St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-12-05

as could leave any impress whatever
one way or the other, upon the rivel
bed.
The notion that the bed of the river
Is rising has been somewhat revived
since the flood of 1903, because of the
TACT that, at certain points, the gauge
reading showed not only unusually
great elevation of the flood height
but irregular elevation. From this II
has been deduced by some that al
those places where the gauge read
ings were the highest, there had been
as the result of levee construction, an
unusual deposit of silt, thus raising
the bed of the river. A simple explain
alton will destroy this theory:
In 1880, when the levees were by nc
means continuous and were altogether
insufficient to affect the flood plane In
any degree, the first thoughtful and
scientific observation of the river be-
gan. This was because of the fact
that the Mississippi River Commission
then entered upon the discharge of its
duties. It was noted that the rise and
fall OF the river was very different at
different points. 1t was observed that
the greater annual oscillations, which
were of about forty-f1ve feet, were to
be found at or near the mouths of
the tributaries, such as the Ohio, the
st. Francis, the Arkansas and the Red
rivers. 1t was also observed that the
lesser annual oscillations, which were
of about thirty-fve feet, were to be
the fronts of the great basins drained
by these tributaries, as for example,
at Fulton, Memphis. Greenyille. Lake
Providence and st. Joseph.
A careful plotting Of the gauge read
ings at that time exhibited a smooth
and regular high-water slope. but an
exceedingly irregular low-water slope.
This was caused by considerable de-
preston of the river bed at or near
the junction with the tributaries of the
river, and considerable elevation of
the bed along the fronts of the great
basins between them. For this reason
is was noted that the rise in high
water was much greater where the
bed of the river was depressed at or
near the points Of junction with its
tributaries.
1t was observed that the discharge
at high water at these points, because
of these depressiOns, was something
like 100000 cubic feet per second,
while along the intervening basin
fronts the discharge was several hun
dred thousand feet less. This differ
ence in discharge, ranging from a
quarter to a half million feet, was be-
cause of the escape of water over the
river banks along these basin fronts.
-
caused the elevation of the bed along
these fronts, which was noted, and we
feel justified in affirming that when
this escape shall have been perman-
emily prevented by the construction
of suitable levees, tn csc elevated por-
tons of the
River Bed Will Be Gradually Lowered
to conform to the bed at the points of
junction with tributaries, thus making
q regular low-water slope. When this
shall have been accomplished, un-
doubtedly the lowering Of the river
bed will steadily so on.
It has also been noted that during
the flood Of 1903 the heights attained
by the flood in excess of those hitherto
recorded were greatest at the points
along these basin fronts, as for in
stance, at Memphis, where the rise
was three feet greater than any ever
known.
The excess of the food height at the
points Of depression referred to was
nothing like so extreme.
We, therefore, declare that in our
Judgment there is no warrant what
ever for the assertion that the effect
Of levee construction has been, or will
be, to raise the bed of the river, but,
on the contrary, it is our definite con-
viction that the effect will be to cause
q general and considerable lowering of
the bed.
Second-We also desire to express
our firm opposition to all schemes
Tor reducing food heights of the lower
river by the construction of reservoirs
)r so-called outlets. We refer to and
Indorse fully all that is said upon this
subject by the very careful and able
report submitted in 1893 by the Com
nerce Committee o. the United States
Senate, which Is SO complete and elab-
,rate as to exhaust the consideration
II the question. We will add that all
which have ever been pro-
posed for the relief Of the river in
lines Of food by outlets or reservoirs
would either prove wholly inefficient,
n would cost such vast sums and re-
luire such constant care and expendi- |
ures as to entitle them to no consid-
grafton.
Third-While the flood Of 1903 was
,ery nearly as great as that of 1897, |
md while the food plane was greatly |
n excess of that of 1897, the protec- |
ion afforded in 1903 over that Of 1897 |
s SO great as to satisfy the minds of |
Ill impartial investigators that 50 far |
IS the test has gone the principle of |
by levee construction has |
,een amply indicated. In 1903 there
we're but six crevasses as against for
y-three in 1897. With each recurring |
lood since levee construction began
n earnest, the number of crevasses
las grown smaller and smaller, and
he protection afforded has grown
Teater and greater. AS q result, in
,estments of capital in all manner Of
Industrial enterprises in the Missis-
ippi valley have increased until they
re almost fabulous. The low-lying
Jack lands which prior to that date
we're regarded as valueless, are fast
eing occupied and converted into
zones for the benefit Of the people.
owns and cities have sprung up in
very direction. Railroads now trav-
rse the valley so that nearly every
art Of 1t Is reached by them. All OF
his affords evidence of the strongest
ossible conviction on the part Of the
eople that the time is sure to come
then they will have absolute protec-
ION from the floods Of the river.
Theorists may argue against
The Efficiency Of levees,
nj fhov dn on In win Tho afPnN0 |