The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-07

course OF the BrGEos suggests considerable
OF the practicabiit y OF cut-off, but Es!J
can only be determined by veys ma a.
timntcs Of the san Bernard 10 TAX and dts
charge any part Of the watcr ana silt from
the BrGEos
The question OF an outlet through Buffalo
BAYOU by cannl.ng INTO IL h also been suR-
gestcd, but this, as well Ms an outlet
through the tributaries Of tn San Jayintp
river, are all engineering problems not vet
solved by surveys an are probably only 20
he considered IN connection with scheme
Of slick winter vgatlon, aud then ly II
the location OF lock aud dams would Af-
ford level for dow ~ wntpr free fr m bilt
M the point Of discharge Tor utct through
masonry eluiccwaNs with gates, as other
wise the receiving streams would soon he
filled with sediment aud drift from IN
river
The magnitude OF the work in hand, ns
well as the appurent necessity thnt protec-
ton from overflow shall be contempurueons
with tht Of improved navigation, seem 10
cail for practically unit rm system, coz.
,rlng the whole line Of operation, 80 that
the counties Immediately interested shall
work 70 . common end Coop ration OF
the State with the Federal COVER imcnt
through the action Of state engineer 20
determine the extent Of lcvee prot elton
reduired under any plan OF Improved ma =.
iratlou adopted hy the government seems
nee, ssGry. II Is hardly 10 bc expected that
The land owners along the river front u
accoIt permanent overflow for tue hCnelt
q 81. ck-wnter navigation II ls clearly b.
dicatcl that the government VIII not uldrr
take such improvement until relieved troS
, tho reel onsiblity for overflow, md viii not
assume responsibility for domagen. sur
Ycy by a State engineer under leg slHilYe
authority would show to the counties and
I 80 the State what has TO be done n O.
( tcctl1u Is 10 be secured.
The people OF the BRACES river counties.
| ana eHpecl lly the formers OF the Brda's
| river frontage, and those whose lands are
/ within reach ~ overflow, must therefore
grapplc themselves with tho problem -
/ protection or continue t. take the FISK OF
| occus. Onal destruction Of their crops ana
damngc 10 their property from overflow;
! IL Is apparent that my RELIEF optnlnen
/ through tho Improvement Of the navigation
under the present plan would be uuhfnll
Ing In time Of food similar 10 that OF 1899
TO secure a uniform protection, n system
certainly should cover the river 20 the
Bosque wherever the same Is necessary
II may be that upon the removal OF th n,
Mr. Oppekoher, engineer Tor leYees, cAl
be reduced. but even upon that basis ~
would be wise economy 70 insure pEotec
ton n mems can he provided under ms
/ reasonable financial capacity OF the people
Z The loss 20 the productive values or Iexhl
from the overflow q 1889 alone 3as i daT e ~
levees below Old Washington.
Upon the banks OF the lower Brazos hhe
it's tributaries the early colonists OF Texal
west OF the Trinity river planted thei
homes The settlements expanded year ~
year 10 the northward. amid prlyatlon. 10
nndatiOn, Mexican invasion ana the DorToli
u Indian warfare. untll near the 1nontl
~ the Bosaue. over 40 miles from the sea
there grew and has hOurished into siatel!
] proportions the beautiful city 0t Waco
whose enterprise over quarter OF centurl
ago SPAWNED the Brazos with suspension
bridge whose cables were hauled by o.
teams from the new railway terminus,
distance Of about 80 miles, and set an *
ample TINT stimulated the progress OF al
'rexns cities. and aided "a the deyelopmen
~ Cpntrnl Texas beyond. From the tim
~ the great overflow 81 1883. the peopl
~ the BRACES river counties. with bu
short periods Of anxious relief have had q
contend with these waters until. VIII ID
flood of 1899 illuminated tho great disaster
resulting in an estimated loss Of from 80,
OO0 10 10000 bales OF cotton 70 the. FRO
ductlon o. the year. 4 large part OF tn