SCOTT IMPROVEMENT OF THE WESTERN RIVERS. 47 



more rapid, there is more sand in the new than in the older 

 deposits. 



Having fully shown how the forces we mentioned act, I shall 

 now proceed to analyze the difterent systems that have been 

 offered, and endeavor to show their merits and defects, and I shall 

 illustrate my criticisms by referring to other rivers where condi- 

 tions similar to those found in our western rivers obtain. 



The first one is the levee system. I shall request those that are 

 in favor of it as anything but a temporary measure, to examine 

 Louisiana Bend (at the northern line of Louisiana) and Lake 

 Providence Bend, and indeed the whole river from Baton Rouge 

 up. At the two points named, not less than three very large and 

 expensive levees have been swept away since 1843. 



An examination of the effects of caving demonstrates that it is 

 more important to protect the banks than to build levees, as with- 

 out stable banks we can have no permanent levees ; and if, with 

 the protection of the banks, the overflow can be reduced, the use 

 of levees would be abandoned. 



The building of the levees, as carried on in Italy and China, 

 would at once destroy nearly every plantation along the river 

 from Commerce, Mo., to the Gulf, by throwing them in front of 

 the levees. And, whilst it would materially shorten the length, 

 it would more than quadruple the cost, as the increase in the per- 

 pendicular height would average that at least. 



According to Humphry & Abbott's report, the average slope 

 of the banks back from the river to the swamp is 7 feet in the first 

 mile ; but a close comparison of their table with the Government 

 map prepared by Major Charles R. Sutur, reveals the following 

 fact, namely, that wherever the slope has been taken near the 

 middle of a bend, where the course of the river is north and south 

 and the slope is taken east or west, the slope is over 9 feet to the 

 mile ; but when the slope is taken near the head or foot of abend, 

 or towards north or south, the slope is much less, thus reducing 

 the general average : and a fair estimate from the above data 

 would give at least 1 2 feet lower for the base of the levee than 

 the present base. It shdbld be borne in mind that the levees 

 of Italy and China do not follow the windings of the river, but 

 are built back far enough from the river to allow the water to 

 spread during floods and fill up the space between, and, instead 



