The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-02-01
DANCER To THE
MISSISSIPPI
LEVEES
Would Result From Contin-
uous Rainy Weather.
Levees Watched.


Thursday contained the following:
The only unfavorable phase of the
river situation was the heavy down
pour of rain. but that caused no un-
easiness, for the reason that it was
not long enough nor heavy enough to
saturate the levees or weaken them.
A continuous stretch of bad weather
with a high water against the levees
might result in some weak spots de-
veloping.
The river rose only OIL yesterday,
according to the official report, which
made the read 1871.
The Government steamer General
Newton arrived here yesterday to
take aboard a lot of sacks, lumber,
nails and other material needed IN
levee emergencies, to be used in the
territory between Natchez and
Kemp's Bend, and as soon as she has
shipped the cargo, will hasten to her
destination. 1t was found that the
sc, 1000 sacks bought were of a poor
quality and large proportion of them
had to be rejected.
Advices were received at the United
States Engineers Office yesterday tell
| ing of the situation at Bougere. Ii
has been the intention to cut the
small protection levee built there, and
let the water in against the new en-
bankment gradually, but Sunday
| morning a large break occurred in the
protection levee throwing the water
against the railroad trestle with such
force as to carry away portion OF
it. All efforts are now being centered
on holding the ends of the trestle. The
embankment was still safe at least
accounts
Colonel F. NJ. Kerr. Chief State
Engineer, was in Vicksburg yester-
day and wired from there that the
levees as far as he had seen them
looked promising.
General Perrilliat, who has just re-
turned from an inspection of the
Atchafalaya Basin levees, says the
situation in that district is very good,
and there are 10 apprehensions. In
response to questions, he gave the
| following interview:
| within the last six years the
levees in the Atchafalaya Basin Levee
District, on the Mississippi River
front, have been enlarged with the
exception of about ten miles. to Mis-
siSsippi River Commission grade and
| II.
the highest water of the past (1S9O,
and the ten miles excepted stand 8
feet above the highest water of the
| past. 1t seems to me that the pres
ent flood wave on the Atchafalaya
Basin Levee District front is going
to be from 1 IL to feet below the
| highest water of the past 1t will,
therefore, be seen that the lowest
levees should have 1-2 foot margin
above the coming food wave, while
the higher levees win stand from
| 3 IL to feet above the present
| flood wave. The section of the levees
is generally good and strong.
''In the present levee system, as it
stands, however, there is always the
possibility of unforeseen accidents
leaks through the levees, crawfish
holes, sloughing of the levees, quick
sand substrata-all of the things
which may develop during high
flood wave. Should such things de-
velop and not be attended to in time,
disaster would be the result The
Atchafalaya Basin Levee Board is
Thoroughly awake to this condition of
affairs, and provision has been made
to have the levees closely inspected
and to have material within easy
reach in case such defects appear at
any time. l consider that, barring
these unforeseen accidents, the line
of levees of the Atchafalaya Basin
Levee District is simply high and
strong enough to stand the coming
Ifreshet.'
When asked as to the prospects
for the spring floods, and the high
water of the coming year, General
Perrilliat said:
THE present flood wave is un-
usually early; in fact, as far as my
records go, it is without precedent
that we should have had such a high
gauge at Cairo during the month of
January AS fall has set In at
Cairo, We are able to forsee pretty
well how high the present flood wave
is going to be on the lower river. and
the forecast issued by the Weather
Bureau is very reliable on the sub
ject- To my mind, however. the dan
ger lies not in the wave which we
now have in sight, as 1t seems to me
that the levees of the Mississippi
Valley are fairly able to stand this
flood. If. however. heavy rains should
develop in the near future. saw with.
in the next week or two in the basins
tributary to the Mississippi River
these rains. if they were intense in
character would pour a large add
, tional volume of water in the Mis-
siSsippi before the present food had
had an opportunity to get out to the
sea. There lies the danger for the
future. Should cold. fair weather last
for three or four weeks more in the
basins tributary TO the MississipDi
River, the main stream will then be
able to take care of what will come
For that reason those interested in
levee matters scan with close atten
! ton every day the Weather Bureau
: map to see what the weather tndica
tons are in those basins which pou.