The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-20
FAVORS LEVEE system.
Proper Relief from Floods from Mis-
sissippi Can Only Be Obtained
by Their Construction.
II WOULD COST ABOUT $4,000,
Report Of the Subcommittee OF the
Appointed to Investigate the
Floods of the AIississippi River.
Their Causes and Prevention.

Floods of the Mississippi River,
Their Causes and Prevention.
Washington, Dec. 15.-The senate
committee on commerce Thursday
agreed to the report of the sub-commit-
tee appointed under the resolution of
March, 1897, TO investigate and report
upon the floods in the Mississippi river
and their causes and prevention. The
subcommittee, consisting of Senators
Nelson, Ellins, Vest, Mcbride, Gal
linger, Berry and Gallery, has visited
many points on the Mississippi and its
tributaries, taking testimony at vari-
Gus points, and altogether giving the
report was prepared and submitted by
Senator Nelson as chairman of the sub
committee.
Most Destructive Floods.
The committee say that the greatest and
most destructive floods have come from
the Ohio river, and We're due to excessive
rains but other tributaries have also con-
tributed to the volume of water which has
SO frequently in times past submerged the
bottom lands of the lower Mississippi.
The first important conclusion reached
IL in regard to the cutting of timber at the
head waters of the streams, which is
thought not to increase the floods.
With reference to the five reservoirs in
the headwaters of the Mississippi. the COM
mittee say:
''They repress to some extent, the floods
In the river bottoms above Lake Pepin, and
improve the navigation of the river in low
water down to that point, but have no
material effect upon the floods or naviga-
ton of the river below that point"
The committee present quite compre-
hensive historical sketch of levees and
jetties In the Mississippi. With refer
ence to the levees they say that experience
of 1887 indicates that a complete Enclosure
of all the river basins will require from
three to four feet higher levees in LOUISE
ana and of from four to six feet Of the
Yazoo levees.
Levees Only Proper Relief.
The committee conclude that no substan-
tial relief from the floods can be obtained
by means OF outlets: hence the further
conclusion that only through properly con-
structed levees can the proper relief be
secured The committee furnishes an es-
innate of the cost of completing the levee
system from the head of st. Francis ba-
sin to the head of the passes, putting the
figure at from $1S,0O0,000 to $20.0O0.000. and
the time necessary at from four to five
years. The opinion is expressed that with
this expenditure levees sufficiently high
end strong to afford complete protection
could be assured.
The committee state that good results in
assisting navigation have been obtained
from dredging with the new style Of hy-
craulic dredges, which have proved very
effective, and recommend that ample pro-
vision be made for continuing this work.
Speaking Of revetment work, they say:
Revetment Work Too Expensive.
I'm view Of the great cost, especially
great in view Of the results. 1t seems that
1t would be more judicial to limit re-
vetment work to levee and harbor protec-
ton. Contraction. by means of jetties.
dikes and dams. supplemented by dredg-
ing, seem to have given the best results at
least cost. There is no doubt that re-
vetments are very efficacious. but the cost
is SO immense that its systematic applica-
ton is scarcely warranted"
The South Pass.
Speaking OF the jetties in South pass
the committee say that Neither these.
nor the training bikes, nor mattress stills
have been kept up to the condition they
were in 1879, but have been allowed to
diminish and deteriorate, and as a conse-
quence the channel has not been main
tanned without considerable dredging.
For practical purposes, the pass is not
adequate for vessels drawing over "a. or
at most 25, feet of water. This Is INSULT
cient for the wants OF modern commerce.
Vessels drawing from q to 30 feet, and
over, are now quite common, and much
more economical than small vessels
The committee conclude that 1t is very
doubtful whether a channel sufficient for
| this larger class Of vessels can be obtained
ip the South pass.
The Southwest Pass.
The committee then turns its attention to
! the Southwest pass, saying: But the COM
merce of the Mississippi valley asks and
Is entitled to a much deeper and broader
channel to the sea than that now Afforded
or likely to be afforded by the South pass.
The Southwest pass Is regarded in many
quarters-lay and expert-as the cheapest
and most feasible route through which
to obtain the requisite deep water naviga-
| ton. Congress has already made pro-
vision for a thorough examination and sur
vey OF this route. The engineers having
| the work in charge have not yet made
| their report nor completed their work, and
| until they do, 1t would be premature for
US to suggest or advise. We may add that
| to improve the Southwest pass, and at the
same time to maintain and utilize the South
pass, and thus to secure the advantages
| of two passes, is no novelty. This plan
was adopted in 1856, when provision was
made and work carried on for the improve
ment of both the Southwest pass and Pass
| A. Loutre. In case of extensive repairs,
or accidents. there would always be one
pass open and available for navigation"
Ordered to Manila.
Washington, Dec. 15.-In accordance
with the policy of the administration
TO replace the volunteer soldiers in the
Philippines with regular troops, as soon
as possible, orders were issued Thurs
day for the Twentieth regiment of
regular infantry at Fort Leavenworth,
Kan, to proceed to San Francisco and
take passage on the transport Scandal