1927 Engineer Corps flood control report

 
This was sent me by an old friend a retired Corps of Engineers colonel.  pl

"This is a must read for anyone following the events of the last three weeks. I've attached General Jadwin's report on flood control for the Mississippi River completed in 1927 and forming the basis for the FCA of 1928.

You will note by reading just a few highlighted passages that the  1927 plan WAS very explicitly a plan "to make room for the river."  The absolute emphasis was on avoiding levees being built higher.  Local setbacks were provided for. Jadwin's presentation is really quite lucid on the idea of making room for flood waters.  If anything General Jadwin's concept anticipates the "make room for the river" idea that is now filling the popular press.  He acknowledged that more floodways might be needed in the future. Where setbacks were practical, he explicitly employed them." 

Download 8897 H.doc.90 Flood control in Mississippi River Dec 8 1927rh

 

 

Comments

[William R. Cumming]

A really great find. The Great Depression made interest in structural public works more attractive. But hey some always have known that a decades long fight to control the River might not end in victory.

[Norbert M Salamon]

ALL:
Anybody has info as to the population of the Mississipi Valley at the time of the last great flood [with 700 000 displaced, there must have been more people therin].
Thanks for the info if anhy.

[William R. Cumming]

NMS! Not sure what exactly you are looking for but try wikipedia for 1920 and 1930 US Census. Pretty interesting entries! 106 Million in 1920 in US according to census. Increase of 15% over 1910 census.

[Grimgrin]

Here's the USGS's (Actually incredibly beautiful) geological survey of the Mississippi. The various plates are zipped, but give an incredible idea of how widely the river actually varied in it's meanderings.

[William R. Cumming]

I probably should have mentioned the contributions to the management of flood plains [actually management of human occupation] of Dr. Gilbert White of the University of Chicago whose these on human occupancy of the flood plains documented that long term nonstructural approaches to that occupancy made great sense. His doctral thesis was considered to be in the discipline of GEOGRAPHY a grossly unappreciated discipline in the USA but long appreciated by long service NCO's in the ARMIES of the world. I wonder how many of the current FLAG RANKS had a decent geography course or how many geographers are employed by the 16 member organizations of the IC? I believe it was once a course at West Point? What was STONEWALL's subject at VMI? He was best geographer of the Valley of Virginia ever.

[Norbert M Salamon]

WRC:
Thanks, will peruse.

[Patrick Lang]

WRC

Jackson taught Experimental and Natural Philosophy (Physics). He was not very good at it. When he dies he still held his chair and intended to return to it. He was also instructor in artillery. pl

[William R. Cumming]

Thanks PL and is there an analysis of his employment of artillery assets? Who was his chief artillery officer?

Trained of course as a cannon cocker myself--Ft. Sill Oklahoma, December 1967-July 1968! AIT and OCS!

[Patrick Lang]

WRC

He was very good with artillery.

If memory serves, Colonel Stapleton Crutchfield (one of his former students) was his first chief of artillery until he lost a leg. After that E. Porter Alexander was the 2nd Corps gunners' boss. pl

[William R. Cumming]

Thanks and did the South have rifled cannon?

[Patrick Lang]

WRC

Yes. They had a few rifled British breech loading guns imported through the blockade. they were accurate to over a mile. In use at Gettyburg. They also had muzzle loading guns of their own manufacture. pl

[Patrick Lang]

WRC

I know of two books on Confederate artillery. "The Long Arm of Lee," and "The Guns at Gettysburg." pl

[William R. Cumming]

Thanks PL and had always somehow overlooked Confederate Artillery capability.

[The Twisted Genius]

WRC,

There seems to be quite a bit of info on artillery in the Civil War on the internet. From what I have read, artillery was a dangerous branch to serve in. You just never knew if your gun was going to explode in your face, especially with the large number of cast iron pieces in service. No wonder all you cannon cockers pray to Saint Barbara.

[William R. Cumming]

USA Today has feature article on how the USACOE has redeemed itself with its 8 decades old flood control system on the Mississippi River. They may need a revised article by the 4th of July!

Also Dahlgreen was SEC of NAVY and he and others killed by cannon explosion during Civil War.

[Patrick Lang]

WRC

Dahlgran was an admiral in the navy, not Secretary of the Navy. pl