The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-01-18


River rTfr scsz snuf.-- r1zzz-f.
From the New YORK Sun. Tho Aia
souri, river again threatens lo leave s.
Joseph. No. high and dfy ana ten
nile from water. li "a not the hsal
time the town has had a dry scare.
0ace a year what y knoan as l|se
June rise IN the Big MUDDY cuta acro4s
farms. washes away land-marks and
gives employment 10 rnTgeyors But
the present scare h. caused By soEe-
thing worse than a June rice. The
river seems 10 be deliberate IN - IN
tention 70 break a new channel. Al
there Is 10 check d d a railroad en-
bankmoli ave feet IA height unlesa
The breaks on the north side Of ne
peninsula are repaired the water viii
cut across the neck az land and Iui-
gate Kansas territory. This would
leave St. Joseph without any river
traflc. inlure railroad property and
probably necessitate q change IN the
water supply Of the city. during which
time is sanitary condition would be
deplorable II IA habit with the
river when Il changes lts course to
leave great sandhars formed In front
Of the city. Il IL no reflection on the
intelligence Of New York people 20
assert that II they never saw an e.
posed sandbar IN the Missouri river
they know nothing about the capacity
Of such a formation 20 raise Cain ID
more ways than one. When one Of
these arid plains is kept. BY reason Or
the fckleness Of a stream. IN The froai
Of city ghich has enjoyed steamboai
trade. u changes the leFee and that
class Of business which thrives about
a steamboat landing moves as tie IN
fractions Of the river demand Tho
entire water front Of q river Town Of
the vest viii change a dozen lines In
a. many years. The property holder
who owns n front lot one year j. four
miles from the ieyec the next. hul be
only crosses bic legs and whistler D.
cause be knows thatss00Htr of later
the lovee vii come his way unless the
river changes lta course entirely. a.
Il Is now threatening 20 DO. There
Is another thing for which one Of
these sandbarr Is famous For three
months In the year. during the dry
season. the prevailing winds are from
the south Fest They blow day and
night Just a. they blow across tho
lands OF Arizona and Oklahoma
Some years ago property owners Of
this city AID q few engineers me-, %
discuss a plan by which the Missouri
river could be kept In its channel. and
By which the Eandhar might BE- ~
moved Il was a hot day. and the
sunlight was darkened BY clouds q
sand. which blew upon the town and
settled against the windows Ike hail
one Of the COMMITTEES Informed The
meeting that Il would be a useless ex.
penditGre 70 attempt any romQral -
the sandhar a. the Ma 'NoH'4 tIAA.Isf
a al IN ne csg4Se ol ilIlf...
aiions were made. however. and skill
ed engineers were employed. and thl
work OF saving the city. and Of coax.
ing the river 10 resume Us old couEl
was begun. The old style Of break.
water was constructed from the Rlach
Snake hills cut into the old channel
OF the river. Breakwaters we're alao
cor structed on the other side Then
the June rise was awaited. Il cane.
q changed the course Of the current
for awhile. and then Il smashed he
breakwaters. washed away more farm
lands and town lots. showed a fond.
ness for the Kansas shore. and an.
other sandbar came up out ol ihl
water and stretched 10 brown leaFiI
In front Of the iowa. The work 4
saving the city was again undertaken
For several ycars the winters IN 81.
Joseph were devoted % dlscussIn1
how the Missouri could BE- korI
In ia channel during the summer.
The railroads were the serious suffer.
ers. and 10 them "a due the emhant.
ments which for many years kept lhs
river In lts old place and which gave
the city more stable steamboat land.
ina than Il had had Tor years Bat nov
that Il threatened The city has no
money. Il has appealed 20 TIE raIl.
road commissioners for help. 1al
there Il no fund In the commission.
The Missouri legislature has never
been known 10 vote a cent for TIE
benefit OF a city. and Il WIN not b.
10 session IN time 10 DO s. JOSEPH
any good n Il were iavorably disposed
The people OF the town are tired oI
the antics Of the Missouri river. 81.
sorie are preparing 20 40 away. m
a lumen'ahie fact that che uucsriainir
~ no river al this point has done
more 90 iniurc business and 70 dense.
ciate the vallo OF Property here Than
an the panics since TIE var.