The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-15

and Jett1eS In the Mississippi. With
reference to the leveeS they say that
experience of 1897 indicates that q COM
plete inclOsure of all the river basins
viii require from three to four feet
higher levees in Louisiana. and from
TOUR 10 SIX feet on the YaZOO leVeeS. The
committee conclude that no substantial
relief from the floods can be obtained
by means Of outlets, hence the further
conclusion that only through properly
constructed levees can the proper relief
be secured The committee furnishes
an estimate of the cost of completing
the leVee system from the head of st.
Francis basin to the head of the
passes, putting the figure at from IS
to 20 million dollars and the time neces-
sary at from four to five years. The
opinion is expressed that with this ex-
penditure levees sufficiently high and
strong to afford complete protection
could be assured.
The committee states that good results
IN assisting navigation have been obtained
from dredging with the new style hy-
draulic dredges, which have proved very
enectve. and recommend that ample pro-
vision be made for continuing this work.
In view of the great cost, ESPECIALLY
great in view of the results. it seems that
ment work to levee and harbor protection.
CONTRACTION by means of jetties, dykes
seems to have given the best results at
least cost. There is no doubt that revet-
mentS are very efhcaciOuS, but the cost
is so immense that their systematic ap
pllcat1on IS scarcely warranted
the committee says that neither these
nor nor me p Lr971nIng dykes nor mattress sills
but have been allowed to diminish and de-
teriorate. and as a consequence the chan
mel has. not been maintained without con
siderable dredging"
Hence they reach the conclusion: con
the whole, it appears that, although the
Jetues have accomplished much good and
ceeded, owing to the causes enulnera ted,
in maintaining the fine channel that exist
results then obtained the bikes, sills and
Jetttes; carried away, should be replaced
or restored as far as practicable Besides.
the jettieS be extended seward further
with the extension of the bar into the gulf.
For practical purposes. the pass is not
adequate for vessels drawing over "a or
at most 70 feet or water This is insult
ncient for the wants of modern commerce.
Vessels drawing from q to 80 feet and
over are now quite common and much
more economical than small vessels"
doubtful whether a channel Sufficient fol-.
this larger class of vessels can be obtained
pass can absorb much more water, the
securing process cannot be increased, nor
q deeper channel obtained by the method
To secure a greater volume of water it
would be necessary to build and proIong
passes and to fortify them with mattress
sllls and other works so as to bring about
a larger inflow. In the next place it
would be necessary to build strong and
from the head to the ietties There is
scarcely sufficient foundation for such
The earth and rip-rapping would have to
be brought from a great distance and the
embankment would be subject more or
less to the storms, the waves and the back
wash. In short, such leveeing would be
extensive and most expensive Deriving
from the head of the pass to deep water
in the gulf. These are some of the diff
Gulues which occur even TO the lay mind.
To say the least the cost would be enorm-
Gus and the, result very doubtful and
The committee then turns it's attention
10 the southwest pass, Sa ying: but the
commerce of the mississippi asks and is
entitled to a much deeper and broader
channeI to the sea than 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 naVfga-
ton Congress has already made DroVis-
ion for a thorough examina ton 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, it would be premature for
US to suggest or advise We may add that
to improve the Southwest pass and al the
same time to maintain and utilize the
South pass, and thus to secure the ad-
Xantages OF two passes is no novelty.
This plan was adopted in 1856, when pro-
vision was made and work carried on for
the Improvement of the North and South
west pass and Pass A'Loutre. In case
or extensive repairs accidents there
would always be one pass open and avail
able for navigation"