Evening star., 1897-04-02
MISSISSIPPI LEvEES
Their Value as Protection From
Floods Discussed.
REPRESENTATIVE ChTCHINGS VIEWS
Money Already Expended by the
Government Commission.
w II A 7 Is y ED Ed

The unprecedentedly high water in ihc Ms
sissippi river, which has already don, 50
much damage and threatens to 10 more *
the subject Of muca discussion Iu CON
gressional circles becIus, Of The {arp,s an
preparations which Congress has tor some
years been making for the Improvement
of that stream. There is in fact a Mis-
sissippi river commission. Who's. members
are appointed by the President. ard vhas,.
iuty 1t is to approve of plans FOR TIE " .rk
TO be done, and to apporiion tia, money
supplied by the government for this work
The plan now in operation was adopted in
1890 and the first appropriation under ~
was made il lss2. The sums expended We're
rot large at the outset. but they have
grown in size until the goverI.nle has
become liberal contributor to the under
taking.
Money Already Expended.
The questions now heard relate 10 the e.
penditure OF this money. Ha. II been wis,--
ly expended? Has permanent coed been
accomplished by it? OR has the pres. NJ
flood demonstrated that the leve. s.st, m
is inadequate to meet the demands of tin.
valley and the wishes of Congress- Since
the work on the river was first begun
eleven millions Of the government mon.y
nave been spent on levces, and this has
been supplemented by tho exp ndi'ur uf
Sli""n1 contributed by the property OWN
ers. The subject is interesting and as III.
sundry civil bill. which is soon to 6e taken
Up In the Senate, carries a large appro-
priaton FOR the Mississippi river. soma
discussion Of the matter * likely then to
take place.
Mr. Gatchfngs' Views.
Congressman Catchirgs of Mississippi is
a dllflor-ifN ov ipr.
from long service on the ri, ers and aar-
hors committee. and he discussed al some
length today with a representative of The
Star the present flood and ils lesson.
1t must be remembered, said General
Catchings. that this flood i from INo 20
iiyc feet the highest in The known history
of the river. And 10 add 10 this. We have
had heavy local rains to make tn. tons Of
the levees soft, and very high Wiaa.5 10
severe y try their sides by driving The water
against them In poundn. waves So that
the ieVees have been subjected to an Glsu-
sual test Upon the whole, they have stood
II remarkably Well. As proof of this The
record shows that in 1ss2. when the govern
ment began extending its aid. the Hood OF
that year destroyed nearly fifty miles II
lesees in all between Cairo aud the moiah n
Of the river. while now much higher flood
mas destroyed not exceeding one and a half
miles in all. My own state far. has b.en
the chief sufferer and IL has suffer-. So
verely. AT the same time ii must be s.,iJ
that the leNee system has been vinaica:,d
1t only needs 10 be eNt.EdeI to afTorl he
protection tha. the inhabitants of :bt ,-,l-
ley need and should have"
Levees the Proper Thing
General Catchings was asked concerning
the assertion thai It is idle TO hope to keen
the Mississippi within its banks by lui!d-
ing levees.
That is a mistake he replied The
highest authorities among the engineers
irdorse the plan. Much has already ben
accom- plished. As much more can be- aish
by-no-mea ans extravagant expenditure If
money Holland controls the Sea with earth
works. Cannot We control oar greatest
river with the same means? The Holland
dykes are built broad and high, aud toy
keep out the soa. ami leNees along The
banks of the Mississippi bui.t on a some
what similar plan would control the river
and enable the highest floods to run out In
a comparatively short time"
Speaking of the matter in its broad re-
spects, General Catchings said
The question in its last analysis Is one
OF protecting the people in their homes.
1 he richest portions of the Mississip,h wall
ley would be uninhabitable without l.gfCs.
Since ieNees are necessary, therefore why
not make them thoroughly effective? Let
them be brosdened and raised a.id strength
eEed In every way. The government would
not be expected TO do il all. by any means
AS liberal as he government has alroaGy
been, the people living along the river have
expended four dollars TO the governments
one. | would vote to leVee both banks Of
the river, wherever necessary, from st
Paul TO the month, and would consider the
money wisely expended