The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-08-08
Considers Dirt Used in Strengthen
ing Levee as Excellent Ma
terial for Purpose. !.
HE PREFERS SAND TO CLAY
IF 1T POSSESSES TENACITY
Meeting of Drainage District Com
missioners and Citizens This
Afternoon at 2 O'clock.

Il consider the earth used in the
construction of the levee as excel
lent material for the purpose. |
would prefer sand to clay, if 1t pos
;essed the proper tenacity."
c. b. Harris, U. S. engineer to
1ol. Jervey Of Cincinnati, made the
lbove statement to representative
If The Bulletin late last evening in
front of The Halliday hotel.
He had been asked If he had seen
the report on the four samples of
he dirt sent TO the University of
illinois for analysis, his attention
icing directed particularly to No.
J which Is said in the report to con-
dst of so per cent sand and 20 per
ent silt and clay,
Mr. Harris stated furth1r that he
ad made an inspection OF the Mo-
lie and Ohio leyee, which Is being
trengthened and enlarged by Con-
ractors List and Clifford, and OF the
it where the earth was taken from
nd being placed on the levee He
tdmitted that he could not say
What the character of the earth was
,elow the surface in the lcvee but
70 had only found one Objectionable
)iece the size of his thumb in the
lirt. He had been informed that a
similar piece had been discovered
elsewhere bv some one else.
He had found in the pit so far
lut sight evidences Of Objectionable
material which was below the sur
'ace at the bottom Of the excava-
ions where the dirt was taken from,
1ut he could not find where any of
his had been used, neither was
here any indication that this ma
terial had been utilized In the build
ng of the levee.
Mr.. Harris IN discussing the uni
1ersity analysis said that there was
IN absence of one material point
which had been overlooked in the
eport that referred to giving the
pecitc gravity or density of the
oaterial
THE essential elements in the
eection of earth in levee building
its tenacity and specunc gravity.
Obtain these and then we have the
deal material that viii best resist
2rosion and pressure OF the water.
Clay, which the laity think is best
suited for levee building, is tGeach-
rous 1t is impervious to water but
fnally becomes thoroughly saturat-
ed attaining the consistency of
nolasses and then slides and runs.
Naturally l was preiudiced in
sayor of the material prior to my
making the examination on account
Of the endorsement the earth had
ecoiycd by Engineer Miller and his
assistant Mr.. Lowe, who are eonsid-
cred practical men highly expert
enced in levee building"
Engineer Miller, also at The Hal
Hday. endorsed the earth as ideal
material for levee building and add
cd that no fault could be found
with it.
Mr.. Harris stated, that in view of
the controversy, he intended to
satisfy himself thoroughly by visit
Ing the work and the pits again this
morning in order to verify his first
opinion so that he could this after
noon al ? O'Clock at tine meeting OF
the commissioners of the Drainage
District with members of the local
commercial organizations render a
satisfactory and positive opinion re-
garding the material.
Late yesterday afternoon Engi-
neers Harris and Miller, County
Judge Dewey. Corporation Counsel
Leek. f. A. Smith and the city Off
cials held lengthy meeting rels-
tive to the construction Of the city
work on the Mississippi levee the
bids to be opened August Is. the