Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-11-05


bed.
The notion that the bed OF the river
Is rising has been somewhat revived
since the food of 1903, because OF the
fact that, at certain points, the gauge
reading showed not only unusually
great elevation of the flood height,
but irregular elevation. From this it
has been deduced by some That at
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 no
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. 1t 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-five 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
found at intermediate points along
the fronts of the great basins drained
by these tributaries, as for example,
at Fulton, Memphis, Greenville, Lake
Providence and st. Joseph.
A careful plotting of the gauge read
ings at that time exhibited 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 a 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.
this escape of water undoubtedly
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, these elevated por-
tions of the
River Bed viii Be Gradually Lowered
to conform to the bed at the points OF
junction with tributaries, thus making 6
a regular low-water slope. When this
shall have been accomplished, un-
doubtedly the lowering of the river
bed will steadily go on.
1t has also been noted that during
the food of 1908 the heights attained
by the food 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 flood 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-
yiction that the eject will be to cause
a general and considerable lowering of
the bed.
Second-We also desire to express
our firm opposition to all schemes
for reducing flood heights of the lower
river by the construction of reservoirs
or 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 1898 by the Com
merce Committee o. the United States
Senate, which is so complete and elab-
crate as to exhaust the consideration
of the question. We viii add that all
schemes which have ever been pro-
posed for the relief of the river in
times of flood by outlets or reservoirs
would either prove wholly inefficient,
or would cost such vast sums and re-
quire such constant care and expendi-
lures as to entitle them to no consid-
Grafton.
Third-While the flood of 1903 was
very nearly as great as that of 1897,
and while the flood plane was greatly
in excess of that of 1897. the protec-
ton afforded in 1903 over that of 1897
is so great as to satisfy the minds of
all impartial investigators that so far
as the test has gone the principle OF
protection by levee construction has
been amply vindicated. In 1903 there
were but six crevasses as against for
ty-three in 1897. With each recurring
food since levee construction began
in earnest, the number of crevasses
has grown smaller and smaller. and
the protection afforded has grown
greater and greater. As a result. in
vestments of capital in all manner of
industrial enterprises in the Missis-
sippi valley have increased until they
are almost fabulous. The lowlying
back lands which prior to that date
were regarded as vaiueless, are fast
being occupied and converted into
homes for the benefit of the people.
Towns and cities have sprung up in
every direction. Railroads now trav-
erse the valley so that nearly every
part of it is reached by them. All of
this affords evidence of the strongest
possible conviction on the part of the
people that the time is sure to come
when they will have absolute protec-
Ilon from the foods of the river.
Theorists may argue against
The Efficiency Of levees.
but they do so in vain. The strong
common sense of the people responds
by rejecting their theories. The work
must go on. II cannot now stop. Too
much money has been invested in
levees TO suffer them to be destroyed,
and unless they are prosecuted TO
completion they will be destroyed.
The enormous investments made be
cause of them and in reliance upon
their completion cannot in good faith
be abandoned now to the devastation
of the foods. We presume that no
man can be found at this stage Of the