a break $50 to 200 feet
wide and from 8 to 20 feet deep. with stream
milo wdo and pouring down ut The rate OF
1--WE miles an hour and going through the
break In the evee at tho rate Ct twenty miles
an hour. It was like fighting Niagara, or
damming up " the rapids"
In 1890 the first success was met with.
There wore score OF breaks that year. but .
only one was closed. that at Martinez In East i
Baten Rouge. and this was accomplished By
prompt action and BY the throwing Of thou.
sands Of sand bags into the breach. It was Q
great success and regarded as almost mira
Gle. and prevented loss Of fully $4,000. 900.
and tried again in 1891 with similar failure.
This year. however. it seems to have been
SF as
sns afs 81
Avondale. Ascension. and Tsssier which would
have been pron9Mmnced impossible OF closure
ss ssn
wa. pronounced " imposs ible" by. some OF the
sS@ " e"S onss
railroads; the southern Pacific and the Texas
State eonvIcts from the Penitsntary, ffh had
not been closed New Orleans would have been
s 90 rosa Would av pesss S 4 %
their business 1 crippled FL, d. for two or three
%Sad or
srn suburbs Of New Orleans would have been
Much Of the success in aghtins crcvasses
some system into the business. The railroads
II
bags. poles, &C.. at convenient points. ready at
a moments notice. They have tugs in the
rivers nearby also ready for an emergency.
and also large forces Of men skilled In levee
work and Commanded by men who are ex-
perts. They are thus able to concentrate mon
and materials at any break In the shortest
possible time-an important matter. The plan
L. simple enough. Crib work Of a light kind.
like a fence. Is built around crevasse.
Brush wood and sacks filled with earth
are thrown In. These are, kept in
place by the crib work. ana although the
water trlckles through. 1t does not come with
its full force. and the breaks are gradually
filled UP and q firm levee built. The crib work
frequently gives way. but the workers go at
1t again. It is pretty much the beaver idea.
carried out somewhat more scientifically. and
seems to work we'll up to $50 to $50 feet.
They have not got beyond crevasses Of this
width vet. but there Is no reason why they
should not in time. considering what great
progress they have already made this year
Omitting altogether the lesser breaks. and
taking only those aboye New Orleans. a mimi
that would have inevitably occurred had these
crevasses been left open; as in past years, ut
$1O.0UOO0O. The Avondale was the most DIFF
flcult OF all. requiring the labor of BOZ men for
nearly week.
In view OF the success met with this year. IL
is probable that in future years o! high water
the State will make some provision for the Or
Ranization Of O crevasse force to repair the
levees In those sections where there are NO
railroads to take charge Of the work.