The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-11-28
AGAINST FLOODS
tc0.tiaasd iron. rir., Pare,

pipes concrete jacket was buiI,
around that section of them which is
immediately under the levee ~ one
OF the pipes should burst under m.
ieVee the water will be conducted
through the concrete Jacket. The con.
crete jacket protects the clay OF the
Ievee against the rush OF the water
liz II were not for the concrete Jacket
oursted pipe would cause the levee
10 collapse and the Mississippi River
would force its way into the protected
area
The drainage OF the roads along the
inner side OF the levee is conducted
through the levee through automatic
Hood gates. The automatic food gates
hang vertically and operate like a
ranson. When the Mississippi River
Is high It's pressure being greater than
the pressure from within. closes the
gates. When the river recedes the
drainage water presses against the
gates and opens them. We observe
a number Of small hand operated food
gates These were installed to pre-
vent the innux OF water in case the
automatic food gates should fail to
work
So far we have noticed that the
levee 10 almost entirely made of clay
and we see the blue grass growing
beautifully on both banks The Dis.
trict Board thought II best to give
the area the greatest amount OF food
protection AZ the earliest posSibIe mo-
ment so the clay leveeS were built
and the banks sowed with blue grass
seed. The grass holds the banks and
prevents sliding-it prepared the
bank tn ragfEf rafr, },
ing. Later the entire levee will be
faced with concrete In the mean
time. the inhabitants Of the area en-
Joy hood protection. The work OF
building the levee was belun in 1910
and the area has food protection in
1913. This IL an excellent showing
Tor the District Board and a source
OF qualification TO the inhabitants.
The completion OF the levee work
has given impetus 20 the agricultural
and Industrial employment Of the area
and has brought millions of dollars
OF new capital 10 it's cities
At Chouteau Island Wv turn 90 FOL.
low the levee Southwark TIL. Ieyse
reaches the river front az the Ner-
chants bridge The Merchants bridge
approach is utilized as part OF the
levee scheme. That side Of the an.
proach which is exposed TO the cur
rent or the river was armorpd with
heavy facing Of concrete The levee
connects with the East End OF the
Merchants bridge on the North and
with the West End Of IL on the South
IL should be remembered that the cur
rent OF the Mississippi River strikes
the Merchants bridge approach on the
North and whirls around the West
emo OF H.
The force OF the water N this point
T. terrific. Just South OF the Mar-
chants bridge approach the engineers
have protected the lpyee with q heavy
facing OF rip rap. II the levee We're
not thoroughly protected at this point
Il would be likely to he badly damaged
II not washed away during high
water
Looking South from the Merchants
Bridge we notice that the lsvce has
q black appearance. At first We con
c.ude that 70 Is covered with cluders
hut on close inspection We see that IL
Ia covered with scmi-metullic sub
stance, which Is called STAG Stag is
obtained from the steel foundries I'm
The neighborhood without cost. being
waste product. and is placed upon
the bank OF the ievee with a quantity
or foundry sand. II has been found
that Stag is equal 20 rock as "a means
- levee protection. and Is obtained
az saving OF about 652s per cent az
the cost OF rock. The action OF the
elements upon the Stag and foundry
sand mixture causes 10 10 pack ans
forms a solid mass with hard sur.
face. The use OF Stag has not only
Saved a considerable amount Of money
f~ff h1 kfa4 a
the levee more substantial pro'.c-
ton against current and wave wash
ing This is perhaps tho fr-r time
in the history OF food protection work
hat Stag was used as a leyep facing.
and the idea is entirely original with
the District Board
A. We 70 South We see "a dredge
anchored I'm the river and large pipe
floating on steel pontooms Projecting
ont Of the water az a considerable dis
lance from the shore we 500 two rows
~ piinE These mark tho now shore
line. The piles nearest rho shore line
were driven first after Fhich heavy
willow mattress weighted with stones
was laid on the river bed attached
70 the pilinE The pil.nr serves az q
backbone for a rock disk" which i-
being built. back 81 which the river
bed IS being filed Tho mattress on
the river bed being flexible win quick.
lv adjust Itself 20 any depression
which may occur. and sinking down
under the weight 81 Tho rocks will act
a. filer Tho river will NOT get a
chance 20 work IS way under the toe
~ tho ioveo
Back ~ tho iovoo ~ 'hl4 point the
District Hoard and property owners
are raising tho go acres 49, Ground
about 70 feet They arc doing 10 by
means ~ an electrically operated