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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



traffic and commerce, and increasing the prosperity of the 

 country already improved by drainage and cultivation. 



f) On the banks of many rivers left to nature but a scanty 

 population exists, invariably affected and often decimated by 

 epidemics, and generally exhibiting an imperfect physical and 

 mental development. After regulation, and by draining and 

 cultivating the adjoining country, these evils disappear, the 

 inhabitants improve in health, strength and intelligence, the 

 population increases, new villages spring up, and prosperity 

 reigns where before disease and poverty were rife. The govern- 

 ment earns the hearty thanks of all thus benefited, and has at 

 the same time fully recouped the capital laid out on the works 

 by the increased revenues derived from the improved condition 

 of the country. 



Where such an improvement of the waterway has been 

 rationally executed, in accordance with the particular nature 

 and requirements of the locality, most, if not all, of the above 

 advantages have been secured; as may be proved by numerous 

 instances of works of the kind executed years back in France. 

 Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Moreover, the fact 

 that the chambers of deputies of these states have, during the 

 last few years, repeatedly devoted hundreds of millions of florins 

 to the completion of works already begun, and to new under- 

 takings of the same kind, is a proof that the importance and 

 advantage of such improvements are fully recognized. 



As a complete description of even the most important works 

 of this kind would far exceed the limits of a short paper, the 

 author must confine himself to a brief review of those success- 

 fully accomplished on the Rhine. 



The Rhine, between Basle and Mannheim, has for centuries 

 followed a tortuous course, abounding in sharp bends and 

 dividing into many branches, through a valley between 5000 and 

 0000 metres broad. Having further repeatedly shifted its course, 

 the whole valley became cut up by old channels; to a considerable 

 extent, too, its natural fall was lost, owing to its sinuous couvs<\ 

 and consequently the rate and force of the currents were so much 

 diminished that deposit accumulated everywhere, raising the 

 bed of the river and mean water-level to such a degree that the 

 adjoining country was little better than a swamp. The bed of 

 the Rhine being thus elevated, and its course so irregular, tin* 

 flood-water could not flow off rapidly enough, but spread abroad, 

 inundating the neighborhood, and destroying whole villages and 

 townships. 



The riverside communities had in all ages attempted, by dams 

 and other protective works, to abate these evils, but with litlle 



