The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-04-21

IERNANDO DE SOTO, a Spanish
/ / nobleman Of high degree, who
had participated with great renown in
the subiugation Of Peru, in / 1888, obtain
ed authority from the emperor Of Spain
toundertake the conquest cf the Florida
country at his own expense. The expe-
ditlon organized BY him for this pur-
pose landed In the bay Of Espiritu San
to, On May 25, 1880.
Confronted by obstacles and perils
hardly now to be conceived Of, they
fought their way through the wilda Of
the present states Of Florida, Georgia,
Alabama and Mississippi, and reached
the banks Of the Mississippi river in
April, 154i at point near the city Of
Helena They were the first Europeans
who ever beheld it
One hundred and thirty.two years
later M. Joliet and Father Marquette
reached it by descending the Wisconsin
river.
Six years later still, la Sale entered
il BY crossing from Lake Michigan to
the Illinois river and proceeding down
that stream to its mouth. III 1893
post was established at Biloxi by Iber-
vile. who made numerous explorations
Of the lakes bayous and tributaries Of
the lower river. The first settlements
In new country are always made
along the shores Of water sources for
the reason that they afford facilities for
ready communication in case Of dan
ger, for the exchange Of commodities,
and for the transportation Of articles Of
commerce intended for distant markets,
It was natural, therefore, that when
the discovery Of this great river was
made, and the extraordinary extent and
fertility Of the lands along its banks be
came known, that the attention Of
those seeking their fortunes in the new
world should have been speedily at
tracted Il was not long before con
siderable population had settled upon
these rich lands aud busy and valu
able commerce established. The habits
Of the river have not become altered
since then, and its ever recurring
floods were the chief obstacle with
which these hardy pioneers had to con
tend.
Then rs now when unrestrained
they ovenwept the valley, and the
struggle then begun to overcome them
Is YET unfinished.
A moments reelection will make plain
It's stupendous nature. According TO-
Walker's Statistical Atlas the Mississip /
pi basin comprises l,257545 square
miles, but Foster, in his work on the
Valley, estimates The area drained BY
the Mississippi and its "A 900 miles Of
nayigable tributaries to be 100000
square miles. AIT the maximum Of the
food Of 1897 no less than /. $40 600 cubic
feet Of water per second passed Cairo,
This was supplemented Of course bythe
inflow Of the tributaries entering tho
river south Of that point The problem
while gigantic IN proportion in the
opinion Of al engineers who have ex
amined il presents no insuperable didi
culties Much has been learned within
the past few years regarding the phe
nomena and physical characteristics o.
the Mississippi river II has long been
customary with many 70 think and
speak ilas gts8t mystery as er
ratio ana Hhimaoal pursuing dark and
devioa uathoas uncontrolled By law
q ffinsirlal aua entirely without the
grsh ~ hmnnn comprehension.
nlaaous q this SOFT have been Who'll /
ly dispsiled 81 the contiuuoas and
scientific observations made aud record
"a y The Mississippi river commission,
50 tlat all who wish may give to the
subject 81 intelligent study IT has
been demonstrated chat the rigef is
free from mystery Hatit is governed
by iha ame laws precisely which con
irol aii sedimentary streams; that ior
eyerg supposed erIatie nofemeaf thar
81 9 readiiy ascertainable eauss thai
all 9f its phenomena are produced hg
natural laws of universal application /
shat the only differences between st and 4
other slli balriug streams afe account
ed fof ay iis sraater uagnitude and .
chat iiie Mms thegr aud principles
which haea been uee calls applied @