The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-11-10

oDFethet W iOoathk oFet tnle vas
boz Of oyerhowed land, q perlee
sea Of water, a. il were, TO form a.
opinion that nothing could Be dons
TO prevent such conditions, Blu
there is another way to look At this
matter. II must be born in mind
that AZ such times as these bottom
lands oSerflOwed several feet deep
under water you are dealing with
an accumulation or reservoir Of wa
ter and not with the natural product
Of the water seed Of the river. Tbs
accumulation of water and conse-
lqUent overflow is caused by two ex.
istihg conditions, viz: The ex.
ltremely crooked and obstrueted
comse Of the present channel Of the
river, thereby greatly increasing the
distance and time the water mus,
travel oud reducing the coal per
mile.
Again at the lower end OF this
district, the natural outlet, TIE bot
tom or low land is very narrow
probably nos over 20 rods-thereby
lgOrging and eongesting the DIS
charge of water from the upper
lands.
Now as 70 a measure of relief /
would suggest that you cut 4 new
channel for the river making IT
straight as possible and follow in
the lowest areas Of the bottom land.
This ehasnsl should not be less
than 90 feet wide on top. n feet
deep and have 4 side slope of ! to
II Such a channel would cost yoE
about $4,000 per mile. Through
the narrow portion OF the neck or
lower end / would recommend that
channel Of double that capacity
be made, making in all a total DIS
tanee OF "a miles, or a total cost of
S346, ,tsSc. In addition to this ]
would recommend that you make
some improvenis in the old channel
but At no great expense ! refer 20
cutting the brush and timber from
the banks Of the channel and prob
abiy making 4 few cut offs, where
the same can be of great benefit
without much expense.
Now while a channel Of ~ foot
depth viii not nearly reach the
bottom of the present channel il
win soon become effective as soon
as the old channel rises sufficiently
TO deliver into the new one. So
long as il remains below this point
il will do no dsmsge. / believe
from experience and Observation in
in other districts of = similar chsrae.
ter that this new channel woald.
with iis straight alignment, short
ened distance and consequent in
crease Of fall delivers At least s
times the amount of water the old
channel is capable Of dtsehsrging.
While l have no actual measure
ments on the length OF the
present channel believe the
water must travel az least : times
as far by the present course ss Il
would have TO 90 by 4 new and
Strengthened channel: adding 70 this
the greatly increased fall and veloe.
itv by reason Of shorter distance.
you can readily sse my estimate Of
the greatly increased capacity is
not without reasonable foundation.
II would be too expensive for you
10 undertake. 10 make > new chan.
mel as deep rs the old one, but from
the nature Of the bottom land and
the apparent tendeneY 10 eus and
give way to the action Of the water.
1 believe your new channel would
soon assume gigantic proportions
and compare iavOrably with the old
one in the cross sectional area.
This matter could be greatly has
tened by occasionally PlOwing the
bottom Of the old channel Ia dry
times and AZ M great exponse.
Hoa are greatly 10 be eongyall-