Consequently it is imperatively the duty of the Government of the United States to take care of the improvement of the Mississippi River.

There are certain sections of the Mississippi River that are naturally above overflow, made so by cut-offs.

The fall of the Mississippi River is about four inches to the mile.

Consequently, when there is one of those large bends, where the river runs around where the cut-off is, no increase of water is needed.
The fall being four inches to the mile, the lands just above the cut-off are made higher and above overflow, whereas just below, the lands are overflowed or become liable to overflow.

The improvement of the Mississippi River itself for commercial purposes, as well as the protection of the lands, is dependent upon the building of the levees, for the levees of course confine the water within its banks, and give not only a greater volumn of water, but greater velocity for scouring purposes, which scours out the sand bars that are formed continually on the river.