THE HOANG-HO INUNDATIONS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In your article of January 14th on the disaster in China, you mention, what is well known, that when silt-bearing rivers are embanked, the silt is deposited in the river-bed, and raises the bed. sometimes above the general level of the country, and thus greatly increases the danger of future overflows. It is obvious that it would be a much safer method to deepen the bed than to raise the banks. Probably the Chinese have not the means of doing this, but great things have been done in deepening waterways by means of the steam dredging-machine. I believe that most of the excavation of the Suez Canal was done by this means. On the bang-Ho, the expense of steam- power ought not to be necessary. I have seen dredging- machines in Germany—I think on the Moselle—worked. by the current of the river.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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