304 COUNTY AND BEGIONAL GEOLOGY. 



For the reason that each of these streams pours its waters 

 upon that portion of the great flood-plain which lies below 

 it, the work of reclamation should be commenced by first 

 controlling the currents of the uppermost or most northerly 

 streams that reach the plain from the uplands; as, for 

 example, the Little Sioux and its branches. Afterwards the 

 currents of all the streams should be successively controlled 

 that reach the flood-plain below. 



It is believed that this great improvement may be effec- 

 tually accomplished by merely straightening the present 

 channels, preserving their full width and depth, and raising 

 a slight embankment upon their shores. 



Those lands which are now flooded by the tributaries being 

 thus reclaimed, a large part also of those that are now flooded 

 b}^ the great river, might be reclaimed by building dykes or 

 levees upon or near its own banks, such as are constructed 

 for the same purpose along some portions of the Lower 

 Mississippi. This is, no doubt, quite practicable, but whether 

 that part of the work is ever done or not, it is essential 

 that the waters of the tributaries should be controlled as 

 soon as they reach the flood-plain. This work alone will 

 reclaim much land that is now periodically flooded, the 

 greater part of which is, but for this circumstance, among the 

 best land in the State. With both these systems of improve- 

 ment accomplished, there would probably not be a more 

 productive and valuable region of equal area in the 

 world than this. The amount of labor necessary to 

 accomplish such results, although really very great, is 

 insignificant when compared with the interest involved, and 

 also with what has been done upon similar works in other 

 parts of the world. 



The practicability and value of such a work is even now 

 plainly indicated by the effect incidentally produced by the 

 embankments of the Sioux City and Pacific, and the Council 

 Bluffs and St. Joseph railroads. There are hundreds of 

 acres upon the east side of these embankments that were 

 formerly flooded by high water of the Missouri river, that are * 



