Mississippi River, Part 3 [pp. 353-357]

DE BOW'S
SOUTHERN AND WESTERN
REVIEW.
Established January 1,"1S46.
OCTOBER, 1850.
VOL. IX. O. S.... 2d SERIES, VOL. III. No. 4.-3d SERIES, VOL. 1, No. 4.
ART. I.-MISISSISSPPI VALLEY.
REMARKS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE RIVER MISSISSIPPI.
IN the July number of the Review, I find an Article entitled:
"Protection of the Low Lands of the Mississippi; by Major Barnard,
Engineer Corps." The article consists principally of some extracts from
M. Dubuat's " Principes d' Hydrauliques," in relation to the straightening of rivers, and the changes that may be made in their courses as
in their beds," accompanied by about two pages and a half of notes, by
Major Barnard himself, professedly based upon the authority of the
previous extracts, together with his own knowledge of the Mississippi
River. The subject being a very important one, involving the prosperity of the agricultural interest of a large portion of Louisiana, which
has already suffered, and which, judging from present appearances, will
still continue to suffer immense loss. From the erroneous views so
generally entertained with respect to it, I may be excused for offering a
few remarks in regard to Major Barnard's Notes, and the conclusions at
which he arrives.
On a careful examination of the Notes, and a comparison of them
with the extracts, I find that they do not accord. The extracts from
M. Dubuat's work lay down cut-offs as a remedy for overflows, and
give the reasons why they are so, namely, that by shortening the
course of a river, they increase the relative fall, diminish the resistance,
aid the discharge, and thereby lower the surface of its water. But on
looking over Major Barnard's Notes, I find, to my surprise, that "in
accordance with these principles" he has come to the conclusion that
"no relief to the lower river can be obtained by means.of cut-offs.'"
I am the more surprised at the conclusion, taken in connection with the,
extracts, because in introducing them he says: "His remarks in relatior
23 VOL. 1.