Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1897-05-21

the ingenious device for the pro-
lection of this dixie against the /
waves. omit fuller description
of this dixie, as we do not require
such works here. and consequently
it would be of no interest to our
people.
"Their river levees, which are
the ones that interest us, are built
somewhat different than ours. We
have one standard levee here, viz,
8 feet crown, with slope of 1 to 3
feet on both sides, with here and
there a particularly exposed levee,
or one crossing some low spot re-
enforced by a banquette on the
Landslide. The Dutch engineers
built their levees in all sorts of
shape and form, according TO the
location, but with few exceptions
give them more slope on the river
than on the Landslide. Such levees
offer less resistance to waves, and
in consequence cause less wash,
and has the further advantage of
giving them broader base to the
/ levee. Their aim, when building
a levee, always is to throw all pos
sible strength into the base by
widening it as much as circum-
stances will allow, and, not sat
isfied with this, usually add BAN
quette of about 20 feet to it on the
inside, whilst particularly exposed
levees have banquettes on both
sides. Such levees, with an ordi-
nary S-foot crown, will stand any
pressure of water, and may be said
to be beyond any danger.
"The object of such broad base
and the additional banquette is
not only to give strength to the
, levee, but it is also an important
factor in preventing seepage, as
, the water has to travel so much
further in order to pass through
the levee. 1t also serves as q good
preventive against crawfish leaks,
as it is 80 much more difficult for
this little pest to dig through it,
The building of q levee is done in
: a most systematical manner. At
, ter the ground is properly cleared
r of all undesirable material, they
build the 1evee by layers of about
: | foot thickness, each layer being
! carefully rammed down before
) another is put down, and wher
. finished, it is covered with a layer
4 of hard clay to protect it, after
: which it is closely sodded. Al
4 levees are built at least 500 feet
9 back from the river.
8 But, however careful they are II
). the building of their levees, th'
: essential feature in connection
f with their dikes, and the mair
v difference between our levee sys
o tenn and theirs is the protection
g they give to their levees. Thei
q great sea dikes ere most elaborate
! ly protected by stone, brush, spur
O and long spiles in front of tn
e dikes, but as description of sucl
works is of no particular interes
a to us here, 1 omit it.
q "The river levees are protecte'
If wherever they are exposed to wave
d or wind or current. They usual
d use willow brush, which they pu
i in layers on the river slope of tn
> levees, commencing at the foot Q
e the levee and placing it as high a
r the highest fioodmark. This
IL then pinned down to the leve
d with wooden pins sufficiently lon
" to hold it down securely. As 500
IT as the water rises over this tn
II sediment settles in and betwee
ID the brush, filling it up very soor
,e after which grass is allowed
+ grow over it. This gives a
ct almost absolute security again'
n wavewash and is also great pr
ne lection against boring animal
h. Of course, it must be kept in GOO
c. repair, or it might do more tina
d good. Wooden revetments, whiC
n are so extensively used here, ~
h. utterly condemned as softenir
IL and of little service. Willow a
ed growing in great profusion on OF
he river banks and should not be 9
he expensive material.
nd Enormous sums are spent
he the Dutch government for the pr
h. lection of caving banks throus
nd spurs, mattresses, stones, etc, b
,se as this has no direct connectit
les with levees, l refrain from d
IS, scribingit. Their system of canal
ss- both drainage and navigation,
ed the wonder of the world.
Is, "Many of their. levees are gra
-er eled or macadamized and used
til roadways, which they consider
lis benefit for the levees, as affordi
EN- protection against rainwash.
VS. some parts of Holland they ha
we interior levees running throu
W. The fields in all directions, til
i've dividing the country into differe
nd polders, so that in case of C
vase only part of the country
1st flooded.
he They have an admirable systt