Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-11-29

Muskosee, Okla, Nov. 22.-Henry Il.
Clarke. OF Omaha, president OF the Trans
Mississippi River Improvement associa-
iion. addressing that body. In session here.
on 1.-THE duty OF the government to
Straighten the channel of the Missouri
river and to protect it's banks from ero-
sions. . said. in part:
The Missouri river winds its way
through the largest agricultural valley in
the world. $3.50 miles from Fort Benton to
its mouth. near st. Louis. Its waters have
never felt restraint. but have been allowed
by erosions and accretions to separate
over a large area OF land. sometimes two
or three miles in width.
Solution of Silt.
AT Omaha. during the high water In
June and July, caused by the melting OF
the SHOWS In the mountains. the Missouri
river carries in solution about Sia per cent
or silt. These figures are furnished by the
engineer OF the Omaha Water company.
This silt is constantly being taken from
points above and below Omaha. deposited
In the Mississippi between st. Louis, Cairo
Memphis and the gulf, This silt Is what
forms the sand bars. which in their turn
forces the river in an opposite direction,
thereby cutting the original banks and
forrling new channels. BY studying the
vagartes Of the river, ! am satisfied we
Will be able to place this silt and sand
wherever desired, and thus preserve the
banks intact.
My observation OF the Missouri river
extends over a period Of fifty-two years
During this time i have personally seer
thousands OF acres OF land as rich as any
IN our country swept away by the river
between Omaha and the mouth Of the
Platte river, some fifteen miles south. J
have seen towns swept away by Its
waters, and 1 think that within that dis.
lance fully a million dollars worth OF land
and improvements have been swept away
leaving nothing but unbroken sand bars,
willows and young cottonwoods, and
thereby rendering abortive the energies
OF two generations OF farmers who have
improved this land at great expense.
These are serious conditions which con-
front us. gentlemen, and they Will continue
unless our national ongress lends a help
ing hand in protecting the banks from
eroSious.
Aliuvial Soil.
The soil through which the Missouri
river runs is composed largely OF the top
Of alluvial soil from six to ten feet deep,
and below that there is a deep layer OF
quick sand. This soil is very porous and
as the waters, driven by the force of the
current or by high winds, strikes the banks
It finds Il weak enemy. The percentage of
silt held in solution as heretofore stated,
exists largely in high water in June and
July. During a part Of the year the water
Is comparatively clear, owing TO the fact
that there are fewer eros,ons at those
times When the water rs low.
Throughout the entire distance traversed
by the river above Fort L~eavenworth there
are very few, IL any, clay deposits. U am
not advised as to the condition existing
below Fort Leayenworth.) In the channel
of the river the silt which Is composed OF
quicksand and sol Is held In solution but
as o as the water leaves the channel IL
becomes less active. The silt is then de-
posted and sand bars begin 10 form.
Useless to Drive PiIina.
How shah we prevent these erosions?
My belief IL that IL Is useless TO drive
piling and that II is expensive and inef-
fective to build great frame works, using
millions OF feet of piling and timber for
frame works as has been done in former
years on the lower Missouri river by ihe
Missouri river commission around Lexing-
ton, and by using millions of tons OF rock
10 hold same in place. Such construction
cannot bring about a permanent improve
ment for the reason that there fs no per.
manent bottom on which TO build a per-
manent structure. This was clea rly shown
this summer by there being taken from tho
river during high water large quantities
OF pine piling from forty 70 fifty feet or
more in length and large amounts of 12x12
pine which was evidently used above for
protection or for bridge work, but had
become undermined and was being borne
away by the current.
My suggestion after years OF observa-
ton and study would be TO s~triighten the
river when IL Is low by cutting through
the Sauduars where practicable by the use
of ordinary railroad and highway ma
chinery, using oxen for power, because
oxen win not fiounder I'm sand as will
water TO a direct channel as near as pos
sible. As a direct result, the river will
scour deeper and there will be fewer
erosionS.