New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
GUARDING THE. LEVEE.
HOW THE PLANTERS AND THE GOVERN
MENr FIGHT THE ENCROACH1NG
MISSISSIPPI.

MISSISSIPPI
,ur nrApty WORK OF THE HUMBLE cRAwFIsH
-co1oNr.1, GILLESPIE AND HIS MISSION IN
THE FLOODED DISTRICT.
The reports which were received from the MIS-
s,sspp, Valley yesterday stirred grave apprehen-
, arrony those who know how much destruc-
ton and loss Of property and life always accom-
many a great overflow Of the river. To those peo-
nile who do not know the country and have not mace
the trp from Cairo to New-Oreans at time wheh
the river high the situation Is almost iicohi-
prehensble
with a view to guarding against tho destruction
Of the property along the banks of the river at
times when the bed will not hold the great volume
Of water which comes from the many tributaries
levees have been built along the Mississippi from
Cairo to the mouth of the river distance or ABOUT
100 miles. The United States Government mas
appropriated millions OF dollars for the improve
,nent of the Mississippi and of this more than one
half has been used In building these levees
Colonel G. L. Gillespie, of the Corps of Engineers.
president Of the Commission. says that the Two
banks Of the river are no; equally affected. Thus
from Cairo to Memphis the bank is the greater
sufferer from Memphis to Vicksburg both banks
arc submerged but the east or Mississippi side 10
q greater extent. The district also receives the
overflow from the Red and Arkansas rivers.
The great valley which is subject to inundat'on
includes $500 square miles in Missouri, an area
equal TO about one-third Of the State OF Delaware
1900 square miles In Arkansas. as much as the
area OF the State Of Connecticut 1000 square miles
in Mississippi equal TO all the land fit for cutiva-
ton In Egypt; 1000 square miles In LOUISIANA
equal to Is per cent moro than the entire area OF
Holland and 5000 square miles in Illinois. Kentucky
and Tennessee
The district which includes the border lines OF
Arkansas. Tennessee. Mississippi and LOUISIANA
Yields under normal conditions. cotton crop OF
obo bales equal to SIoOOOOOO, ana
that amount Of property is placed in jeopardy every
wear by overows of the river. The levees nave been
built by private subscription, by state ana py CITY
taxes and a tax on every bale of cotton is levied
in some districts for the purpose of collecting tunds
for that purpose The Government work supple
Inents that which is done under State supervision
The protecting levees are earthworkS ABOUT hf'eeh
feet high and about fifty feet In thickness, nat al
the top. and in general appearance much ike great
temporary Notifications. They are built In the sum-
,ner season. when the water is low. and tho nature
of the earth is carefully taken into consideration
with a view using only the kind which Will PACK
well and offer the greatest amount or resistance 10
the water against which IT will have to stand When
complete the levees planted with grass ana IN
parts of the country where they are well taken care
Of and where the foods have not injured them, they
become ornaments TO the banks OF the river
There has been no serious overflow since 1892. and
since then the levees have been In good condition
and the various levee boards have done much to
guard against serious damage but the present Hood
will doubtless ruin great deal OF their work
There Is danger line all along the levees which
Is calculated by tho highest water mark OF known
freshets and this line varies with the character OF
the levee; while 1t may be one foot from the Top
OF an old embankment. It would be one or two feet
lower on one that is fresh or unseasoned.
The reports received yesterday from tho hooded
district show that In many places the water has
already risen beyond the danger line, which may
be seen from the following table:
Danger linz. Prsssn. height
lam. Rock ...... ': IS aS
X N,S, .{,IIs ........--" y t sS5
Once beyond the confines Of the banks. tho Mis-
sissppi is likely 10 overflow tho country for miles
inland and the pressure tho earthworks comes
from two sides. 1t Is then that the planters are
on their guard night and day 10 prevent breaks m
the levees which stand between them and destruc-
ton Guards selected from the best men IN the
community patrol the embankment night and Day
against vandalism. At slight rise in the river
the beats are OF considerable extent: but as TN. the
water rises and the danger becomes greater they
made shorter. and IN foods Ike the present
Tho ground is carefully watched. and at the first
sign OF q break bags Of earth are thrown into the
% w oo small na o cope with the break Every
near the river knows now essei,ia q, s ub mo
time and still there are men who walt for the
floods TO cut through the enbanknent to SHOOT shoot
The guards carry guns. and any man found on the
high-Wdter time VINO cannot give a sd
factory account of himself is likely TO become the
central figure at a coroners inquest A few days
ago pilot endeavored 10 emulate the example or
Jim Bludso and run his endangered boat against
levee. but the guards. fearing that the WASH
would cause q break raised their weapons ana
compelled the boat TO leave without making land
ing one Of the greatest dangers TO the evee Is
the crawfsh. This little sapper and miner works
from the riverside and unless he Is promptly
checked his attacks cause destruction There are
MANY Instances on record where strip OF levee
has had all the outward appearance or sondity ana
stability, and has collapsed without visible cause
Investigation showed that the base OF the structure
had become honeycombed by crawfish .
All reports from the Mississippi valley indicate
that the present freshet will be the most destruc-
tive In wears and Colonel Gillespie will go TO the
scene and report the condition OF affairs to the Gov
eminent. He will leave here tomorrow and VIII DO
Joined at ST Louis by the other members or the
Commission The officers in charge or the subordl-
nate engineer stations at Memphis and Newton,
leans have already been Instructed 10 render al
assistance possible to the people who live along inc
banks OF the river in the way OF repairing the
evees and further steps will be taken TO avert as
much as possible the loss OF property. -
r. w. Leyy Of New Orleans, in speaking OF the
foods said that like the Nile Valley. that OF the
Mississippi is highly productive, and that under
certain conditions overhows would do the country
good. Large crops usually follow great hooos,
he said, land II the banks were properly protected
there would be large additional revenue 10 the
country.
| TWO WBLL-TO-DO PRISONERS IN COURT.