The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-08-02

outlet and crcvasse in sediment
bearing stream, is in the matter OF de-
gree.
GAP GIVES NO RELIEF.
"To talk OF a spillway at the head Of
the Atchafalaya river is all tommyrot
There is, to-day, and has been fol-
years and years, controlled outlet
there, fed by a gap in the levee system
some eight miles wide-between the
lower end OF the levee system line in
the Fifth Louisiana Levee District, and
the main line OF levee in the Atchafa-
laya Basin Levee District-and all that
this vast outlet has so far accomplished
is the devastation, in times OF high
water. Of some 1900 square miles OF
territory. The introduction OF anyspiIl-
way there, would simply reduce the dis
charge, and, therefore, prove TO relief
TO the lower Mississippi river.
"The Bonnet Care crevasse, but %
miles above New Orleans, nearly a mile
wide, and fifty feet deep at the river
bank, remained wide, open for eight
! years tle7l to 1852, inclusive, and al
1t accomplished WAS to annually over
flow parts of st. John, ST. Charles, and
J ff"rscn parishes, put 10 the test The
rear protection ievees OF New Orleans,
sill in Lake Pontcharlraln, and put all
summer resorts on Lake POntchartrain
and the Gulf Coast practically out OF
bushes. without, to aHy degree, reduc-
ingfood levels at New Orleans.
"But, after all what wish to mostly
emphasize, is that the proposition Will
involve the expenditure OF large sums
OF money that cannot at this time be
spared from the funds allotted for levee
and bank protection.
"The levee system on the Mississippi
river in Louisiana requires to day, less
to be done to it to make it effective
than at any time in its previous history.
why should its further immediate
improvement be jeopardized by any
movement tendi-g to withdraw money
from it for tho purpose OF experiment.
ing?
NO TIME TO HESITATE.
"Thc same amount OF mcnsy az would
be necessary TO meet tho elaborate con-
struction, appropriations of properly,
readJustmcnt OF lines OF communication
transportation and other established
facilities, etc, involved in "a spillway
II appli ID 10 the levecS, would soon
greatly tend to secure such improve
ment as would in the very near future
reduced the chances of accident to a
minimum.
Anything tonding to restrict C. 6
authorities in early securing bank pru-
lection and improved ieyees must be
avoided.
at is no time to hesitate. or sidestep
and when compelled to choose haze
little doubt what course will be pur-
su d.
1t does not seem, either, to be every
where under stood that this whole qu.s-
ton OF spillways, rs applied to the low
er Mississippi river has long ago bee.
elaborated, gone into Ivy The most conf
peteni It critics, and disposed a, I'M
practicable.
''However. am no obsiruc,ianist,
never have been H. mS life, and that Ii e
investigation and study OF the subject
should be again revived by such CON-
petent authority AS the Mississippi
River Commission cannot be and is not
objected to. On the contrary, and if
that body finally elects to, at the prop
Ell time, try the experiment, and can do
80 without jeopardy to the great works
now in mind and in hand, it viii, fnd
no Que more ready to, in his humble
way, lend his aim than 10
CRANK NJ. KERR"