The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-02-25
An Outlet Advocate.


Capt T. p. Leathers, the veteran
steamboatmau, who has probably
watched the varying course OF the Mis-
sissippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers as
long as any living man, has frin be-
lief that distractions, of which bridges
form DO small part is the main cause
of the increasing food heighth. Meet |
ing a.States representative the Captain
made some comparisons and hgures
that are of interest at the present time
.Now, look at the condition OF the
river ut Cincinnati. remarked the
Captain rs starter. when the
great flood of 1882 was at its height
there was sixty-thrce feet of water in
the river at Cincinnati. The Hood OF
| 1884 put seventy-two feet OF water at
that point. Now, why this difference
| in the depth of the water OF
the two great floods The answer
to this question is plain to me. The
difference is due to the distractions
that have been PIT in the river at Gin
cinnati since 1882. The shore lines all
along the river front on both sides at
Cincinnati have been pushed out into
the original course of the stream many
| feet. In addition to this accretion OF
the shores, five bridges span the river
there, and with their twenty or more
massive piers greatly retard the How
of the water. do not think il an ex-
ltravagant estimate to say that the flow
of water at Cincinnati is impeded at
least 80 per cent by the Instructions
there. At Louisville snether big
| bridge adds greatly to the already
heavy natural obstruction there. At
Cairo another bridge with dozen
piers almost blocks the river. In addi-
ton to this the Illinois Central Rail-
! road has built a levee four miles long
: across the Kentucky valley. This
work holds back tremendous amount
of water when the river is high.
..'Ehe upper Mississippi is as full OF
bridges and other distractions as the
Ohio, and the Missouri has Jared worse
mt the hands of the obstuructors than
: either Of the others. The entire nat
ural conditions of the lower Mississippi
, have been changed by artificial work,
and that monumental absurdity, The
! Jetties. cap the climax by LITERAL,
blocking the entire stream.
1.-THE fearful floods of recent years
: are the result of this insane practice o.
obstructing the great natural drainage
. ways of the country and the floods vii
. continue to increase in freqnence ant
q volume so long as these obstruction'
are allowed to multiplyp Even if NJ
! more dykes and bridges are bull
s across the drainage valleys floods vii
continue to increase. The reason fo
this is that when Il stream is damned
e up it begins to fill up. Especially is j
i true of such heavy silt bearing stream
j. as tie Mississippi and its tributaries
q The bottom of the stream follows tn
4 surface upward and almost keeps pac
: with it. The surface of the Missouri
: river has been raised in flood time b,
y distractions twenty feet. yet the waite
: &C that time was only nine feet deep
showing that the bottom has also bee
i raised eleven feet.
: ..The Eads jetties have had the sam
= effect, but to more pronounced de
!, gree, upon the Mississippi. The bot
}, tom of the river at the jetties is IL
d feet higher than it is at New Orleans
!? This may seem incredible, but knoS
it to be the fact from actual observa
a ton. The effect of the jetties is muc
more far-reaching than most peopl
n suppose. / think it may extend I
:, Cairo. know that the bottom Of tn
river has been raised nine feet a
Natchez since the jetties were built an
that it is continually rising. and vii
: he, until something is done to let th
I flood waters Of the Mississippi flow o.
: freely. Give free outlet. the waite
e will cut out its own channel and tn
u river will be kept clean instead Of be
ing filed by its own currents.
IS 1.-The bridge they are now proposin
to build across the river here will 4
. course add its share to the terror {
our floods. as each succeeding bridg
will do. The only salvation for til
people of the valleys is an outlet, an
n good and sufficient one at that. Th
q only practical outlet suggested is III
K way through Lake Eorgne and tn
a. Passes. This is entirely feasible IN
~ would afford immediate relief. III
90 benefits Of this would be felt siong ii
whole drainage she'd that discharge
!, its water through the Mississippi Va
= ley .D-States.