The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-12-04
THE RIVER FRONT.
A Monument of Engineering
Skill Triumphing Over
the Destructive Power
of the Mississippi
River,


The City Of Greenvlle, which is To-
Gated at the lower end of one of The
numerous bends of tho Mississippi river
has been, since The city was first built,
subject % the inroads Of the Father Of
Waters, which has encroached on its
original site to such an extent as 10
necessiate change oflocatiou. What
was formerly EuoWn as Old Greenvillc
has long since entirely disappeared,
having been swallowed up by tho
river, due to the caving Of its banks.
A new location was selected and
the town rebuilt, but III 1887 it soem-
cd to be only matter Of a few years
more when the prosperous city would
share the fate of its predecessor, as
the river banks were rapidly caving
Two Of the main business streets had
already disappeared aud still further
destruction Of some OF The most vau-
able property was threatened.
In this emergency, with the charaC.
tetistic energy aud iborality for
which the citizens of dreenvile are
known the sum OF fifty thousand dol
lars was raised TO arrest if possible
the ravages Of the river. This fund
as placed ct the disposal of the
United States Engineer Who was
then in charge Of the improvements Of
tie Mississippi river in the Third Dis
trict and was supplemented by an allot-
ment made by the Mississippi Rive
Commission, making ? fcad Vi aboat
100000 nch was expended in
The construction Of ten spur dikes, To-
Gated about 800 feet apart covering at
lHat time he front Of the city where
the caying was the most active.
From this date, which marks The era
Of the beginning of Greonyille's pros
perity, the city took fresh impetus,
new business enterprises were under
taken, oil mills, cotton congresses,
permanent brick buildings aud hand |
some residences were erected, and the
city was awakened to new lie and }
activity, ao the citizens ielt assured |
that they bad now a permanent site
on which TO build, no longer fearing
the ravages of the great river at their
doors. The appropriations begun
then by the United States have been
supplemented since, and the improve
ment has been extended as continuous
reveiment work uutil the front may
be considered secure against further
caying.
This revetment insists 81 continu.
Gus willow MATTRESSES 800 feet vice
and from II to Is inches in thickness
extending out in the river from the
low water line, The mattresses are
loaded with stone and rest on the
bottom of the river, restricting the
scour AZ high stages which IS The pr.
mary cause of The undermining ana
cayiUg of the banks, the upper part OF
The river bsnk above Tue low water
line being graded 10 an even slope and
paved with stone. This continuous
revetment begins at the foot of Wash.
lngion Avenue aud extends up stream
a distance of nearly PIP miles. Re.
low Washington Avenue the dikes
built in 1887 are still intact and afford
protection 10 this part of the river
front
The expenditures for this improve.
ment by tae United States since the
beginning OF the work, including the
repairs now being made, will amount
10 nearly 100000.
The damages done by the annual
nigh water have been promptly re.
paired ard the work kept in good
The injury caused by the
Unprecedented high water of last
spring is now being reclified in such
manner as 10 prevent a recurrence
II the trouble and render the revet.
nenl secure for The future.