The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1898-02-26
HE CuTOEF THEORY.

While the rapidly falling river
is viewed with general gratihcf
ton and satisfaction by all, it has
at the same time developed an
ominous and disquieting conditiol
of the bank At the old brick
yard an ugly hole exists, and Wi
grow worse nall probability. JUS
north of the junction Of the pro.
lection and main Ievees, at tie
head of the revetment work very
serious caving is in progress. At
that point cave of about 800 feet
is estimated to have occurred since
the rise commenced, and even tie
main levee, although placed nearly
a mile back a year ago, is now q
will soon be endangered If tie
condition continues. 1t seems to
be impossible for the reveimeni
work about the site OF the cd
brick yard and as far down ass
Davis street to withstand the tte-
mendous force of the eddy which
sets in against the bank at that
point, and continuous repairs ard
expensive removals Of leyees az
pear to be inevitable. Certainly,
if the harbor revetment had not
been made, the greater part OF
Greenville would have long ago
been sacrificed; but there seems
to he no limit to the expense re-
CURED to protect the city from
the rivers encroachment. For
many years the bend just north Of
the city has been increasing
growing steadily inward until it
seems possible that the old pro-
phecy Of Greenyille being on the
south bank Of the river may yet
be verified; and at intervals the
levee at this point has been moved
back, being greatly enlarged at
every removal, and every change
being accompanied by great eE-
pense for damages, to say nothing
of the cost of the levee and the
loss of valuable property. In this
condition of things the idea natur
ally presents itself that cutoff
at the narrow neck of Tarpley, |
the bend to the north of Green
vile, would possibly cure the
evil efectuaIly, and speculations
as to its probable results are rife.
The usual guess work on this sub
ect is now occupying the minds
If many, and recalls former ex-
perience, when the very existence
Of Greenville was threatened by
cavlng banks before the building
Of the revetment. At that time
The TIMES obtained and published
the opinions of Messrs. VIM. Star
ling, G. NJ. Helm, S. w Fergu-
son and R. A. O'Hea, all of them
engineers of experience. The be-
lief expressed by each of them was
that the current would immediate
" cut away the bar Of Point
Chicot, and being DETECTED, would
strike tho opposite bank with
great force about the north limit
of Greenville, and rapidly cave
southwardly until the river estab-
lished itself in its new channel.
This opinion, held by engineers
more than ten years ago, is
today unchanged; and they
concur in the belief that no
protective work (which could
be constructed would be sufficient
to save the city from destruction
by caving. OF course all human
forecast is liable to error, and It
% quito possible that such cutoff
IS that now seriously desired by
some Of our people might have
effect to that feared by
the engineers. The policy of the
river commission is greatly oppos-
I'd to any change in the channel
# the river, and tits probable that
he Tarpley neck will even be
'evetted, as in the case Of Ash
,rook point, before the river will
,e allowed to cut through it. 4
THE INVESTIGATION.