The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-12-21
MISSISSIPPI.
Best Method of Controlling the Great
Floods of the River.
TEE 0HIO IS RBsPoNsIBLB.
AZ co5t OF Twenty aTniions or DoIlars
an Extensive System sE Levees
conld BE Conatruoted. Says
the Comni.too.

washington. Dec. 15.-The senate
COMM on commerce agreed to the
report g the subcommittee appointed
under ne resolution of March, 1897,
to inv stigate and report upon the
floods ID the Mississippi river and their
causes md prevention.
The Subcommittee, consisting of
Senator Nelson. EIkins, Vest, Nc
Bride GaInnger. Berry and Canery,
has visited many points on the Missis-
sippi and its tributaries. taking testi-
nlo & arfoiis points. and altogether
giving tne subject Ycry careful arten-
tion.
The committee says that the great
est q most destructive 1ccds have
come IRON the Ono river and were
due to excessive rains, but other tribu-
volume CT water which has so fire.
bottcm lands of the lower Mississippi.
Nothing in the evidence or other
data obtained by your committee dis
closes the fact that the destruction of
timber at or near the headwaters of
these river systems tends to cause or
promote the floods referred to.
Where timber is cut down for pur-
poses other than cultivation, the un-
derbrush remains and grows more lux
uriant than ever, and such underbrush
serves to retard rather than hasten the
movement of water on the slopes and
hillsides, and where timber is cut down
for purposes of clearing and cultiva-
tion the plowed area becomes an en-
larged absorbent of surface moisture.
"And it is generally accepted opin-
ion that the destruction of timber
tends rather to diminish than to in
crease the rainfall"
The question of establishing reser-
voirs along the the Ohio, Missouri and
other tributaries, in addition to the
five in the headwaters of the Missis-
sippi, is not considered practical
The committee present quite a com
prehensive historical sketch of Ievees
and jetties in the Mississippi. With
reference to the levees they say that
the experience of 1897 indicates that
complete inclosure of all the river
basins will require from three to four
feet higher levees in Louisiana and OF
from four to six feet of the Yazoo
Ievees.
Levees Recommended.
The committee conclude that no sub
stantial relef from the foods can be
obtained by means of outlets. hence
the further conclusion that only
through properly constructed IeYees
can the proper relief be secured.
The committee furnishes an estimate
of the cost of completing the Ievee sys-
tenn from the heat. of the st. Francis
basin to the head of the passes, put
ting the figure at from SIS, 100000 to
$40, 900, ,0GO, and time necessary from
three to four years. The opinion is
expressed that with this expenditure
levees sufficiently high and strong to
afford complete protection could be as
sured.
The committee state that good re-
suits in assisting navigation have been
obtained from dredging with the new
style of hydraulic dredges, which have
that ample provision be made for con-
tinuing this work.
Speaking of revetment work it says:
'In view of the great cost, especially
in view of the results, it seems that it
would be more judicious to limit reyet-
ment work to levee and harbor protec-
ton Contraction by means of jetties.
dikes and dams, supplemented by
dredging. seems to have given the best
results at least cost. There is no doubt
that revetments are very efficacious.
but the cost is so immense that its sys-
tematic application is scarcely war
ranted"
Speaking Of the jetties in South pass.
the committee say that neither these
nor the training dikes nor mattress
siIIs have been kept up to the condi-
tion they were in 1897. but have been
allowed to diminish and deteriorate,
and as a consequence. the channel has
not been maintained without consid-
cradle dredging"
Hence, they reach the conclusion;
"on the whole. it appears that. al
though the jetties have accomplished
much good and great results, they have
not wholly s~cceeded in maintaining
the fine channel that existed from 1897
to 1889.
The committee conclude that 1t is
very doubtful whether a channel sufl-
cient for the larger class of vessels caa
be obtained in the SoGth passes.
The Southwest pass is regarded in
many Quarters-Iay and expert-as the
cheapest and most feasible route
through which to obtain the requisite
deep water navigation. Congress has
already made provision for thorough
examination and survey of this route.
The engineers having the work in
charge have not yet made thei. report
nor completed their work, and until
they do it would be premature for us
TO suggest or adTise.
HaroourIs suecessor Not Chosen.
London. Dec. 15.-Nothing new
transpired regarding the leadership of
the Liberal party. Nothing else has
been discussed. but no important step
was taken. Harcourt's letter is gener-
ally regarded as final. not as has been
suggested, deliberately leaving the
door open for his return. Deep inter
est, of course, ID felt in Rosebery's at
titude. but it is not generally believed
he will give any sign whatever under
pfr CT