Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1922-07-21
FACTS WITH REGARD TO LEvEE
PROTECTION.

PkOIECIlON.
To the Editor, Tensas Gaxette@
The writer, q firm believer in the
efficacy Of levees as the sole
means Of protection from overflow,
thinks it opportune, now that the
great flood Of 1922 has passed into
history, and the noise Of anti-levee
theorists has died away, to present
to your readers q few facts bearing
upon the vital question Of whether,
or not, the present levee system,
incomplete as it is, has demonstrated
that il affords great relief already
from floods, and whether, or not,
from the facts before us, we have
reason to believe that Q completed
system will afford entire relief from
overflow.
In the discussion Of these ques-
tions I shall deal solely with facts
and. shall shun theory.
What Territory IL To Bs Pretsetsdf :
An empire in itself embracing all
the alluvial lands stretching from
Cairo to the Gulf Of Mexico.
What Progress Has Bssn Mads IN
Proteetiea7
To answer fairly and intelligently
this question, it must be remem-
bered that all Of this vast territory
is the creature Of floods in the river,
and Of the alluvial deposits resulting
therefrom; that these lands were
inundated, before any levees were
built whenever there was . food in
the river, and that the first civil
lied men who dwelt on its banks
built the first -levees, not ~ an
amusing p4stime, but to avert over
flows Of their primitive holdings,
and homes.
The efforts Of these first In
habitants have been continued until
there now exists along the river,
from Cairo to the Gulf, line of 90
called ievees some 1900 miles long.
But few miles, however, Of this long
line have yet been built up to the
standard grade and eross-section
adopted by the Mississippi River
Commission, and prescribed BY the
u. s. Army engnieers, that standard
being a follow: 49,
First Grade, estimated to every
where stand three 60 feet above
ultimete high water In the river.
with all basins closed and M leveea
holding, subjected 70 . discharge in
volume and duration equal to that
Of. the year 1919; Second. Cross
section, width Of crown eight (s)
fset. river and land ssde slepes
three (8) feet horisonsai to one Il,
foot vertical, down to IN elevation,
discretionally, i've ~ feet and
eight (8) feet below grade, thence
i q banquette, on the land side, twenty
| coy feet In width for levees ten
4 (10) feet to. thirteen (1s) feet ir
height, thirty (30) feet in widtl
for leyses thirteen (1S) feet TO six
teen (16) feet in height, and forty
(40l feet in width for levees sixests
(16) feet and over in height, viii
crown slope Of banqpette ten (1o) #
horizontal to one ~ foot vertical
and Internationally. hand side slope'
four (l), and five (5) feet kori
sontal and one ~ foot vertical.
There ID but one unit, the Uppel
Mississipl Levse District, Of all tn
levee system, which has completed ii
line to the above standard, and sinc'
completion it, levees have stood hl
. stone wall, absolutely impregnabl
to the assaults Of the grsat river
The writer regrets that h ha
been unable to obtain the statistic
20 that hs could day before you
] readers exact figures - 70 tie pez
. centags Of complexion to STANDARD
! or Mississippi River Commissio1
! grade, Of the balance Of the $50
miles composing the system, but !
Is able, thanks to the very Interest
I ing and informing report Of on
- - - -