82 HAUPT — THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER PROBLEM. [Feb 19, 



gers arising from defective foundations of the levees ; that is to say, 

 from the permeable and treacherous character of the natural earth 

 foundation, which permits the passage of large volumes of water 

 beneath the levees. This water is forced up by hydrostatic pres- 

 sure through every aperature or weak place in the crust above. 

 The flow in many cases comes with great freedom, bringing up 

 large quantities of sand and leaving a corresponding displacement 



of material under ground This agency will increase in 



energy as the river goes to higher stages in the future and demands 

 thorough and systematic treatment." 



The estimates submitted to the State Board for work of primary 

 importance aggregates ^627,000, of which ^441,000 is for new 

 levees. 



From this evidence it appears that there is some ''difficulty in 

 making the line secure against disaster," and that large breaches 

 have actually occurred; also that there is an ever-present danger of 

 failure in the most vital part of every structure, namely, the foun- 

 dation, from the constantly increasing head due to the concentration 

 of the waters, and that the increasing caving of the banks requires 

 not only new lines but reserved levees, thus greatly adding to the 

 cost. 



The estimates previously submitted as being sufficient to complete 

 the system have been several times exceeded, and it is now stated 

 that to bring the levees up to a safe standard will require about forty 

 per cent, more material than has been already put in place. 



But there is no well-defined limit to the height or extent of the 

 works, since the river is not controlled nor the erosion reduced. 



A distinguished engineer, employed on the river for many years, 

 states : "The uncertainty as to future flood volumes and the stages 

 consequent upon a confined channel are so great, however, that the 

 great devastation from crevasses, caused by the river overtopping the 

 levees, will continue for many years to come. The banks will never 

 be fully protected from caving, and the channel will always be very 



unstable and will shift more or less in position The effect 



of the levees is to increase the height of the bars so long as the 

 very unequal widths are uncorrected, for a confined river means 

 higher flood stages, and the higher the stage the higher the bars are 

 built up in the wide reaches. Therefore, the regulation of the 

 width and the protection of the banks should precede the building 



