The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-01-30
DYKES ON THE ROANOKE.

| OYkES ON The KOANOhE.
Communicated to The Commonwealth.
The breaking of the dykes on the
State farm on Roanoke river last May
and the damage to crops have caused
some discussion throughout the State
A short sketch and the practlcabilit,
OF dyking this river may be of interest
The valley of the Roanoke below il
composed of two classes of land-what
are called the first and second low
grounds. The first is the section near.
est to the river ana is very fertile in
production of corn. It is naturally
the richest soil in the State and up tC
1865 produced many thousands of bar.
rels of corn, but since the introduction
of free labor and the destruction of the
dykes it is almost valueless from over.
flows. H..
The second section is higher and
grows all kinds of crop and is not sub
ject to overflow except in very high
water. A great portion of ills above
high water, but since 1865 it has de-
creased very much in value. There
are two causes for this-the freeing OF
the slaves and abollshlng OF the dykes
Now the question is, will fee labor
work it and can the dykes be rebuilt
with safety?
AS to its being worked by free labor
admits of no doubt. It is the natural
home of the negro. They are able to
stand the climate, while the white man
Is net and If protected from water they
would prefer to live there.
The practicabllity of dyking this
river has been discussed for many
years. The general idea is that dyking
causes higher water, but the record OF
the freshets since 1916 shows higher
water since the dykes were abandoned.
From l849 to 1864 the water as meas
urea by staff was "a feet with the
dykes all up. From 1865 to 1901 it
measured 271 feet, on several occas-
sions 25 to 25A. I don't know that
the dykes caused lower water, but the
record shows it.
Prior to 1865 the dykes we're kept up
but they were not perfect and would
often break, but it was success. The
reason why they did not stand was
that they were not properly located
and that there was no concert of
action by the owners. Each farmer
dyked to salt himself. It would be
practical to locate them halt mile
more or less from the river by COM
potent surveyor and as straight as
possible according to the bend OF the
river. This would shorten the dykes
and make them stronger. A narrow
current IN reason will not rise as high
as broad ofe in freshet. It has a
swift, strong culrent-emptles the
water farther and prevents sand bars,
while broad one causes SAND bars and
in freshet rises higher.
It hassbeeh,said that the Mississippi
liver would not. be navigable if the
dykes we're down, and: he 4Eads Jetties"
at its mouth. proves the wisdom Of
narrow chanrel.
Another question has been raised:
If one section is dyked, will it cause
higher water to the adjoining lands?
It will not. Low water at Weldon In
May last year wss followed by higher
water below the falls while higher
water In December was followed by
lower water below the falls. The dykes
at the State farm were up in May and
down In December. It has been ar
gued that the dykes at the State farm
caused this but that Is a mistake. The
same condition prevailed IS miles be-
low Weldon-higher water in Deem
Der at Weldon followed by lower water
below, and lower water in May was
followed by high water here. The condi-
ton OF the lower river controls the
water below the falls.
1t the lower river is high and
swamps full high water follows, but
low river with dry swamp takes off the |
water rapidly and will not cause a |
freshet.
There are several reasons why dykes |
break-improperly located, too mar
row, boring of musk-rats and want of
attention.
I think in the future that this river
will be dyked, if not by individuals, bv
The government. Companies are FORM
ID to supply water to dry lands by trri.
cation and possibly they may under
AXE to keep water off of the land bv
lyking.
THINKS IT A GOOD ORDINANCE
5reenvil1e Reflector.