Year: 1876

How Vtcksburg Can Restore q CurFent


in Frent Of tho City.


It is idle now to talk about the cutoff and
it's effect upon the commercial community.
stubborn facts, and must deal with the
situation as we find it. The river is gone,
and our only hope for current past the
city is in changing the channel of the Yazoo
river 90 as to bring that river down through
Chickasaw bayou, and along the old. race
track, emptying into the lake at the west
margin Of the National Cemetery. Looking
over the county map Of Captain J. N. Searles
yesterday we concluded to make a diagram
of the YazoO sff1uents of the great river,
and through the industry of Mr. George
Randall, at Ben Guider's jewelry store,
we are able TO present below an engraving
of the same, which plainly illustrates the
geography of our city surroundings. The
drawing is sufficiently accurate to show
what may be done in order to avoid dan
gers which, it is apprehended, will ensue as
consequence of the cut-cf recently made
BY the Mississippi river at this place. 4he
theories regarding the mode OF keeping an
open channel along the entire front of our
city are as various as the reflective images
of kaleidoscope; but as there is but one
which, in the opinion of scientific men, has
a substantial basis, we present it as the
Chickasaw bayou plan. 1t will be observed
from an inspection of the diagram that the
bayou leads out from the YazOo river into
what is known as Fish lake, at point about
three and half miles due north of the Ma,
tional Cemetery. The main volume Of the
YazoO could be diverted through the bayou,
thence into Fish lake, and finally into the
Mississippi river at the National Cemetery
by means of breakwater in the YazOO, by
cleaning and deepening the bayou, and by
the cutting of canal from the southern
end of the lake to the Mississippi. L has
been estimated that this can be accom-
plished at an expense of about 5000, 900. In
asmuch as the waters Of the HaZOO will not
materially assist in the excavation of main
water route for steam boats, it would be acc
eesary to complete the entire work in an
artificial way, and this being 80, it is evil
dent that the figures of the cost are not ex-
cessive. As no actual survey has been made,
| We are not prepared to estimate the longi-
tudinal or cross sectional cuttings, but the
above estimate can be relied on as ap-
proximately correct. The effect Of the plan
| proposed will be to keep open channel in


the Mississippi from the National Gene
| terry along the river border of the whole
| city; and should this be practicable the
dangerous influence of the cut of will not
| only be avoided, but we should be brought
| into closer and more direct communication
with the rich and pOpulous lazoo basin
upon which Vicksburg mainly relies for hez


support. 1t is to be hoped that our city


fathers will realize the situation, and look
| ing into the "Chickssaw bayou plan," tina,


they will order such surveys as will enable


the people OF old Vicksburg to see how


they can best work to secure their property


from isolation and consequent depreciation


and We might add, whatever action is taker


should be immediate. Otherwise, north


Vicksburg may feel the effects Of remava
of the coal feet, the ferry landing changed


to the foot of South street, and the wharf


boat seeking more advantageous moorings


Read and heed, and whatever ia done, let i


be done q1ickly.-Vi Vicksburg Herald.